AmerenUE

Founded in 1902, AmerenUE is Missouri's largest electric utility providing service to 1.2 million customers across central and eastern Missouri, including the greater St. Louis metropolitan area.  AmerenUE provides electric service to 65 Missouri counties and 500 communities.  AmerenUE also provides natural gas to 125,000 customers in more than 90 Missouri communities including towns in southeast, central and eastern Missouri.  AmerenUE's electric generating fleet includes coal-fired, nuclear, natural gas combustion turbines and hydroelectric facilities.  AmerenUE is a subsidiary of St. Louis based Ameren Corporation.

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperatives in Missouri , southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 850,000 homes and businesses. AECI uses a diverse mix of resources to meet it mission of providing an economical and reliable power supply to member systems, which serve 80% of Missouri .

Partnering in renewable wind power projects in 2007 capable of producing157 megawatts is just one way AECI continues to improve its environmental performance while meeting members’ growing electricity needs. AECI is the only Missouri utility with wind on its system.

Supplying customers’ growing electric consumption remains a top priority. To meet this challenge AECI is implementing an extensive energy efficiency program system wide. Using energy audits and new electro technologies customers will have the opportunity to effectively manage their usage.

AECI is among the few utilities rated AA by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Rating Ltd. and rated A1 by Moody’s Investor Services. The financially strong cooperative employees about 640 people, is headquartered in Springfield Mo. , and is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

AECI’s experienced staff is prepared to provide customized economic development services on a confidential basis. To learn more on how AECI can assist your business with its next expansion or relocation, contact Mark Woodson, Manager of Members Services and Economic Development at 417/881-1204 or mwoodson@aeci.org.

AT&T Inc. is the largest communications holding company in the United States and worldwide, by revenue. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T is recognized as the leading worldwide provider of IP-based communications services to businesses and the leading U.S. provider of wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. As part of its "three screen" integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verse^SM TV.

The merger of AT&T and BellSouth, along with the ownership consolidation of Cingular Wireless and YELLOWPAGES.COM, will speed convergence, competition and continued innovation in the communications and entertainment industry, creating new solutions for consumers and businesses.

AT&T continues to build on the heritage of its predecessor companies that have served customers for more than a century. The new AT&T will earn customer trust and loyalty with a continuing commitment to the deployment of innovative products and services, reliable, high-quality service and excellent customer care.

 Empire District Electric Company

The Empire District Electric Company, based in Joplin, is an investor-owned, regulated utility providing electricity, natural gas (through its wholly-owned subsidiary The Empire District Gas Company), and water service, serving approximately 215,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

The Company was organized in 1909 during Southwest Missouri’s mining boom and has grown in tandem with the region. Today Empire works to fulfill its mission of being a respected supplier of energy and energy related services to homes and industry. The Company prides itself on maintaining a diverse fuel supply mix of coal, natural gas, and water to generate electricity, as well as purchasing power from the Elk River Wind Farm. Empire works hard to meet the ever-increasing needs of a consistently growing number of customers with the addition of new generation sources. The Company recently announced participation in two new coal-fired power plants, Plum Point, located near Osceola, Arkansas, and Iatan II, located in Platte County, Missouri. Empire also announced a purchase agreement with the Meridian Way Wind Farm.

This diversity of power sources allows Empire to produce and deliver energy more efficiently and at a competitive price while maintaining the environment for future generations. In addition to providing utility services, the Company also provides fiber optic services to customers. 

Gilmore & Bell, P.C.  

Gilmore & Bell, established in 1979, is one of the leading public finance law firms in the United States . Headquartered in Kansas City , the Firm represents states, counties, cities, school districts and other governmental and quasi-governmental entities as bond counsel in municipal finance transactions.  Complementing its core practice, Gilmore & Bell also acts as disclosure counsel and bank counsel in municipal debt issues and as corporate counsel in corporate securities financings.  In addition, the Firm has an extensive tax and arbitrage rebate compliance practice and offers other post issuance compliance services. 

Offices are in Kansas City , MO , St. Louis , MO , Wichita , KS , and Lincoln , NE.   www.gilmorebell.com  1-800-844-3232

Kansas City Power & Light has been lighting the way for Kansas City's growth and prosperity since 1882. A wholly owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy Incorporated, KCP&L is a Midwest regulated provider of energy-related products and services for homes, businesses, industries and municipalities. Today, KCP&L serves approximately 500,000 customers in 24 counties of western Missouri and eastern Kansas, a territory of about 4,600 square miles. The company operates six plant sites generating more than 4,000 megawatts of power. In addition to its coal-fired plants, KCP&L is a co-owner of Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station.

To meet customers' future energy needs, KCP&L has developed a comprehensive energy plan that includes customer efficiency, affordability and demand response programs; 100.5 megawatts of wind generation; construction of an additional 850 megawatts of generation; infrastructure improvements; and environmental investments.

KCP&L offers energy efficiency programs and online resources to meet the needs of our business customers. These programs provide a means to reduce operating costs and increase efficiency -- concepts that are key components to operating successful businesses. Through these programs, KCP&L incentives help to lower the cost of identifying and purchasing energy-efficient equipment. In addition, KCP&L offers an economic development rider that provides qualifying customers to receive a discounted rate over five years.

For more information, contact Greg Kindle, Manager of Economic Development at 816-556-2103 or go online at www.kcpl.com.

MCCA Workforce Training Network

Missouri’s community colleges play a critical role in the economic success of the State.  By providing initial and continuing access to higher education and training, the State’s community colleges ensure that Missouri has the high-quality, well-prepared workforce it needs to remain competitive.  Missouri’s 12 community college districts – which include 19 campuses and numerous centers and training facilities – partner with the State of Missouri to provide worker training through Missouri Customized Training Program, Missouri Community College New Jobs Training Program, and various other projects.  More than 60,000 Missouri workers have benefited from these programs.  For additional information, contact the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) office or your local community college. 

Missouri Gas Energy

Missouri Gas Energy is a natural gas distribution company headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., serving more than 500,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 155 communities throughout western Missouri. The company has offices in St. Joseph, Lee’’s Summit, Warrensburg, Joplin, Monett, Republic and Neosho.

MGE is Missouri’’s second largest supplier of natural gas and the primary supplier for Kansas City, Mo., Joplin and St. Joseph. It is a division of Southern Union Company (NYSE:SUG). Headquartered in Houston, Southern Union is one of the nation’’s leading diversified natural gas companies, engaged primarily in the transportation, storage, gathering, processing and distribution of natural gas. 
  

Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association

Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association:  Founded as the Missouri Telephone Association in 1913, MTIA reflects the value and success of providing a forum for discussion and cooperation among all companies on issues affecting Missouri's telecommunications industry.  

The association monitors the activities of several state regulatory and administrative agencies as well as the Missouri General Assembly, federal agencies and Congress, serving as the industry's primary liaison in the state.  Membership includes all local exchange carriers in Missouri, as well as several wireless carriers and other telecommunications providers serving the state.

Noranda Aluminum produces some 560 million pounds of primary aluminum on an annual basis and serves customers throughout the US and Mexico. Noranda's strategic location at the mid point of the Mississippi River and next to I-55 means our market service position is one of the best in the country, serving customers with on time delivery and quality aluminum products.

Noranda Aluminum is committed to delivering products and services to their internal and external customers with established requirements and expectations.

Piper Jaffray & Company

Piper Jaffray & Co. is a full service investment banking firm which specializes in providing municipal bond underwriting and financial advisory services to cities and other governmental entities throughout Missouri and many other states.  Our firm, which was founded in 1895, consistently ranks among the leading underwriters of municipal bonds in Missouri , the Midwest and nationally.

Piper Jaffray has completed numerous economic development related bond issues throughout Missouri and nationally.  With such extensive experience with numerous development tools, we know the steps to make your economic development project a success.  Whether your specific project involves tax increment financing, community improvement districts, transportation development districts or other development incentives, we can point you on the right path and help your community avoid the potential pitfalls along the way.  

For more information, please visit our website www.piperjaffray.com or contact Todd Goffoy, Jack Dillingham or Dennis Mitchell at 800 829-5377 in Kansas City or Michelle Bock, Mike Sorth or Tom Curran at 800 754-2089 in St. Louis .

Septagon

Septagon Construction has played an integral role in helping build the Midwest for more than half a century. The full-service, single-source provider of construction services, headquartered in Sedalia, MO, has been a vibrant part of the Missouri and Iowa construction scene since 1948. With roots as one of the original Butler brand builders, the company has grown and earned a reputation as one of the Midwest's preferred industrial, commercial and institutional construction companies.

Septagon Construction bases its corporate culture on the premise of exceptional customer service - a value that employees practice daily. The company currently employs more than 220 people in its five different locations, which include Sedalia, MO; Columbia, MO; Jefferson City, MO; Des Moines, IA; and Cedar Rapids, IA. All of Septagon's employees receive regular training to keep them up-to-date with the latest building methods, technology and safety developments.

The company offers a variety of construction services including design-build, construction management, general contracting, reroof and maintenance services. Septagon's design-build process provides clients with a single source of responsibility for the planning, control, scheduling and construction of their project. With construction management, Septagon professionals manage a project and its trade contractors as the client's eyes and ears, ensuring cost efficiency, quality control and professional representation of the client's best interests. Under the general contracting method, Septagon works with the client's design team to execute construction of the project, many times using its self-performing crews for concrete, steel erection and carpentry. Septagon is also known throughout the Midwest as one of the leading providers of metal reroofs and is staffed with experienced roofing professionals. Septagon's maintenance services round out its comprehensive approach to satisfying a customer's complete construction needs.

Septagon Construction also has in-house architectural and engineering services, and through the design/build method of project delivery, design many of the buildings that Septagon constructs. Septagon also provides site selection, permitting, project and real estate development and multi-site projects throughout the midwest.

Septagon's primary building markets include manufacturing, distribution, commercial, schools, hospitals, and jails. According to Septagon President Jack McIntosh, nearly 73 percent of Septagon's business each year comes from past or current customers, and 24 percent from referrals.

Septagon is proud to be a long-time member and supporter of MEDC as well as many other professional, trade and civic organizations. More information can be found at www.septagon.com.

Smart Solutions Group

Smart Solutions Group is a consulting firm providing economic development services for communities, counties, regions and states throughout the United States. The firm specializes in applying business management, product development and marketing principles to design goal-driven economic development strategies focused on maximizing the return on investment. The partners combined have over 60 years of experience in the economic development and marketing arena. “We utilize our ‘economic development street smarts’ to help organizations organize, focus, innovate and implement to compete more effectively for investments and jobs in a highly competitive global marketplace. Primary smart consulting services include:  

• Strategic business planning

• Branding, positioning and messaging development

• Marketing and sales strategy development and implementation

• Organizational development including board coaching and training

• Site location and expansion consultation

Smart Solutions Group has also worked with several businesses and non-profit organizations providing a wide range of services including facilitation, strategic planning and marketing plan development. Over 250 organizations have benefited from the firm’s expertise, vast knowledge resource network and dedication to introducing new ideas and smart solutions. To learn more on Smart Solutions Group, visit www.smartsolutionsgroup.net

info@smartsolutionsgroup.net ~ www.smartsolutions.net