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| Missouri Works | |
|---|---|
| Name | Missouri Works |
| Type | State incentive program |
| Established | 1980s |
| Jurisdiction | State of Missouri |
| Agency | Missouri Department of Economic Development |
Missouri Works is a state-level job incentive program administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development designed to encourage employment growth in manufacturing and service industries across Missouri. The program aligns with state strategies similar to initiatives in Iowa Economic Development Authority, Kansas Department of Commerce, Arkansas Economic Development Commission and federal workforce efforts tied to the U.S. Department of Labor. Missouri Works interacts with local actors such as St. Louis economic development corporations, Kansas City chambers of commerce, and regional organizations like MACTEC-type consultancies.
Missouri Works aims to stimulate job creation, increase payroll, and attract capital investment in regions including St. Louis County, Jackson County, Missouri, Boone County, Missouri and the Bootheel (Missouri), coordinating with entities like the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, University of Missouri extension centers and industry groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and Business Roundtable. The program’s purpose ties into state statutes passed by the Missouri General Assembly and administered under executive guidance from governors like Jay Nixon, Eric Greitens, and Mike Parson, and it is evaluated alongside metrics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and reports by the Missouri Budget Project.
Eligible applicants generally include private firms, subsidiaries, and cooperatives registered with the Missouri Secretary of State that operate in sectors comparable to participants in programs run by the Economic Development Administration, SBA loan recipients, or recipients of credits under the Missouri Works Training Program. Applicants must submit proposals through the Missouri Department of Economic Development application portal and meet criteria reflecting payroll thresholds, hiring commitments, and capital investment similar to applications reviewed by the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Community Service Commission. Projects often require coordination with local jurisdictions such as the City of Springfield, Missouri, Jefferson City, or the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District for permits and incentives, and applications undergo evaluation by panels that include representatives from institutions like the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and regional planning commissions.
Incentives provided include performance-based payroll tax credits, withholding exemptions, and discretionary grants similar in structure to measures used by the Missouri One Start program, refundable tax credits administered in tandem with credits from the Missouri Film Office for production facilities, and tax increment financing coordinated with municipal boards like the St. Louis Development Corporation. Benefits are measured against outcomes tracked by agencies such as the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center and audited by entities akin to the Missouri State Auditor office; they can be combined with incentives from the New Markets Tax Credit program or federal tax incentives when projects meet eligibility.
Administration is led by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, overseen by directors appointed by the Governor of Missouri and coordinated with state boards such as the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Community Service Commission. Governance involves statutory frameworks enacted by the Missouri General Assembly and legal review by the Missouri Attorney General. The program’s rules and compliance processes interface with agencies including the Missouri Department of Revenue, the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, and local economic authorities like Great Rivers Greenway and regional planning commissions. Oversight reports have been prepared by research bodies such as the Pew Charitable Trusts, auditors like the Missouri State Auditor, and policy analysts affiliated with institutions like Washington University in St. Louis.
Analyses of impact reference employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, regional GDP studies from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and independent evaluations by groups such as the Missouri Budget Project and the Show-Me Institute. Supporters cite case studies involving investment growth and job retention comparable to outcomes promoted by the Economic Development Administration and U.S. Chamber of Commerce, while critics raise concerns similar to debates around programs examined by the Government Accountability Office and academic work from University of Missouri economists about cost-effectiveness, opportunity cost, displacement effects, and long-term fiscal impact. Critics also reference controversies resembling those in Kansas debates over tax incentives and reports by watchdogs like the Citizens for Tax Justice.
Missouri Works evolved from earlier state efforts in the 1980s and 1990s, intersecting with initiatives such as the Missouri Works Training Program and the Missouri Economic Development Incentives Act; its timeline reflects policy shifts under administrations including John Ashcroft-era appointments, legislative changes in sessions of the Missouri General Assembly, and grant strategies mirrored in neighboring states like Illinois and Oklahoma. Notable projects that have received incentives include manufacturing expansions in the St. Louis and Kansas City metros, corporate relocations similar to those pursued by firms like Boeing, General Motors, and Anheuser-Busch InBev (as an example of large employer incentives), and distribution center projects akin to developments by Amazon (company) in other states. Publicized reviews and audits have been produced by organizations such as the Missouri State Auditor, academic centers at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and policy institutes including the Show-Me Institute.
Category:Economy of Missouri