March 18, 2010

For more information, contact:
Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993

MRPC Approves Formation of a Regional Foundation
Learns that Highway 63 ranked second at statewide prioritization meeting  

ST. JAMES—Meeting March 11, the board of Meramec Regional Planning Commission, after hearing an implementation strategy from Executive Director Richard Cavender, voted to establish a regional foundation and donate $30,000 to start the effort.

The action followed a request made by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks at the group’s February meeting. Then, Brian Fogle, vice president of CFO, asked that MRPC form a regional foundation and provide some staffing for it. In return, CFO would split its affiliate management fee of three-quarters of 1 percent for all funds in the regional fund.

“You provide boots on the ground. We provide administrative support, investment management and training,” Fogle said in February. CFO also provides legal counsel on donor contributions and handles foundation reporting to the IRS.

A community foundation is a philanthropic vehicle that combines the charitable gifts of many in addressing the current and future needs of the community through grant-making, aimed at improving the lives of the citizens within that community. It is a way to keep wealth in a community so that it can continue to benefit important local causes. A portion of the interest earned on a foundation fund is then awarded annually as grants by the local board. The larger the fund grows, the more grants that can be awarded.

To establish a foundation, a separate board would be established, Cavender explained. That group would need to establish bylaws, identify resources to grow the foundation and funding to market the foundation and provide technical support to groups who would want to become a part of the regional foundation.

To assist with staffing, the MRPC board also approved investing $250,000 in CFO’s organizational capacity fund, which is a certificate of deposit earning 2.4 percent interest. That is a higher rate than MRPC’s funds are currently earning. Cavender suggested using the interest off those funds as well as MRPC’s portion of the affiliate fees to fund a part-time staff person to help market the foundation and assist other groups in establishing funds. MRPC would retain ownership of the $250,000.

Cavender pointed out, as Fogle did the month prior, that the largest transfer of wealth in the nation’s history will occur over the next 15 years, and much of that wealth will leave local communities. A regional foundation provides another option for residents to donate some of their wealth so that it can continue to benefit the local community, Cavender said.

Six local foundations are a part of the CFO affiliate network, Cavender pointed out in the meeting. They include the Dent County Community Foundation, Crawford County Community Foundation, Bourbon Community Foundation, Newburg Community Foundation, St. James Area Community Foundation and Hermann Community Foundation. “With the exception of Dent County, MRPC had a hand in helping establish or assisting with the development of these foundations when we were working a few years ago with CFO,” he said.

In other business, MRPC:

• Heard a report from Bill Ransdall, a community planning and development specialist with the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Ransdall, formerly a state representative, a presiding commissioner and mayor, will be working with regional planning commissions and local governments across Missouri to improve connectivity with DED. Ransdall asked MRPC board members to contact him with ideas on how DED can improve its relationship with cities, counties and regional planning commissions.

• Learned that Peter Herrington, MRPC at-large commissioner for industry, had resigned because of a planned move outside the region. MRPC board members were asked to consider possible nominations to fill that position.

• Heard a report from Alan Galindo of Workforce Development that there are fewer layoffs and plant-shutdowns occurring in the Central Region. According to a report distributed by Galindo, there have been no downsizings reported to the state for the Meramec Region since October 2009. Since July 2009, there have been 745 jobs lost in the 19-county Central Region, effecting 11 counties and 14 cities. During that nine-month time period, 83 jobs were lost in the Meramec Region in the counties of Crawford and Phelps.

• Heard that Highway 63 in Osage, Maries and Phelps counties was ranked as the second most important project at a statewide prioritization meeting, held Feb. 25 in Jefferson City. Highway 50 in Gasconade and Osage counties ranked number 25 out of the 32 projects considered. Highway 63 and Highway 50 are the region’s top transportation priorities. In her report, MRPC Assistant Director Bonnie Prigge also explained that MoDOT has canceled bid lettings for February and March because of reduced federal funding, due to Congress’ failure to act on transportation legislation. MoDOT is also tightening its belt internally, Prigge said, to save over $200 million over the next five years. Those actions will include leaving positions vacant when employees retire or leave and reducing agency costs as well as reducing mowing and litter pickup, replacing fewer signs and using shorter term pavement treatments.

• Went on record in opposition to Senate Bill 680 that would place more of the response and clean-up burden of hazardous materials spills on local governments and fire departments and reducing the involvement of the spiller and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. (See related story.)

• Approved contracts with the cities of Irondale and Houston, Housing and Boonslick Regional Planning Commission.

• Expressed its appreciation to Belle Mayor Richard Huse and Newburg Mayor Andy Mattison for their service to MRPC. The two mayors are not seeking re-election, and the March meeting was their last official meeting.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 30, directed by the 52-member MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities. More information is available online at www.meramecregion.org.

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