OFFICES CONCERN INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION HEAD

The chairman of the board of directors of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association has written a letter expressing concern about plans to open five regional offices of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Joe Gambill said his group wants the department to leave things alone and continue to make referrals to organizations like his, not establish satellite offices around the state that could confuse potential prospects and duplicate efforts.

"They are not going to have enough money to decently fund an office here," said Gambill. "We are trying to establish our office as the identity for industrial recruitment and if you have more offices, it just spreads things out and dilutes our efforts."

Gambill said the industrial recruitment association was formed last year to eliminate duplication and provide coordination between the cities of Cape, Jackson, and Scott City, Cape County, and the Cape Chamber.

"We say things are working well the way they are now," he said. "We are getting excellent support and cooperation from the Department of Economic Development. If we have too many offices, nobody knows what to do."

In a letter to Joe Driskill, director of the Department of Economic Development, Gambill expresses concern about the regional office concept. The Fiscal 1995 budget likely will include money for five offices, each with funding of $82,000.

"The association's board of directors sees a potential problem with the Department of Economic Development's plan for establishing regional offices," wrote Gambill. "The first question we have concerns the exact role and duties of the regional offices. We have not been able to find any clear plan for these regional offices and their staff."

In the letter Gambill also expressed concern that the regional offices will duplicate what the state office already does.

"Will these regional offices create a new layer of bureaucracy that we will have to work through to get the answers from DED management?" Gambill wrote. "Our staff has been able to develop a good relationship with your project managers in Jefferson City, and we would hate to see this relationship fail."

Gambill suggests that rather than spend $410,000 to set up regional offices, the funds should be invested in staff and programs in Jefferson City.

If they have money to distribute around the state, rather than create regional offices, the association prefers that money be shared with similar agencies around the state.

Gambill contended that most industrial prospects will first contact the chamber of commerce office in a community, or if making a state level contact, will go to the main department office in Jefferson City.

"We don't see where another agency is needed," said Gambill.

Gambill said there is a lot of confusion around the state about the regional offices.

Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association, agreed. He said department officials have told him that once funding is budgeted, they will finalize the scope of the offices.

On behalf of RCGA, Wildman has submitted a proposal to Driskill to have the RCGA manage a regional office in Southeast Missouri. So far, Wildman said, the RCGA has not received a response. He anticipates being called on to make a formal presentation late this month or in May.

In their proposal, RCGA suggests a focus for the regional office.

"I think ultimately the five offices have a different focus in each region of the state," said Wildman. "What we are offering is to manage that office through our organization, but at this point we have had little direction from the department on what they want in an office.

"Our proposal is not to take the office to replace the RCGA in any way. What we are offering is a public-private partnership to run the new office."

Gambill said the Area Industrial Recruitment Association is not interested in managing a regional office, and stressed there appears to be no need for the offices.