Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick grew up in Texas, and just celebrated his 10th anniversary in Columbia. The Columbia Chamber has nine staff members and about 1,000 members that represent about 50,000 employees. Workforce development, the rebuilding of I-70 through Columbia and broadband are top priorities for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Mr. McCormick tells 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” that the chamber is also considering Madison, Wisconsin for its next leadership visit, to see how Madison has responded to the challenges of homelessness:
Mizzou and MACC funding continue to be top priorities for Columbia business leaders
Missouri’s governor is proposing a $71-million increase in core funding to Missouri’s public higher education institutions, like the University of Missouri. It’s the largest increase in 25 years, according to Governor Mike Parson (R).
Funding for Mizzou and Moberly Area Community College (MACC) is a top priority for Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick.
“You know we’re an education town and the University of Missouri is our land-grant and is our flagship university here. And they do so much in education but also so much through the (MU) Extension. We saw the work that Marshall Stewart did and his team at Extension has done for our local community,” McCormick says.
McCormick notes MACC is also state-funded.
“Their largest campus is right here, (their) largest student-populated campus is right here in Columbia. And how can we make sure to support MACC so they can continue to develop that workforce of the future. They’ve got great programs like early college with Columbia Public Schools (CPS) and how those work together,” says McCormick.
The governor is also proposing $275-million in “transformational” capital improvement projects at Missouri’s public higher education institutions.
Columbia business leaders focusing on I-70 across Missouri
I-70 across Missouri will be a major theme during Missouri’s 2023 legislative session, according to Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick.
“I mean I-70 we’ve got to get something done with I-70, so we can continue moving forward with other highways and other interstates through our state,” McCormick says.
The importance of rebuilding I-70 was discussed recently by business leaders during the Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) board meeting in Columbia. State Sen. William Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) has unveiled a proposal to rebuild I-70 from Wentzville to Blue Springs, making it four lanes in each direction. Senator Eigel has told 939 the Eagle his proposal would tap into Missouri’s record surplus and then get a federal match of 50 percent. He says that would give Missouri the $8-billion needed to complete the project. His bill is Senate Bill 317.
“They’ve (MoDOT) got these seven big projects taking place on I-70. So how can we connect those dots, how can we help from border to border to connect those dots. Widen, make Highway 70 a better interstate that we can move people, we can move goods, we can move services. And that’s what’s important to the business community,” says McCormick.
Two of the seven projects Mr. McCormick mentions are in our listening area. MoDOT and its contractors are currently working on the massive $240-million I-70 Rocheport bridge project. More than 12-million vehicles cross the current I-70 bridge each year. MoDOT is also proposing a $140-million upgrade at Columbia’s I-70 and Highway 63 interchange. Transportation officials say 160,000 vehicles go through that intersection daily.
Columbia business leaders interested in College Station’s branding
About 70 representatives from Columbia’s business community, higher education institutions and city and county elected officials will travel to Texas in October, to get detailed presentations on College Station’s community branding and workforce initiatives. Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick says this will be the chamber’s ninth trip to a college town. “That’s what …