Rob O'Brian, President of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, comments about the economic development team. To his left are Joplin Mayor Richard Russell and John Chappell, President of SST.

SST, which processes automobile loans, currently employes 170 at its facility at 809 Illinois. According to a release by JPMorgan Chase, SST, its new wholly owned subsidiary, will "initially house approximately 500 new employees and can house up to 900 employees in managerial, technical and customer service positions" at the new Seventh Street location. Currently still in the re-construction phase, the facility is scheduled to open by the second quarter of 2004. Crossland Construction of Columbus, KS won the contract.

"Since we moved to Joplin two years ago, we have been extremely pleased with the growth of our business and the support from the community," said Michael K. Clark, executive vice president and head of JPMorgan Institutional Trust Services. "Therefore, we have decided to invest even more human capital and resources into the city."

Part of this community support involves the cooperation of the Joplin R-VIII school district and Jasper County in authorizing nearly $2 million in building and equipment tax abatements over a 25 year period.

Governor Bob Holden announces the creation of 500 new jobs in Joplin. The governor is touting his Jobs Now, a plan to accelaerate the progress of the state's economy. According to Holden, Jobs Now will create new jobs through targeted investments in critical infrastructure, help stimulate growth in targeted industries and provide increased funding to ensure a highly skilled workforce in the state. He stressed that his plan was cost neutral because it redirects existing revenues.

To accomodate the $4 million spent in renovation and expansion of the former Wal-Mart building, the Missouri Development Finance Board, according to Governor Holden's office, gave preliminary approval for nearly $1.04 million in BUILD bonds last October with final approval of the project later this month. In addition, the Missouri Department of Economic Development is expected to grant up to $300,000 in Community College New Jobs Training Bonds as part of the incentive package for SST's growth with training to be administered through Crowder College in Neosho.

At left, Ron Richard (129-R), pictured right, chats with fellow Missouri representatives Ed Emery of Lamar (126-R) and Bryan P. Stevenson of Webb City (128-R). A former mayor of Joplin, Richard has been instrumental in initiating several economic development projects in the city. He currently serves as chairman of the interim committee on job creation and economic development in the House. At right, Doris Carlin is very active in Joplin affairs, having served as chairperson of Neighborhood Revitalization, a committee working for affordable housing development. She also is a member of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Joplin Business and Development Corp.

John J. Chappell, president of SST since the company was founded in 1996 in St. Joseph, praised the Joplin chamber, specifically O'Brian, for rolling out the red carpet when he first considered expanding operations to Joplin. "They treated us like a fortune 500 company, he said."

With a previous overall state decline in manufacturing jobs, Kelvin Simmons, Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, praised those who were locally responsible for economic development and for the 16.8 increase in jobs in Joplin, leading the overall percentage of 12.7 statewide. "It says a lot about the quality of life," Simmons concluded.

Go Back

Comments