We're one month into 2023, and despite the bad weather, snow days, and scheduling conflicts, the show must go on! Our initial trip to Jefferson City was cancelled due to snow and many meetings were postponed. Through it all, we're grateful for our partners who are there with us every step of the way and are willing to work through all the obstacles January brought.

We're happy to report that a development in Sparta has been announced and a ground breaking will take place this week. This $10 million project is a perfect blend of conservation and development, and several of our legislator friends, including Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe, will be in attendance at the Finley River Outpost groundbreaking on February 10. All of our partners are invited to attend as well!

The Show Me team and partners are forging relationships with our legislators, and we're excited to continue our advocacy efforts as we build those bonds. And be sure to keep an eye out for more info regarding our March 30 visit to Jeff City -- a full on Christian County Day!

A snowy night in Ozark, Missouri

A few additional things to keep on your radar: our next executive board meeting will be on Wednesday, February 15, and our next full board meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 22 (location yet to be determined).

Again, we're grateful to have such wonderful partners and investors who are active, passionate, and flexible. We look forward to every opportunity to connect and engage.

And Go Chiefs!

Kristen Haseltine

President/CEO - Show Me Christian County

417-496-5987 (cell)

Shook Farms owners Chad and Tiffanie Shook would like you to join us for the groundbreaking of their new wedding venue and luxury guest ranch accommodations -- the Finley River Outpost! The event is set to take place on Friday, February 10th at 11 a.m. at the site of Shook Farms!

Taking place on the Shooks' Clydesdale and bison ranch, the forthcoming wedding venue and outdoor pavilions are the first of three phases for the project. Construction of rentable cabins and covered "glamping" wagons will follow, as well as a saloon-style restaurant and bar.

Refreshments to be provided by Shook Farms. The ceremony will be facilitated by Show Me Christian County in collaboration with the Ozark, Nixa, and Sparta Chambers of Commerce. We hope to see you in attendance as we celebrate this exciting new project!

The Show Me team will be having a "Christian County Day" as we travel to Jefferson City to meet with elected officials on behalf of our partners and businesses. We are inviting members of our Government Relations Committee as well as interested partners to join us in a day trip to the state capitol tentatively scheduled for Thursday, March 30th as we coordinate schedules with representatives and government officials. Please contact Rachel Campbell, Office Administrator, if you are interested in joining us!

Christian County Emergency Management will be hosting CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) training in February at the Christian County Planning and Resource Management Office. Those interested in taking part in the three teaching sessions required for the training, please contact cert@christiancountymo.gov.

More info available here.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to assist with economic recovery efforts. The following grant applications are open or will open soon. Please follow the link for more information about these grants.

• Entertainment Industry
• Nonprofit
• Cell Tower

On January 18, Governor Mike Parson delivered his State of the State address before the Missouri General Assembly. During his address, Gov. Parson emphasized the importance of education, infrastructure and workforce development -- all of which are key points related to economic development.

• Gov. Parson called on the General Assembly to invest in widening and rebuilding the I-70 corridor. His plan invests $859 million and expands six lanes from St. Louis to Warrenton, Kansas City to Odessa, and extending both East and West from Columbia.
• For education, Gov. Parson's budget proposal adds $233 million for school transportation needs, $32 million to expand the Career Ladder Program, and continues the Teacher Baseline Salary Program that raised teacher pay from $25,000 to $38,000 per year.
• Governor Parson also recommended several key investments in workforce development and higher education, which includes $275 million for transformational capital improvement projects at Missouri's public higher education institutions, $71 million increase in core funding to Missouri's public higher education institutions, $38 million for MoExcels workforce development projects on college campuses, and $3 million for Apprenticeship Missouri.

Chick-fil-A Truck Ribbon Cutting

Welcome to Christian County, Chick-fil-A! The food truck will alternate between Ozark and Nixa on Wednesdays and Thursdays, open from 11-7!

City of Springfield Makes Plans to Purchase Hammons Field

"This was the house that John Q. Hammons Built. Now it's the people's house." - Mayor Ken McClure

The City of Springfield announced a deal to purchase Hammons Field and nearby parking lots, keeping the Cardinals in Springfield! Full story on KY3.

Aetos Center Grand Opening - Nixa

It was incredible to be at the ribbon-cutting for the Aetos Center in Nixa! This beautiful facility will house student-led arts for years to come. And what a great asset for economic development as well!

Did you know? Super Bowl LVII means a big economic impact not only for Kansas City, but Missouri and the US as a whole!

Cities with a successful NFL team see an estimated $100 increase in income per person (source: Missouri S&T). The reason? A successful team means increased consumption and spending.

But this isn't localized to just Kansas City. Fans of winning teams across the country tend to be happier and more productive at work, as well as more likely to spend money. Think of the pizzas, wings, and drinks you'll be purchasing for your super bowl party this weekend. Now multiply that!

This year, 103.5 million people plan to throw or attend a Super Bowl party, and another 17.8 million plan to watch the game at a bar or restaurant (source: National Retail Federation). Food and beverages are expected to make up 79% of purchases related to Super Bowl LVII. This contributes to a spending total of $16.5 billion.

Every month, we title our introductory letter after a song that seems fitting. Can you name the artist who originally recorded this month's song, The Show Must Go On?

Your options:

• Aerosmith
• Queen
• The Beatles
• Billy Joel