News To Know: world-renowned scientist, tech summit

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Making Memories Tour holds its annual travel expo. They have multiple stagecoach tours and trollies. It gives repeat customers an opportunity to come back and tour together.

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Stanford University names a Pittsburg State University faculty member a part of the top 2 percent of scientists in the world. Ram Gupta works as an associate professor at PSU. The chemist spends his time researching, advocating for grants, and most importantly inspiring a new generation of scientists.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Some local tech businesses on Friday had the opportunity to show off their innovations in Joplin. The Joplin Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2022 Joplin Regional Innovation and Technology summit. The summit provides a chance for tech businesses to hold sessions showcasing their emerging technology, business innovations, cyber resiliency, and digital cities. Click here to view a full interview with Erin Slifka from the Joplin Chamber of Commerce to hear more about this tech summit.

JOPLIN, Mo. – KCU Joplin starts a new program to train their students with the help of actors. The simulated patient program allows students to experience realistic scenarios they could face on the job. Actors are trained to portray patients with various illnesses and injuries. Students are assessed on how they provide care to the actors.

 

Joplin Chamber of Commerce introduces a new grant

JOPLIN, MO — Are you a small business owner in Joplin or someone with an idea to help solve a problem the Joplin community faces? Erin Slifka from the Joplin Chamber of Commerce swings by the studio to tell us all about this grant. But hurry to apply as the deadline to apply is May 30th! For more information, you can find it on their website and you can find the application at this link.

Area organizations team up for Launchpad project

JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin City Council is unveiling its plan for projects throughout the year. One big collaboration is called Launchpad. Missouri Southern State University, the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, and Joplin Schools are part of the partnership.

Toby Teeter, President of Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said, “This is an opportunity where the business community works with Missouri Southern State University and the city of Joplin to build a robust city center that better supports entreprenurial ecosystem our talent pipeline.”

The Launchpad project has been in the works for three years to improve the entreprenurial ecosystem in Joplin. The program would move into the 48,000 square foot former downtown library on Fourth and Main. The project is giving high school students and MSSU students job opportunities.

“Not only are we trying to cater to our existing workforce and existing business sectors, but we are also trying to incubate 21st century business sectors like engineering biosciences and technology as well as entreprenuership.”

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce also applied for a grant to bring code labs for adults to the community.

“We could take people that are not from an it background and in a matter of 12 months make them a full stack web developer and create more of that talent for our community.”

For launchpad MSSU would relocate their small business development center from campus to downtown. The university says the project would help students by connecting them with local internships.

Dr. Dean Van Galen, MSSU President, said, “In many cases students who do an internship go on for employment with that business so I think it will be really good for our students and develop the talent and workforce for the joplin area.”

Since Monday’s City Council meeting was a work session they are not making any decisions on the project. Launchpad is expected to cost $10 million. So far launchpad applied for a $750,000 grant in December.

Downtown workspace getting renovation

JOPLIN, Mo. — A downtown building dedicated to helping local business grow is adding a new program designed to attract even one-person operations.

Going to work often means a 9-5 schedule, under a big roof with many co-workers. It’s a price proposition for a beginning business, and thanks to a new option something they may not need to commit to right away.

Doug Hunt, Joplin Chamber, said, “A powerful tool in economic development.”

It’s the new co-working space under renovation in the Newman Innovation Center. Rows of cubicles and collaborative space you can rent without a long term lease.

“A month or two – or like we’ve got one gentleman that’s going to come in for about three days to host an online training type thing. So we are being as flexible as possible for business and especially new start-up businesses.”

Joplin Chamber President Toby Teeter points out the program provides many features a new business needs without having to pay extra bills.

Toby Teeter, Joplin Chamber President, said, “They’re able to share assets they have a shared break room a shared conference room and we have internet and Wi-Fi.”

Prices start at just $150 a month, giving that new business or remote worker extra support and a chance to network with others with similar needs.

“The collaboration among the business in the incubator is a pretty powerful elements well,” said Hunt.

The space was designed to handle pandemic spacing and sanitation requirements. The remodeling is nearly done and they hope to officially launch in the coming weeks.

IRS extends deadline to invest in Opportunity Zones

JOPLIN, Mo. — The IRS is extending the deadline for Opportunity Zone investment funds.

This means investors have more time to put money into opportunity zones. Parts of Joplin are in an Opportunity Zone, which means there’s an incentive for people to buy properties and bring businesses to Joplin.

Derek Smith, Partner With BKD LLP, said, “The whole key behind Opportunity Zones was to incentivize investments in certain areas that congress and the government felt like were underserved or under invested in so this was a way that they can incentivize folks that have money to invest.”

Joplin has one Opportunity Zone that runs from Turkey Creek to Seventh Street and Main Street to Range Line. The Chamber of Commerce says they are seeing a jump in investments.

Toby Teeter, President of Joplin Area Chamber Of Commerce, said, “What has changed in the last couple of years is that people are starting to respond to them. Realtors are understanding them better and are encouraging investors to acquire these properties and make improvements to the properties and put more properties back into service.”

He says investing in opportunity zones creates a ripple effect.

“When a property is improved inside an Opportunity Zone obviously, one, it creates tax revenue. That value of the property is enhanced so there’s more property taxes so there’s more investment that cycles through. And it reaches all of us we get better streets, better law enforcement and so on.”

Because of the pandemic congress and the IRS extended key Opportunity Zone investment dates from December 2020 to march 31, 2021. This gives investors more time to meet the criteria of opportunity zones and helps inject money back into cities.

“Its giving businesses more time to execute on their plan of investment and its also giving them more time to get their business plan off the ground and running,” said Smith

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce says Joplin is doing well during the pandemic nearing the three percent unemployment range. The chamber say the city is adding 500 to 600 new jobs from expansions and business attraction efforts.