In the spring of 2008, the Missouri Research Corporation (MRC) announced a collaborative effort with the Southeast Innovation Center, the USDA Rural Development, the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), the University of Missouri Extension, and select communities in Southeast Missouri.  This collaboration is known as the Community Leadership Initiative and is an on-going project funded by a grant from the USDA Rural Development.  The program has focused on expanding the abilities and capacities of community leaders, businesspersons, and community members by educating them in the art of entrepreneurial decision-making and creative economic development. Community members and leaders should take control of their destinies and focus on growing their cities and business and industry to provide jobs for their residents and seek the funding they need to build supportive infrastructure, according to Christy LeGrand, MRC projects coordinator. 

The MRC team began in each community with a fact-finding session that included many community leaders:  school board members, city councilpersons, ministers, chamber members, and businesspersons.  This group participated in a two-hour session in which they provided input to the team by answering Jump-Start questions in small groups.  A second fact-finding session followed that includes community members at large.  The Jump-Start team analyzed the information and provided a customized action plan to energize the city and help it start on projects that will hopefully improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Legrand said that cities were selected because of their progressive nature and each having all the right components for economic growth.  Cities under 10,000 population on the threshold of rapid growth and expansion were included.  The DED was also instrumental in chosing towns, in their opinion, that were staged for change and expansion.  Instead of asking community members and leaders tired, SWOT questions, the MRC team designed thought-provoking questions like: "What is the purpose of your town?"  "If you were in charge of infrastructure, what would you change?"  "What does your town like and what does it not like?"  "What is the purpose of your youth?"

LeGrand said that the goal was to get rid of the tired questions in SWOT -- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?  Instead, she said, it was to ask them more personal questions about their town and how it relates to their county as a whole.   All the answers were reviewed by the team and included in the final presentation.  The answers to the questions (or lack of answers) influenced the recommendations in the final action plan for each town. 

"It was amazing to see some of the answers in the different communities," said Gina Harper, community leadership team member. "When you ask folks 'what is your town's purpose?' and the group gives you a blank stare and asks for a different, easier question, then you really know you've stirred up something that needed to be addressed."

"On the flip-side of that," Harper continued, "During the program we asked the question of anyone who wanted to answer, "What was the moment that made you realize you were happy you made this community your home?" and some of the answers brought tears to my eyes.  Some answers just spoke volumes as to why folks still choose to live in the small town they grew up in."

To date, four communities have participated in the group, town assesment activities, and have witnessed the final presentation of recommendations from the MRC team. Two addtional communities are 50 % completed, according to Ken Parrett, community leadership coordinator.  Bonne Terre and Potosi are in progress and should finish in early 2009, and Ste. Genevieve, Piedmont, Charleston, and Fredericktown have been given their customized action plans.    The towns have been given recommendations for growth opportunities, and the MRC is dedicated to helping each town achieve that growth.  Ste. Genevieve has already implemented several recommendations, and Piedmont has asked the MRC to help them establish strategic planning committees.  Piedmont has also requested small business training programs in an effort to help retain their struggling small businesses.  

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