Thursday, June 21, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Supports Top Job Creators, Touts Small Business, Entrepreneurs
CAPE GIRARDEAU–Gov. Matt Blunt today applauded Missouri’s small businesses for their vital role in the creation of jobs for Missouri families and he marked the opening of a new business incubator at the Southeast Innovation Center. The center will help make it easier for new businesses to succeed.
“Supporting Missouri entrepreneurs and encouraging new business opportunities is central to fostering a good economic environment,” Blunt said during the ribbon cutting ceremony today. “I am working to provide the tools to help small businesses expand and to encourage small-business start-ups so that we may continue to add to the more than 94,000 jobs Missourians have created since I took office.”
Blunt has directed that the Department of Economic Development support business innovation centers and incubators around the state. The centers assist entrepreneurs in creating new businesses that will grow and produce quality, lasting employment opportunities to boost the state and local economies.
Already the Southeast Innovation Center has helped more than 130 new businesses get started in southeast Missouri. The center offers business incubator space, entrepreneurial training, business development services, technical oversight and easy access to services needed by start-up entities. The Southeast Innovation Center’s new business incubator will provide space for 11 companies totaling 4,200 square feet.
Small businesses are one of the fastest growing sectors in Missouri’s economy. It is estimated that 95 percent of the more than 160,000 businesses in Missouri have less than 50 employees.
Since January 2005, Missourians have created more than 94,000 jobs. Gov. Blunt has made helping employers and entrepreneurs create good, family-supporting jobs a top priority. Legislative changes he has championed such as real lawsuit and workers' compensation reform combined with innovative new proposals like his Quality Jobs Act have been cited by job creators as reasons for expanding or relocating to the Show-Me State.