What happens when the business

community unites around a strong plan?

MISSOURI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Progress!
Since the launch of Missouri 2030: An Agenda to Lead, the Missouri Chamber
Foundation has been on a mission to unite the business community
behind a statewide, data-driven, solutions-oriented strategy of policy
and program recommendations to reposition our state as a global
economic leader. We are starting to see significant return on this
effort. These recommendations helped define the 2017 legislative
session, one of the most productive in recent history. In addition,
Missouri 2030 is behind progress in other statewide initiatives, especially
in the area of workforce development. You can find more details
about this work in the pages that follow.

Missouri 2030 is a comprehensive effort to provide leadership, direction and a long-range economic development
plan for the state of Missouri. It puts Missouri’s business community in charge of the economic fate of our state
by driving collaboration around a long-term plan that transcends political cycles and sets transparent metrics and
benchmarks that will hold leaders accountable for progress.

To create Missouri 2030, the Missouri Chamber Foundation hired Gallup and one of the nation’s best economic
development strategists, Ted Abernathy, to analyze our state’s economic position. We talked to site selectors,
economic developers and more than 1,000 of Missouri’s top CEOs and business leaders to learn about our
economic strengths and weaknesses. Our findings were disturbing. Based on Gallup’s research and comparable
economic data, we concluded that Missouri was falling behind. Without unified, statewide business leadership
and ambitious new efforts, our state’s economic performance was not going to improve. In fact, Missouri’s
position would likely get worse compared with other states that were actively addressing employers’ needs.

So the Missouri Chamber Foundation focused on four drivers that could make the most impact on our economy:
• Preparing the Workforce • Connecting Through Infrastructure

• Competing for Jobs • Uniting the Business Community

The focus is working. Missouri 2030 has provided a sense of urgency to the business community and policymakers.
The plan has sparked action to enact long-overdue change in economic policy. More important, because Missouri 2030
was written with an eye toward long-term, statewide improvement, the plan will continue to fuel positive change
for years to come. We still have a long way to go to get to the Missouri we all want and expect. Missouri 2030: An
Agenda to Lead is how we get there.

Sincerely,

Daniel P. Mehan
President/CEO

3
4
 “
The Missouri Chamber Foundation is providing the
leadership and direction our state needs to compete
through Missouri 2030. The implementation of a clear,

”
data-driven, long-term plan is critical to the future
of our state. The Missouri Chamber’s investment in
Missouri 2030 is already making a difference.
– Dennis Vinson, Owner
Signature Packaging and Paper

Table of Contents
Accomplishments: Uniting the Business Community......................................................... Page 6

Accomplishments: Policy.................................................................................................. Page 11

Accomplishments: Programs............................................................................................. Page 16

The Missouri 2030 Plan................................................................................................... Page 18

5
 Accomplishments :
UNITING THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY
BRINGING TOGETHER MISSOURI’S employers, both big and small, are involved in
BUSINESS COMMUNITY the plan, by either providing financial support or
expertise or serving on one of our issue alliances.
Fragmentation has become the norm for Missouri.
The divide and dissent between our political parties, EDUCATING VOTERS AND CANDIDATES
urban and rural communities, and special interests ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER
create friction that greatly slows progress on statewide
Before the 2016 election, we shared the plan with
needs such as education, infrastructure and business
candidates and voters and measured support based on
climate. If Missouri is going to take action to be
candidates’ commitment to workforce, infrastructure
more competitive, the business community must lead
and competitiveness policy.
on these critical issues. We must look for alignment
between elected officials and the policies that we
Our investment in the Money Trail online tracking
believe are necessary to grow the economy.
system of labor and trial attorney political contributions
That’s why the Missouri Chamber worked with helped voters identify candidates taking large
Gallup to survey more than 1,000 Missouri CEOs contributions from these anti-business special interests.
and business leaders to find out what they believed
were the biggest challenges facing Missouri employers. After years of electing legislators who blocked
Gallup also asked what they believed Missouri labor and tort reforms, voters elected a new slate of
policymakers should do to fix these problems. lawmakers who would finally break the logjam on
these issues.
Missouri 2030 is built on that input. More important, the
plan continues to be guided by Missouri’s business
community. Hundreds of Missouri’s most influential

6
MEASURING OUR PROGRESS

We’ve launched an interactive, online Missouri 2030

Dashboard to measure progress with our plan through
key metrics and economic success. The Dashboard is
designed to provide clear metrics, transparency and
accountability on more than 30 different economic
areas. It is updated as data becomes available and is
accessible 24/7. By measuring our progress in these
key areas, we will hold policymakers accountable.

To view more economic metrics, go to: www.mochamber.com/dashboard

7
 “
I want to thank the Missouri Chamber for
stepping up with the Missouri 2030 strategic plan.
They are the ones who can provide the research

”
and pull the whole state together. We need to make
sure we are speaking loudly and clearly for the
business community because if we don’t, who will?
– Lara Vermillion, President
Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce

MISSOURI CHAMBER FEDERATION

Arnold Chamber of Commerce
Barton County Chamber of Commerce
Belle Chamber of Commerce
Belton Chamber of Commerce
Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce
Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Brentwood Chamber of Commerce
Callaway Chamber of Commerce
Camdenton Area Chamber of Commerce
Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
Carthage Chamber of Commerce Greater Kansas City
Cassville Area Chamber of Commerce
Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce
Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce
Columbia Chamber of Commerce Independence Chamber of Commerce
Concordia Area Chamber of Commerce
Cottleville/Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce
Dexter Chamber of Commerce
El Dorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
Eureka Chamber of Commerce
Excelsior Springs Area Chamber of Commerce
Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce
Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce
Gladstone Area Chamber of Commerce
Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce
Grandview Chamber of Commerce
Greater Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Marshall Chamber of Commerce
Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce
Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce Mid County Chamber of Commerce
Greater Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce Moberly Area Chamber of Commerce
Greater West Plains Chamber of Commerce Monett Chamber of Commerce
Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce
Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce
Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce
Higginsville Chamber of Commerce North Kansas City Business Council
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce
Northwest Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Northwest Jefferson County Chamber
Metropolitan St. Louis of Commerce
Holden Chamber of Commerce Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce
O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries
Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce Ozark Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce
Kearney Chamber of Commerce Parkville Area Chamber of Commerce
Kennett Chamber of Commerce Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce
Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce Platte City Area Chamber of Commerce
Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce
Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce Republic Area Chamber of Commerce
Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce
Lexington Area Chamber of Commerce Ripley County Chamber of Commerce
Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce Riverside Area Chamber of Commerce
Macon Area Chamber of Commerce Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce

8
Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce
Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area
Economic Development Corporation
South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Sparta Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Clair Area Chamber of Commerce
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce
St. Louis Regional Chamber
Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce
Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce BUILDING SUPPORT IN COMMUNITIES
Sweet Springs Chamber of Commerce ACROSS THE STATE
Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce The Missouri Chamber Federation is a partnership
Trenton Chamber of Commerce
created to unify the business community’s voice in
Troy Area Chamber of Commerce
the Capitol in Jefferson City and in Washington,
Union Area Chamber of Commerce
Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce D.C.  The Missouri Chamber Federation is a network
Warsaw Area Chamber of Commerce of Missouri’s strongest chambers of commerce that
Washington Area Chamber of Commerce provides grassroots support on issues that align with
Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of local priorities. Through this program, all federation
Commerce member employers that have 10 employees or fewer
Webb City Area Chamber of Commerce automatically become a member of the Missouri
Webster Groves/Shrewsbury/Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Currently,
Chamber of Commerce more than 100 chambers of commerce are a part
Weston Chamber of Commerce of the Missouri Chamber Federation. Together we
represent more than 75,000 Missouri employers.
(listing as of August 2017)

9
10
 Accomplishments:
POLICY
For many years, Missouri has been stuck in a state Many of the bills passed this year relate directly to the
of almost. The big reforms, the ones needed to truly goals of the Missouri Chamber’s Missouri 2030 plan.
chart a new course for Missouri, tended to come up
just short — blocked by a governor’s veto, a filibuster FIXING COLLATERAL SOURCE
or a failed override vote.
One new law approved in 2017 will allow courts to
consider whether a plaintiff’s losses have been covered
It’s no surprise, then, that some of our state’s biggest
or reduced through other sources such as insurance,
job growth opportunities were meeting a similar fate
workers’ compensation or adjusted hospital billing.
— almost but not quite.
Senate Bill 31, sponsored by Sen. Ed Emery, a
Republican from Lamar, will stop plaintiffs from using
In 2017, things changed. Missouri voters and a
inflated damages to trigger windfall-sized awards.
united business community sent a staunchly pro-jobs
governor to Jefferson City alongside record numbers
of business-friendly legislators who were empowered
to act on several long-neglected priorities. Guided
by the research and policy recommendations within
Missouri 2030, the Missouri business community was
poised for results.

“
The outstanding work by the Missouri Chamber to unite the
business community’s focus to push lawmakers on improving
the legal climate in Missouri was truly remarkable. In
particular, the passage of common-sense tort reforms will
result in significant savings for Missouri businesses from the

”
reduction and avoidance of frivolous employment litigation.
It will save my own company millions of dollars annually,
which will ultimately benefit all of our customers in Missouri.
– John Sondag, President
AT&T Missouri

11
 REFORMING EMPLOYMENT LAW RAISING EXPERT WITNESS STANDARDS

Senate Bill 43, sponsored by Sen. Gary Romine, a
Republican from Farmington, was signed into law
and provides a long-awaited response to a series of
Missouri Supreme Court decisions that lowered the
bar in employment discrimination cases and opened
the door to frivolous lawsuits against businesses. For
a decade, the court-constructed standard has made
Missouri one of the easiest places in the country to
sue a company and win. Trial lawyers profited by
exploiting this situation, which forced businesses
into a defensive posture and stunted their ability
to make necessary personnel decisions to address
workplace problems. Senate Bill 43 fixes this
problem while ensuring that businesses engaging
in the unacceptable act of discrimination are held
accountable.
Another important bill passed into law will stop
junk evidence from influencing court decisions.
House Bill 153 was sponsored by Rep. Kevin
Corlew, a Republican from Kansas City. It provides
the same high standards for trial evidence that are
currently required in federal courts and most other
states. Called the Daubert standard, it ensures
that only evidence deemed relevant, reliable and
provided by qualified individuals will be admitted as
expert testimony.
ENSURING EASE OF TRAVEL
The legislature passed a law to put the state in
compliance with federal REAL ID standards. The bill
will help ensure Missourians will continue to be able
to use a driver’s license to board planes. This bill was

“
also sponsored by Rep. Corlew.

The recent change to the way workers’ compensation law

is interpreted under the Templemire decision caused a
significant challenge for businesses all over Missouri.
We’re grateful to the legislature for addressing workers’
compensation reform this session and establishing a
more equitable environment for all parties. Treating each
of our co-workers in a way that is respectful and fair is
essential to our company, and the return to the unbiased

”
standard that Missouri has used for nearly 40 years
will provide both protection for Missouri workers and
predictability for employers.
– Denise Silvey, Manager of Human Resources
Paul Mueller Co.
Vice Chairman for Public Affairs,
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

12
REDUCING WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
LIABILITY
Another new law will correct two costly Missouri
Supreme Court rulings that relate to the workers’
compensation system. Senate Bill 66, sponsored
by Sen. Dave Schatz, a Republican from Sullivan,
fixes the Supreme Court’s 2014 Templemire
decision, raising the standard of proof in workers’
compensation discrimination suits. It also establishes
a fair, logical endpoint for temporary workers’
compensation benefits. The bill will help safeguard
the employer-funded workers’ compensation system
from frivolous benefits claims and excessive litigation.
ENDING THE DELIVERY FEE TAX
Delivery fees will no longer be subject to sales tax
under a new law sponsored by Sen. Will Kraus, a
Republican from Lee’s Summit. Before 2015, sales
tax had never been assessed on delivery fees. But a
court ruling that year gave the state the go-ahead to
begin taxing deliveries. Senate Bill 16 will prohibit
the Department of Revenue from assessing sales tax
on delivery fees.
ENSURING A CONSISTENT MINIMUM
WAGE
In addition, lawmakers passed a law responding
to a minimum wage hike in St. Louis. House Bills
1194/1193 will pre-empt and nullify all local laws
establishing minimum wage rates higher than
Missouri’s state minimum wage. The legislation was
sponsored by Rep. Dan Shaul, a Republican from
Imperial, and Rep. Jason Chipman, a Republican
from St. James.
BRINGING RIGHT-TO-WORK TO
MISSOURI
The General Assembly made quick progress on right-
to-work, and Senate Bill 19 was signed into law in
early February. Sen. Dan Brown, a Republican from
Rolla, sponsored the bill. While the bill passed easily
this year, it was an accomplishment decades in the
making. The Missouri Chamber has been advocating
for right-to-work since 1952.
13
 FUNDING MISSOURI SCHOOLS IMPROVING WORKFORCE TRAINING

Lawmakers achieved a major success when they
wrote a state budget that prioritizes education in a
way we’ve never seen. Budget writers chose to fully
fund the state’s K-12 foundation formula. This
decision aligns directly with an action item included
in the Missouri 2030 plan. Fully funding the foundation
formula also triggers additional state investment in
early childhood education.
In addition, the legislature passed House Bill 93
to improve access to the popular Missouri Works
Training program. The law also establishes four adult
high schools in the state. Roughly 500,000 adult
Missourians don’t have high school diplomas, making
it difficult for them to get jobs and leading to a high
rate of reliance on public assistance. Establishing
adult high schools will give these Missourians a
second chance at attaining a high school diploma.
House Bill 93 was sponsored by Rep. Jeanie Lauer, a
Republican from Blue Springs.

“
As Gallup identified through Missouri 2030 research, Missouri
companies need certainty on what laws apply when making
decisions on investment, jobs and growth. House Bill 451 creates
stability in Missouri by clarifying that cities, counties and political
subdivisions cannot ‘fall out’ of a population-based law once it

”
applies to them. This was needed legislation, not just for businesses
but for schools, fire districts and local governments who rely on
population-based statutes for revenue and authority.
– Cheryl Norton, President
Missouri American Water

14
FINDING A TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
SOLUTION
Missouri’s transportation system remains in need
of a new investment strategy. To continue this
discussion, the legislature passed a resolution to
set up a task force that will study the condition of
Missouri’s transportation system and offer funding
recommendations by Jan. 1, 2018.
PROVIDING STABILITY AND CERTAINTY
TO UTILITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Through House Bill 451, lawmakers clarified a
section of the law so that once a statute is put in
effect for a city, county or political subdivision,
that law remains in effect even if the population of
the area rises or falls. A legal challenge could have
jeopardized hundreds of Missouri statutes, making
this clarification necessary. The law provides stability
for businesses, schools, fire districts and local
governments that depend upon population-based
statutes to guide operations.
15
 Accomplishments:
PROGRAMS
We realize that not all of the changes Missouri needs
can be accomplished through policy. Missouri 2030:
An Agenda to Lead also funds programs that support
portions of the plan, and significant advances have
been made through several of these programs.
CARNEGIE STEM EXCELLENCE
PATHWAY PROGRAM
The Missouri Chamber Foundation is the statewide
provider of the Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway
program. In this role, we are leading the effort to
provide Missouri school districts with training,
resources and ongoing support to create and
implement long-term strategic plans to improve
STEM education. This year, the Missouri Chamber
Foundation concluded a series of 12 regional
workshops and one-on-one interactions with school
administrators across the state with strong impact
that includes:
• Helping implement sustainable STEM
education improvement models in more than
150 Missouri public, private and charter
school districts serving 441,000 students;
• Providing more than 1,800 K-12 education
professionals with quality STEM professional
development workshops;
• Building stronger relationships across
Missouri’s STEM network, allowing greater
sharing of best practices.
16
DREAM IT. DO IT.
The Missouri Chamber showcases manufacturing
careers by facilitating Dream It. Do It. programs in
the state. Dream It. Do It. is a national, grassroots
effort aimed at improving the way people perceive
manufacturing jobs and recruiting the next-
generation of manufacturing workforce. As the
statewide facilitator of Dream It. Do It., the Missouri
Chamber promotes and facilitates activities that
increase awareness of the abundant opportunities in
manufacturing and technology fields.
The Missouri Chamber’s work with Dream It. Do
It. includes several programs and services:
• Manufacturing Day - Every year we celebrate
manufacturing in Missouri and across the
country.
• Regional hubs - Through these hubs we
empower communities with resources to
address local workforce needs.
• Show-Me Manufacturing Video Competition -
Students are challenged to create videos
answering the question “What’s so cool about
manufacturing?” This year we reached 30,722
people with our campaign. Seventy-five
percent were between the ages of 13 and 17.
This is a 50 percent increase over last year.
SHOW-ME SCHOLARS
The Missouri Chamber’s Show-Me Scholars initiative
is a program built around a course of study that
encourages students to take more demanding
classes in high school. Business mentors from the
local community provide guidance to students to
encourage them to strive to do more in high school
by taking the Show-Me Scholars curriculum. The
curriculum provides an education that better prepares
students to enter a technical school, a community
college, a university or the workforce.
ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT THROUGH
SBTDC
Our partnership with the Small Business &
Technology Development Centers (SBTDC) also
continues to grow as we add more businesses and
training sessions to our workload. Last year, the
Missouri Chamber Foundation provided consultation
to more than 150 startup and expanding companies,
conducted more than 50 classes, and held more than
50 one-on-one consultations with small businesses.

The Missouri Chamber Foundation awarded

hundreds of students – a record number – with
Show-Me Scholars honors during local graduation
ceremonies around the state. Thanks to support by
AT&T, we added five $1,000 scholarships to be
awarded to students participating in the Show-Me
Scholars program.

“ ”
Being a Scholar means that you
worked really hard in school and
you did everything you could to
prepare yourself for the future.
– Rylie Veik
Show-Me Scholar and
Rolla High School Student

17
 The plan:

18
T he framework of the agenda is built
around four drivers:

1 Preparing the Workforce

2 Competing for Jobs

3 Connecting Through Infrastructure

4 Uniting the Business Community

These priorities focus on the fundamentals of a

successful economy. If Missouri can lead in these
areas, we will be an economic force that will provide
more opportunities and an improved quality of life
for Missourians.

Turning around the trends in these critical areas

will take time. Missouri 2030 is a long-term agenda for
continued improvement. By the time we reach 2030,
the Missouri General Assembly will have seen three
generations of legislators and at least three governors
come and go because of term limits. Missouri 2030 will
provide continuity throughout these political changes.
It will provide the structure and goals that Missouri’s
business community and other stakeholders can
endorse and work together to achieve.

On the following pages you will learn about the

research, goals and action steps of the Missouri 2030
plan. Where we have made progress, you will see this
symbol: PROGRESS!

19
Preparing the
WHAT THE RESEARCH REVEALED

Through our Gallup research, we heard clearly that

Workforce
we need to invest in Missouri’s workforce. Only 44
percent of Missouri business owners are satisfied with
the state’s availability of skilled workers. Employers
cited weaknesses in the state’s ability to prepare, attract
and retain workers. According to the Gallup survey:

• Only 15 percent of Missouri business owners

agree that high schools are preparing students for
the workforce.

• Only 42 percent of Missouri business owners

agree that colleges provide preparation for the
workforce.

• Only 30 percent of Missouri business owners

agree that Missouri attracts top talent.

• Only 30 percent of Missouri business owners

agree that the state is able to retain top talent.

Workforce Preparation
100%
15%
44% disagree
80% disagree

42%
60% neutral

40% 39%
neutral

42%
20% agree
15%
agree
0%
HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADUATES GRADUATES
are prepared for are prepared for
the workforce the workforce
Gallup

20
One-on-one interviews with the CEOs from some of Addressing the top concern of workforce will require
the state’s largest employers mirrored the responses a new focus on the demand side of worker training.
from the Gallup survey. More than 90 percent felt A demand-driven
that actions to improve education and workforce approach is made
preparedness were absolutely necessary. up of the public and “The community colleges
private sector policies have outstanding technical
While a major issue for existing businesses, workforce and programs that programs, but we are not
is also a key for attracting new jobs to the state. help people acquire getting the throughput. It needs
Gallup followed up the survey with business leaders the knowledge and to be pushed to students,
by conducting in-depth interviews with site selection skills needed to earn a parents, teachers and adults
consultants, discovering that: living. with influence in their lives …
we are not effectively promoting
• It is increasingly difficult for manufacturers By focusing on the
the social and economic value
to find skilled and semiskilled labor such demands of business,
of industrial careers ... we need
as machinists, welders and maintenance this type of approach
a PR campaign ... we need to
technicians. Demand for these positions is allows local residents
make this a cool thing to do.”
outstripping supply. and service providers
to understand the
• Missouri is not effectively promoting the social opportunities that exist Site Selector
and economic value of industrial careers that for current and future
may not require two- and four-year degrees. employment and what
specific skills are necessary to take advantage of those
• Missouri should look to other states that have opportunities.
implemented training grants and reimbursement
programs. HOW MISSOURI 2030 CAN HELP
MISSOURI BETTER PREPARE
Another indicator of workforce strength analyzed by
No other issue is of more concern for businesses
the Missouri Chamber Foundation was the status
today. Missouri must improve the education system at
of 25- to 44-year-olds. This population sector in
all levels and integrate the skills needed by businesses
Missouri is decreasing three times faster than the rate
into every curriculum. Gallup reported that a
of the national average.
common sentiment was “unless Missouri changes the
way we are preparing people for the jobs of the future,
the current mismatch between employer skill needs
and the talents of the workforce will widen.” Systemic
education reform is needed, but it will take years.
Therefore, initiatives that work around the current
system must also be made available to help employers
in the short term.

21
 Goal: Increase the voice of business and
Preparing the industry on education and workforce issues at
Workforce the state and national policy levels.

Action steps:

Hire a dedicated governmental affairs liaison to

address workforce needs. PROGRESS!
Advocate policy that competitively funds our K-12 and
higher education systems, implements much-needed
reforms, provides better support for high-performing
teachers and administrators, and sets higher standards
for Missouri students. PROGRESS!

Goal: Optimize existing training programs and

find innovative solutions to address gaps.

Action steps:

Facilitate an alliance called Missouri 2030:

Training consisting of human resources
managers, educators and workforce development
professionals to identify strengths and weaknesses
in Missouri’s training systems. The alliance
will produce an actionable plan to improve the
efficiency of state training systems. PROGRESS!
Hold an annual training conference that brings
together business leaders, community leaders,
economic developers and workforce development
professionals to share best practices and to align
goals.
Support statewide deployment of the Certified
Work Ready Communities (CWRC) program
through a statewide public relations campaign.
PROGRESS!
Advocate and secure the release of currently
withheld state funds that the legislature approved
to support the CWRC. PROGRESS!
Advocate for more effective use of state and federal
training funding.
22
Goal: Align workforce needs with outcomes
from Missouri’s education systems by facilitating
research and collaboration between business
leaders, educators, policymakers and workforce
development professionals.
Action steps:
Create an alliance called Missouri 2030: Workforce
consisting of business leaders, educators and workforce
development professionals charged with the creation
of an actionable plan to address the gap between
workforce supply and demand. PROGRESS!
Commission a study/survey to identify gaps
between student achievement and employer needs.
Goal: Increase the number of students
considering technical employment, STEM and
other targeted employment sectors by providing
timely job, skill and wage information for
students, parents and employers through a
strong public relations campaign.
Action steps:
Develop timely and informative, age-appropriate
industry and occupation materials for students in
middle and high school that also reference various
educational and training pathways.
Invest in paid media, earned media, public service
announcements and a social media campaign in
targeted regions of Missouri.
Develop partnerships to channel information to
students, parents and employers.
Goal: Expand relevant work experience
opportunities throughout the education system.
Action steps:
Build a system to promote internship opportunities
to Missouri’s employers, K-12 schools, post-
secondary institutions, students and parents.
Develop communication channels with high
school counselors to encourage students to take
rigorous courses and pursue relevant career
pathways.
Goal: Encourage students to take more
rigorous courses while in high school to be
better prepared for the workforce or higher
education.
Action steps:
Deploy statewide the Show-Me Scholars initiative,
which connects business leaders with junior high
and high school classrooms to encourage students
to take rigorous courses. PROGRESS!
Research outcomes of students taking more
rigorous coursework and publicize the importance
of raising the bar.
Expand the number of scholarships for Show-Me
Scholars students. PROGRESS!
Support the expansion of high-impact statewide
STEM education efforts. PROGRESS!
Expand business leaders’ active participation in and
support of the Missouri Mathematics and Science
Coalition.
23
 Competing
WHAT THE RESEARCH REVEALED

Without a competitive business climate, Missouri

for Jobs
cannot win the global war for economic prosperity.
Gallup dug deeply into key areas that impact
Missouri’s business climate and found that fewer
than one in four employers is satisfied with
Missouri’s litigation climate, tax environment or
government regulations.

Specifically, in the area of tax, the Gallup survey

revealed that 10 percent of businesses in Missouri
believe that Missouri’s tax environment is their
biggest obstacle to growth. A national survey
conducted by Gallup and Wells Fargo put that
number at 7 percent.

Gallup’s research found that employers were not

as concerned about the tax rate as the consistency
of Missouri’s tax laws. Gallup concluded that “the
inconsistency of Missouri’s tax policy is perceived as
a major issue, with 1 in 5 business owners agreeing
policies are stable enough to allow for year-to-year
growth planning. Construction, wholesale trade, and
health care industries reported even more concern
over tax inconsistency than other industries overall.”

Interviews with site selectors revealed a similar

concern. While generally complimentary of
Missouri’s tax incentive programs, site selectors
were worried that the programs’ administrative
complexity could be holding back some opportunities
for Missouri. “The time and effort that go into
applying for the incentives can normalize the value
of the incentive package except in very large deals,”
commented one site selector.

Like taxes, a state’s labor policy has a direct impact on

employers’ bottom lines. The Gallup survey revealed
that Missouri employers are also concerned about
labor policy. The majority of business leaders Gallup
surveyed, 54 percent, favor Missouri becoming a

24
 right-to-work state. Support for this policy change
“Missouri’s prospect flow on
was even higher in some industry sectors, such as
transportation, communications and utilities, where manufacturing is only 60 percent of
67 percent supported becoming a right-to-work state. what it would be if it was right-to-
work.”
Labor policy also plays a large role in a state’s ability
Site Selector
to recruit new business. Site selectors also stated that
becoming a right-to-work state would benefit Missouri.
One site selector commented that “Missouri’s prospect Some of Gallup’s findings identified strengths in
flow on manufacturing is only 60 percent of what it this area. Missouri businesses rate their access to key
would be if it was right-to-work.” inputs to their business’ success relatively high as
compared with other questions in the survey, with
Gallup also surveyed employers about the impact of over half reporting satisfaction with availability of
health care costs on their businesses. The vast majority credit, affordability of land, access to customers and
(80 percent) of businesses reported that their health business networking opportunities.
care costs will increase significantly in upcoming
years. Seventy-one percent said that these increases HOW MISSOURI 2030 CAN HELP
will impede their companies’ abilities to grow. Yet MISSOURI BETTER COMPETE
very few businesses, only 5 percent, said health care is
Gallup’s research has identified several factors in our
their biggest obstacle to growth.
business climate that Missouri can address. Simplicity,
predictability, transparency and efficiency should
guide future policy. The
Missouri Chamber has long
Key Inputs for Missouri Businesses
been considered the most
100% influential business advocacy
10% 10% 11% 14% group in Missouri’s Capitol.
12% disagree disagree disagree disagree
disagree Missouri 2030 will make that
80% lobbying team even stronger
31% 33% 35% 42% with additional advocacy
27% neutral neutral neutral neutral
neutral resources and tools. More and
60%
more, due in large part to
term limits, public policy is
40% circumventing the legislature
57% 56% 52% 43% and instead is being made
56% agree agree agree agree through government agencies
agree
20% and in the courts. Missouri 2030
arms the Missouri Chamber
with the support it needs to
0% become a stronger presence in
Availability Access to Access to Business Cost of basic
of affordable financing customers networking commodities
these areas.
land and credit opportunities
Gallup

25

Competing for
Jobs
Goal: Continue to aggressively
monitor Missouri’s business climate and
advocate for improvements in the areas of:
tax policy, legal environment, unemployment
insurance and workers’ compensation systems,
labor, health care, and other factors impacting
business competitiveness.
Action steps:
Maintain the strongest advocacy team for business
in Jefferson City by providing cutting-edge support
resources. PROGRESS!
Develop targeted research studies to support
advocacy efforts on key issues.
Invest in annual statewide issue polls.
Invest in communications tools and campaigns
to keep employer members, legislators, media
and the general public engaged in pro-jobs
policymaking. PROGRESS!
26
Goal: Keep Missouri’s corporate taxes
competitive and guarantee consistency.
Action steps:
Conduct a comprehensive study of Missouri’s state
budget, including a 15-year projection of expected
revenue growth and spending, to use in setting
long-term tax policy.
Commission an analysis of Missouri’s tax code by
leading tax professionals and present an actionable
list of recommendations that can be legislated.
Conduct annual state-by-state comparisons of tax
levels.
Goal: Become a model state for fair and
balanced resolution for injured workers and
unemployed workers while lowering transaction
costs of the workers’ compensation and
unemployment insurance systems.
Action steps:
Tap into the expertise of corporate defense
attorneys among Missouri Chamber membership
through the Missouri Chamber Legal Foundation
to help monitor legal decisions and other factors
impacting Missouri’s workers’ compensation and
unemployment insurance systems.
Develop a method to track Missouri’s real
unemployment rates to use in developing more
effective policy to address joblessness.
Provide legal white papers through the Missouri
Chamber Legal Foundation to help Missouri
employers stay in compliance with changes in the law.
Goal: Improve Missouri’s corporate litigation
environment.
Action steps:
Expand manpower for the Missouri Chamber
Legal Foundation to increase advocacy strength,
engage in the judicial selection process and
intervene in corporate legal cases. PROGRESS!
Perform a state-by-state analysis of key tort reforms
(employment law, comparative fault, punitive
judgments, evidentiary standard) and implement
a plan to align Missouri with states that have more
balanced, competitive litigation climates.
Invest in a research study to analyze the impact of
Missouri’s unbalanced tort system on our economy
to support advocacy efforts. Compare Missouri with
other states in levels of corporate suits filed, number
of cases settled pretrial and number of cases filed in
state and federal courts, among other data.
Build an alliance of Missouri’s corporate counsels
and convene regularly to develop a common action
plan and path toward meaningful tort reforms.
PROGRESS!
Establish an aggressive public relations plan to
support tort reform efforts. PROGRESS!
Build a database that tracks political contributions
from trial attorneys to elected officials and invest
in a paid and earned media campaign and social
media to publicize. PROGRESS!
Goal: Implement labor reforms.
Action steps:
Monitor labor activity in other states and build
resources and support to enact competitive labor
reforms in Missouri.
Invest in a strong grassroots campaign and media
plan to enact labor reforms.
Build a database that tracks political contributions
from unions to elected officials and invest in
a paid and earned media campaign and social
media to publicize. PROGRESS!
Goal: Improve access to quality, cost-effective
health care.
Action steps:
Work to reduce the negative impact of the
Affordable Care Act on Missouri employers by
enacting strong Medicaid reforms.
Build resources to support advocacy of medical
malpractice caps. PROGRESS!
Research methods to provide transparency in the
health care system.
Research market-driven solutions to reduce small-
employer health care costs. PROGRESS!
27
 Goal: Foster entrepreneurs and innovation.
Competing for
Jobs Action steps:

Facilitate an alliance called Missouri 2030:

Entrepreneurs to create an actionable plan to
make Missouri a more attractive state for business
startups. PROGRESS!
Collaborate with the SBTDC to provide effective
entrepreneurial training and startup support to
emerging Missouri businesses. PROGRESS!
Provide annual regional entrepreneur networking
events.
Proactively identify students and residents with
entrepreneurship talent who are most likely to start
a new business. Work with schools and universities
to develop the interest, skills and partnerships
needed to capitalize on this talent.
Conduct an annual tax policy review to maximize
the benefits for start-up and high-growth
companies.
Expand flexible capital formation through policies
that encourage new market tax credits, venture
capital, angel networks and crowdfunding.
Promote collaborative industry and higher
education research and development to increase
our ability to commercialize research projects.

28
Goal: Identify economic areas of strength
and leverage through collaboration and
strategic policy, including agriculture, banking,
energy, finance, insurance, health care,
manufacturing and technology sectors.
Action step:
Build alliances of the state’s leading companies and
experts for each of these sectors to collaborate and
develop actionable plans for growth. PROGRESS!
Goal: Protect Missouri’s military bases,
defense contractors and defense agencies
and the contribution these organizations add
to our economy by taking an active role in the
upcoming Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
process.
Action steps:
Produce educational materials that identify the
economic impact of Missouri’s military bases,
defense contractors and defense agencies and use
as tools to unify the business community, state and
federal policymakers, and other stakeholders in an
effort to protect our Department of Defense assets.
Deploy a public relations campaign to shore up
support and understanding of the role the military
bases, defense contractors and defense agencies
and companies that support the military play in
Missouri’s economy.
Encourage business and community leaders to join
us during the 2018 Missouri-DC Fly-in to discuss
BRAC with our federal lawmakers.
Goal: Increase the number of veterans and
family members that we retain in Missouri’s
workforce after service and encourage retired
military to choose Missouri as a permanent
residence.
Action steps:
Deploy an education campaign among Missouri
Chamber Federation members to enact veteran-
friendly policy and programs in their communities.
Provide educational materials to policymakers
and lawmakers to build the case for more veteran-
friendly policies that will encourage more veterans
to stay in Missouri after service.
Support an effort to build a statewide portal of
support groups, programs and services available to
veterans and their families.
Work with military bases and the business
community to strengthen communication and
bridge opportunities for veterans and their
families.
Work with military bases to provide annual
meetings for spouses of service men and women
to make them aware of work opportunities in
communities where they are stationed.
29
 WHAT THE RESEARCH REVEALED

Gallup’s research also focused on the infrastructure

that Missouri’s business community needs to grow
and be competitive. The research revealed that
basic infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, is a
prevalent concern of employers, especially industries
that depend on roads and airports for the movement
of goods. Gallup concluded that “business owners
that operate day-to-day in the state feel aging

Connecting
infrastructure is an increasing challenge for their
operations.” Respondents were 61 percent satisfied

Through
with their access to technology as compared with
only 37 percent satisfaction with basic infrastructure.
Transportation was one of the few areas where

Infrastructure
responses differed based on geography. The Gallup
research showed that business owners in the St.
Louis area were more satisfied with transportation
infrastructure than those in other areas of the state.

The site selectors interviewed by Gallup were quick to

cite location as a strength for Missouri. One stated:
“Especially in manufacturing, my decision is made
65 percent by logistics and supply chain dynamics.
Customers are expecting their goods faster and faster
and shipping times are decreasing.”

Satisfied With Infrastructure

100%
9%
disagree 14%
disagree 26%
disagree
80% 29%
neutral 33%
neutral

60% 37%
neutral

40% 61%
agree
52%
agree 37%
agree
20%

0%
Satisfied with Satisfied with Satisfied with
access to affordable and roads and
technology reliable energy infrastructure
Gallup

30
Another site selector commented, “Missouri has so
many strengths by default in its central location and
needs to take better advantage of these.”
Gallup concluded that leveraging Missouri’s location
through strategic policymaking and investment would
be a smart move for the state.
HOW MISSOURI 2030 CAN HELP
MISSOURI CONNECT
Missouri has always enjoyed a logistics advantage
because of its central location, navigable rivers and
strong railroad and interstate highway systems.
Infrastructure for the future, including global and
domestic air connectivity, passenger rail, public-
transit service to improve employee mobility, digital
coverage, and speed, can position Missouri as a hub
for commerce in the Midwest. At the same time,
Missouri enjoys low energy costs. This is an asset that
Missouri must actively protect and promote.
Goal: Protect Missouri’s advantage as a
low-cost-energy and -utility state.
Action steps:
Engage in legislative, agency and legal activity that
impacts energy production and distribution.
Work with business leaders, energy providers and
community leaders to establish a collaborative,
long-term plan to address Missouri’s aging
infrastructure and future energy and utility needs.
Goal: Develop a competitive advantage in
broadband coverage and speed.
Action steps:
Work with communities, state and local
governments, and broadband providers to
stimulate broadband use. Minimize regulations
and rules, which may impede the deployment.
Support grant programs to provide assistance for
consumers, education institutions and libraries
to purchase broadband service/equipment by
working with regional economic development
planning councils.
Goal: Expand Missouri’s logistics capacity for
domestic and international trade.
Action steps:
Create an alliance called Missouri 2030: Trade
to bring together current exporters, prospective
exporters and international trade professionals to
share best practices and develop an actionable plan
to grow international trade. PROGRESS!
Support efforts of the Midwest Cargo Hub
Commission to create an international air cargo
hub at Lambert Airport in St. Louis.
Partner with corporations to develop a “Made in
Missouri” campaign and help Missouri employers
to network and learn more about exporting their
products.
Goal: Leverage Missouri’s natural competitive
advantage of location by investing in strong
transportation infrastructure.
Action steps:
Utilizing an analysis of Missouri’s long-term
revenue and spending projections, identify how
much investment can be made in infrastructure
through existing revenue growth.
Analyze how much additional funding is required
to meet needs, and conduct polling to see what
funding methods or combination of funding
methods Missourians will support.
Focus transportation infrastructure investment
priorities on the most leveraged areas for
productivity and economic growth.
Employing the above data, develop a long-range
plan for sustainable infrastructure funding.
Support the Missouri Department of
Transportation’s freight plan, and improve freight
mobility and connections between roads, rail and
ports.
Create an Alliance called Missouri 2030:
Infrastructure to develop and implement a plan for
passage of a sustainable transportation strategy and
other infrastructure needs. PROGRESS!
Invest in a strong grassroots campaign and
media plan to build support for a sustainable
transportation strategy.
31
 Uniting the
WHAT THE RESEARCH REVEALED:

The Gallup survey clearly identified policies that

Business
Missouri employers want addressed, but employers
were not confident in elected officials’ ability to enact
change. Only 20 percent of the business leaders

Community
surveyed believe that politicians are committed
to improving the state’s business climate. Elected
officials have championed numerous economic
studies and initiatives over the years, but those plans
languish when the politicians leave office. Many
of the findings in the Missouri 2030 research echoed
previous studies and analysis. Unfortunately, no
long-term, actionable plan has been put in place to
implement the changes. Missouri has seen a cycle
of studies pointing out problems without a unified
vehicle to act.

Our research demonstrates that Missouri employers

want to change that dynamic. According to the
one-on-one CEO interviews, 87 percent believe the
Missouri Chamber should serve in the leadership role
to advance a unified initiative to better position our
state economically.

32
HOW MISSOURI 2030 CAN HELP
MISSOURI BETTER UNITE:
Action steps:
By building relationships with our local chambers of
commerce and other economic stakeholders, we can
channel our collective strength to advance our state.
Communication is key, and the Missouri Chamber
will invest in a variety of communication tools and
networking events to keep stakeholders informed.
Goal: Unite the business community.
Create an online dashboard to display Missouri’s
progress in key economic indicators and hold
leaders accountable for improvement. PROGRESS!
Continue to hold strategic planning sessions with
the state’s most influential CEOs to keep the
business agenda focused. PROGRESS!
Continue to build the Missouri Chamber Federation,
a network of Missouri’s strongest chambers of
commerce, by adding more members and arming
members with resources and tools needed to
engage in statewide advocacy and workforce and
economic development initiatives. PROGRESS!
Continue to build the Missouri Chamber Small
Business Alliance, which consists of Missouri
Chamber Federation member employers with 10
or fewer employees. These employers automatically
become members of the Missouri Chamber and
receive all advocacy and select member benefits
free of charge. PROGRESS!
Secure endorsements of Missouri 2030 from other
influential economic development, workforce
development and trade associations and provide
materials that these entities can use to educate their
constituents and advocate for those measures in
the plan that align with their goals. PROGRESS!
Invest in communications and strategies to
improve Missouri’s business image.
Issue frequent media releases, provide briefings
and communicate economic development
accomplishments to the public, investors and
stakeholders. PROGRESS!
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34
How can you join our effort
to make Missouri a leader?
Learn more about Missouri 2030 on our website:

mo2030.com
Sign up to receive progress updates.

Learn additional information about each key driver.

Download the full plan.

Join and promote the effort.

428 East Capitol Avenue
P.O. Box 149
Jefferson City, MO 65102

573-634-3511

mochamber.com