Latest news with #JoplinAreaChamberofCommerce
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Missouri lawmakers prioritize Prop A, education reform in final weeks
JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers say with just a few weeks left in this year's session—they're still working to make big changes to state law. Missouri State Senator Jill Carter and State Representative Bob Bromley spoke this morning at the final Donuts and Delegates event of the year—hosted by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. Top 10 cities with the fastest-growing home prices in the Joplin metro area Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates 108th annual banquet Joplin man gets 50 years for using children in pornography production Candlelight vigil held to honor victims and survivors of crime Franklin Tech and PSU launch tuition-free pathway for vo-tech students Senator Carter tells us that—compared to the last three years—things are moving much more smoothly in the Missouri Senate. And with just a few weeks left in this year's session—she says the focus is moving towards a couple of items at the top of the majority party wish list. One of those items is Prop A—passed by Missouri voters last November. Along with increasing state minimum wage—it also requires employers to provide paid sick time for certain employees. Republicans say they're concerned with the impact that could have on small Carter says education reform will also be a hot topic. 'We're seeing at the federal level this break off of regulation, and we'd like to do that at the state level as well. Seventy percent of what goes on in public education is dictated by the Department of Education, our State Department of Education, and so, we're trying to give our teachers some flexibility in the assessment process, and also with being able to have more parent and community input,' said Senator Jill Carter, (R-Mo.) 32nd district. Representative Bromley says his focus is on your vehicle. Specifically, Bromley says a bill allowing for a three-year license plate is being worked on. Currently—Missouri offers one and two-year options. Bromley says he's also working on legislation that would eliminate car inspections on any vehicle made after 2012. He tells us a better working relationship with the State Senate has allowed both chambers to work on bigger ticket items—like the state budget—faster than in years lets them address smaller—but no less important—issues now. 'Some of these you might consider to be smaller bills that are coming out now. Historically, we've done the small bills, and waited until the end to get the big bills. So now, we're working on a lot of things to do that,' said State Representative Bob Bromley, (R-Mo.) 162nd district. Session ends on May 16th this year. Carl Junction Police Dept. office closed until Monday Jasper County 4-H students shine at Missouri State Capitol event CJ Council passes nearly $10 million city budget Carl Junction city leaders weigh $10 million budget Severe storms damage Four State region You can follow the bills Senator Carter and Representative Bromley mentioned through links on or at links provided here and here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates 108th annual banquet
JOPLIN, Mo. — Around 500 people are 'stayin' alive' at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet. Thursday night (4/10) was the 108th edition. It took place inside the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern. The theme this year: Disco! Each year, it's the largest gathering of community and business leaders in the Joplin area. Awards were given to chamber members, and covered a number of different categories. This event celebrates not only its members, but their achievements over the past year. 'It's an opportunity for us to recognize those businesses that are going above and beyond and giving back to the community, adding character and quality of place to this community. We just want to recognize and celebrate that,' said Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Travis Stephens. The Business of the Year Awards program recognizes the importance of small businesses and nonprofit organizations and the impact they have on our local economy, job growth, and the creation of new products and services. One – 50 Employee(s) CategoryBinky Guy Textiles 51+ Employees CategoryAmerican Ramp Company Non-Profit CategoryBoys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri Each year, one outstanding citizen is selected based on their commitment to the community. Curt Carr, Joplin Greenhouse & The Coffee Shop The Young Professional of the Year Award recognizes a Joplin Chamber member under 40 who displays a commitment to the Chamber's YPN Program and who is a leader in their organization and the community. Danae Taylor, Freeman Health System The Rising Star Award is awarded to a young and growing small business that is less than three years old and is introducing a new product, service, or model of doing business to the marketplace and is well on their way to achieving success in their industry. Josh Howard, Happy Trees Table Co. New this year, the Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes a member of the Chamber's Ambassador program who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Richard Huskey, Southwest Missouri Bank The Spirit Award recognizes a Chamber member who exemplifies selfless dedication and enduring support to the mission of the Chamber. Recipients of this award go out of their way to encourage and inspire their peers to follow their example and demonstrate a personal commitment to the success of Chamber programming. Travis Keller, Lamar Outdoor Advertising KOAM-TV — 50 Years of Membership The Leads Group program acts as an entire sales team for member businesses. The groups track their shared and closed business. Awards are given to the top performers of each group as well as the overall, top-performing Leads Group. Leads Group One Top Performer: Gina Langston, Joplin SchoolsLeads Group Two Top Performer: Austin Rose, Bedrock Bookkeeping, Group Three Top Performer: Lisa Crouch, State Farm Insurance – Grant Deardorff AgencyLeads Group Four Top Performer: Theresa Burwick, Behavioral Health GroupTop Performing Leads Group: Leads Group One, Chaired by Shawn Patterson of Bug Zero Pest Services and co-chaired by Phillip Leesman of Farmers Insurance – Leesman Agency Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joplin City Council to get report on projects funded with use-tax revenue
Nearly a third of the projects that are to be done with use-tax revenue have been completed by the city of Joplin. A presentation on the status of the 45 action plan programs and initiatives that are funded or partly funded by that tax will be given Monday at a work session of the City Council. Members of the Action Plan and Implementation Oversight Committee have been meeting since January 2022 after voters approved collection of the use tax in November 2021. That group, led by former Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President Rob O'Brian and City Manager Nick Edwards, has given input into the projects, asked questions and made suggestions for them, as well as monitoring the progress. The presentation Monday will provide residents with information on how much the use tax has collected and how it has been disbursed among the various city sales tax funds so that some portion of it goes into many city projects and needs. It has even contributed to hiring of some additional positions so that there are more city workers to carry out the action plans as well as regular city functions. Since collection of the tax started in early 2022, it has brought more than $17 million into city coffers that went toward things such as hiring and equipping park rangers, adding positions and contributing to equipment purchases for police and fire departments and to neighborhood improvements. Residents will be provided with information about things such as the effort to clear deteriorated houses and the construction of replacements, a home repair program that has paid for some exterior home repairs in several income-restricted neighborhoods, and the future commitments for spending that are aimed at overall improvements across the city and its services. Future projects also will be discussed. The creation of programs and projects to bring improvements started with a listening tour conducted by the city manager in 2020, in which residents expressed concerns about declining neighborhood conditions and housing, homelessness, economic development needs, traffic congestion and quality of life. A City Council retreat later that year resulted in the council adopting a strategic plan with specific goals set. Those are to improve community appearance, address declining neighborhoods, increase economic opportunities, address homelessness, reduce crime and increase safety, and create and grow resilient revenue. Use-tax funds have helped finance work on those goals. Some city American Rescue Plan Act grant funding also has been used for those purposes, the city manager told the oversight committee at a meeting Wednesday. The council meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. Monday on the fifth floor of City Hall, 602 S. Main St.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joplin, Carthage chambers changing how they meet with state lawmakers
Eggs and Issues has been a traditional event for five area communities for decades, but chambers in Joplin and Carthage are changing things up this year. Joplin Travis Stephens, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said Joplin chamber members told the organization that they thought the old format, at which several area lawmakers each talked for a few minutes, had become stale and that they wanted something different. 'In Joplin, what we wanted to do, there are six legislators we always have there, the five local state representatives and the senator," Stephens said. 'We wanted, instead of meeting with all of them together sharing an hour and a half of time, we wanted to really give them that quality engagement with our members.' Stephens said the Joplin chamber will host four events with two lawmakers at two of the events and one lawmaker at two of the events. All events will be held at the chamber office, 320 E. Fourth St. They are scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. on four Fridays — March 7, March 14, April 4 and April 11. Stephens said which lawmaker will attend which meeting is still to be determined. People can get more information or register for the events at Carthage The Carthage Chamber of Commerce decided to meet with state Rep. Cathy Jo Loy, R-Carthage, and state Sen. Jill Carthage, R-Granby, in a more informal roundtable setting recently. Carthage's first event was Jan. 31, and it will hold a followup event sometime in June after the legislative session is over. About 60 to 70 people attended. Chamber President Julie Reams previously told the Globe that the new Carthage Stakeholder Legislative Review is Carthage's replacement for the traditional Eggs and Issues event. 'After many conversations with local chambers that partner on that for the months until May, it just wasn't becoming effective,' Reams told the Carthage City Council last month. 'We decided we're all doing our own thing in making that shift and focusing on our leaders that make those decisions for us in Jefferson City.' Webb City, Carl Junction Chambers in Webb City and Carl Junction are teaming up to hold a more traditional Eggs and Issues event at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, at the Route 66 Event Center, 21 S. Webb St. Sydney Crider, membership and marketing director at the Webb City Chamber, said their members liked the Eggs and Issues format. 'So we got together with Carl Junction chamber, and we talked to them about what date would be good, and we got with some of the legislators and talked to them about dates,' Crider said. 'We're inviting all the legislators we would have invited, regularly including House Reps. Bob Bromley, Ben Baker, Lane Roberts, Ann Kelley and Sen. Jill Carter.' People will need to contact the chamber at to make reservations. Neosho Neosho is also sticking with the Eggs and Issues format with an event scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Crowder College. Chamber CEO Lauri Lyerla said the Neosho Eggs and Issues event is traditionally held in May after the legislative session wraps up. 'The one thing that's always a little different about ours, and that's why we are not changing it this year, because ours is always after the session is over. The lawmakers are really able to give an update about what was done and where they ended up," she said. Lyerla said the chamber will invite lawmakers from across the area to the event. To make a reservation closer to May 20, people can go to
