Thursday, June 7, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Visits Innovative Job and Product Design Center in Carthage
CARTHAGE–Gov. Matt Blunt toured Leggett and Platt's Innovation, Design, Engineering, Acceleration (IDEA) Center today to focus attention on how it is being used to create jobs and innovative products for a Missouri employer.
"Focusing on innovation and seeking new and better ways to manufacture products is the pathway to success in the global economy," Blunt said. "Missourians have created more than 93,000 new jobs since January 2005, and efforts to enhance services and operations are making our companies more competitive and are creating even more family-supporting jobs in our state."
The Leggett and Platt IDEA Center is the international headquarters for corporate research and development charged with developing and integrating technologies from across the company's different enterprises. The IDEA Center's purpose is to lead the innovation process for the company and its goal is to accelerate the design and engineering of new, innovative products for customers.
As governor, Blunt led the successful efforts to bring about real lawsuit and workers' compensation reform that have been cited by businesses in Missouri as reasons for relocating or expanding in the Show-Me State.
Additionally, new programs the governor has created like his Quality Jobs Act, have helped in the creation of 14,917 new jobs and the retention of 2,379 jobs that pay higher than the average county wage where they are located and provide healthcare benefits for employees.
In 2006 Missouri businesses set a new export record sending $12.8 billion worth of goods to 191 different countries.