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St. Louis
RCGA
January 12,
2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
This is MONDAYMEMO, the weekly report from the RCGA President to Board
members and other key investors. MONDAYMEMO is published by the St. Louis
Regional Chamber and Growth Association, One Metropolitan Square, Suite
1300, St. Louis, MO 63102. To unsubscribe or change your address
or method of delivery, reply to mondaymemo@stlrcga.org.
St. Louis Regional Leaders In Jefferson City This Wednesday For RCGA's 2009 Legislative Kick Off: RCGA Chairman Bob Reynolds, RCGA Board Chair for Public Policy Tom Campbell, and RCGA Public Policy Council Chair John Sondag, AT&T-Missouri Vice President of External Affairs, will lead 30 members of the Board of Directors, Public Policy Council, RCGA staff and other civic partners to Jefferson City this Wednesday for a series of meetings throughout the day with Senate and House leaders and Governor Jay Nixon. In addition to our new Governor, we will have discussions with Lt. Governor Peter Kinder; Senate President Pro-Tem Charlie Shields; Senate Minority Leader Victor Callahan; Speaker of the House Ron Richard; and House Minority Leader Paul LeVota. Following the day's meetings this Wednesday, the RCGA will host a reception for the St. Louis delegation of the Missouri General Assembly and Governor Nixon at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.
Our top 2009 Missouri legislative priority is the so-called “Grow Me State” initiative, aimed at creating a coordinated and sustainable set of State policies and targeted resources to encourage technology-based economic and entrepreneurial and small business development. Incoming Governor Nixon has placed a high priority on investing in entrepreneurial development as part of his economic development program in 2009 --- even in a challenging economy. Key elements of the Grow Me State proposal are:
- A $5 million Angel Tax Credit Program to bridge the gap in equity funding for early stage entrepreneurs
- A $1.25 million Proof of Concept Program and companion $10 million Seed Capital Revolving Fund respectively, to improve the conversion of research and development in Missouri research universities into Missouri jobs and products through the start-up of new entrepreneurs
- Strengthening the Missouri Technology Corporation.
The RCGA is part of a statewide group of business and academic leaders, which has served since Spring 2007 as the academic Steering Committee for the University of Missouri at Kansas City Research Report released in October 2007 about Missouri's capital formation needs. Led by RCGA Vice President for Capital Formation & New Ventures Jay DeLong, this statewide group is supported by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas City Area Development Council, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and Cape Girardeau Area Magnet, and works to establish a platform of technology-based economic development activities based on the Report's results, with greater Missouri State government involvement.
In a competitive resource environment, it is critically important to demonstrate to the Missouri Legislature why investment in technology-based economic development is an appropriate role for the State. It is important to grow these jobs here, and that's why we call it the "Grow Me State Initiative".
The UMKC Research Report by Dr. Mark Parry of the University’s Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, entitled, "Missouri's Need for Risk Capital: An Assessment and Recommendations", notes that Missouri lags behind other states in committing state funds for new, entrepreneurial high tech start-up companies. Six neighboring states, on average, committed $2.79 per capita in 2006. By contrast, Missouri committed only 10 cents per capita for these programs to stimulate entrepreneurial development in 2006. For Missouri to reach that $2.79 figure, it would have had to invest about $16 million, the Report concluded.
The purpose of the annual legislative event is to present the RCGA Legislative Agenda to the new Legislature and to the Governor and to kick off the region's annual legislative advocacy effort. We are discussing other specific legislative issues as well, involving economic development, transportation, and education issues with our legislative leaders.
Speaking of the new Governor, on Friday, an overflow group of members of the RCGA Public Policy Council met with Nixon Transition Chairman Charles Burson, Of Counsel at Bryan Cave LLP, for a fascinating review of the Governor’s transition process. Burson was previously the former General Counsel at Monsanto, Attorney General of Tennessee, and former Chief of Staff to Vice President Al Gore.
He told the RCGA Public Policy Council members that St. Louis should be proud of the Cabinet formed by Governor Nixon with his appointments of former Bryan Cave partner Linda Martinez, as Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED); Ron Levy, former CEO of SSM Health Care, as Director of Social Services; and former Rep. Margaret Donnelly as Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Burson noted that the entire cabinet had been selected, even though several members were still to be announced --- noting that this was perhaps the first time in modern history that an incoming Governor had selected his entire cabinet prior to inauguration. He spoke about the intense vetting process for each Nixon appointee, which included an on-line application, written background checks, and an internet search for each candidate. His team of over 150 transition advisers reviewed over 1,500 applicants for positions in the Nixon Administration.
The transition team also focused on a comprehensive budget and agency review, led by former Missouri State Sen. Wayne Goode, former Rep. Margaret Donnelly, and former Rep. Jeff Harris. The Governor’s State of the State address will occur on January 27th, and Burson expects Governor Nixon to outline his Administration’s key budget and policy priorities in that speech.
Governor Jay Nixon, Salute To John Bachmann, and Symphony Performance Highlight Thursday's RCGA 172nd Annual Meeting And Dinner: Following his inauguration today, Governor Jay Nixon will be among the special guests speaking at Thursday’s Annual Dinner, along with a special audio visual presentation saluting Right Arm of St. Louis Awardee, John Bachmann, and a performance by a Saint Louis Symphony ensemble. John, Managing Partner at Edward Jones for 24 years and presently Senior Partner, served as RCGA Chairman from 2000 to 2003, and also previously served as Chairman of the Saint Louis Symphony, the Arts & Education Council, and the Greater St. Louis United Way.
Gov. Jay Nixon |
Mike Bush |
KSDK Channel 5’s Mike Bush will be the emcee for the evening, with over 700 RCGA members and guests anticipated to attend the 172nd RCGA Annual Meeting and Dinner this Thursday evening, January 15th, at the Renaissance Grand Hotel, including 63 Dinner Sponsors and table purchasers.
We thank the following Dinner Sponsors and table purchasers of the 172nd Annual Dinner:
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The highlights of the evening will include the presentation of the 2008 RCGA Right Arm of St. Louis Award to John Bachmann, as well as reflections by Graybar Electric Chairman, President and CEO Bob Reynolds as he begins the second year of his two-year term as RCGA Chairman.
If you would still like to join us for this Thursday's Annual Dinner, please call Mary Barbeau today at (314) 444-1103, e-mail her at mbarbeau@stlrcga.org.
“Start-Up Connection” To Be Presented On Wednesday, January 21st: On the subject of entrepreneurship and the growth of small business, entrepreneurial companies in the St. Louis region need talented individuals with skills in marketing, sales, technology, finance, operations, business development, and more. The founders and CEOs of many such IT and science-related companies will be at the Start-Up Connection program, to be presented on Wednesday, January 21st, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at IT Enterprises (ITe), 4633 World Parkway Circle.
The Start-Up Connection is presented by the RCGA; BounceBack St. Louis; BusyEvent; Greater St. Louis Works; Innovate St. Louis; Innovate VMS; the Information Technology Coalition; IT Enterprises; the Information Technology Entrepreneur Network; the Missouri Venture Forum; the NIDUS Center for Scientific Enterprise; and the University of Missouri at St. Louis.
For reservations and more information about the Start-Up Connection program, please contact Blair Forlaw, RCGA’s Director of Greater St. Louis Works, at (314) 444-1149, or click on www.innovatestl.org/start-upconnection.
Richard C.D. Fleming
President and CEO
