Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

ST. JAMES—Taisia Gordon, director of the new Missouri Office of Entrepreneurship discussed with MRPC how the newly formed office within the Missouri Department of Economic Development intends to help small businesses and entrepreneurs at its Dec. 11 board meeting. 

The office was established through the 2024 Right-to-Start Act and aims to support small businesses (those containing 10 employees or less) across the state by acting as a liaison for entrepreneurs, promoting pro-entrepreneur policies, expanding access to capital and resources and by also collaborating with stakeholders to ensure these businesses have the resources needed for success. Currently, Gordon and her office are conducting listening sessions and surveys to identify opportunity areas and gaps in assistance that small businesses need. Gordon outlined approaches that other states have used in similar efforts and said that she foresees the Missouri office being a combination of policy and outreach efforts. 

“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of Missouri’s economy, and the Office of Entrepreneurship is here to help remove barriers and expand access to resources,” said Amy Berendzen Communications Director. “When small businesses succeed, communities grow stronger and our state’s economy thrives. At DED, we call that Helping Missourians Prosper!”

Gordon also serves on the MRPC board in the at-large position representing small business.

In other business, the MRPC board:

• Heard an update from MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge on Meramec Regional Community Foundation’s Community Grantmaking Fund now accepting applications from now until Feb. 2 for two awards of up to $1,000;
• Approved the prioritization of unfunded road and bridge needs as prioritized by the MRPC Transportation Advisory Committee earlier in the night. Four-laning Hwy. 63 and Hwy. 50 remains the top regional priorities. For the full list of priorities, please see TAC release; 
• Approved the Regional State Priorities as prioritized by the board. These priorities will be shared with regional legislators at the MRPC Day at the Capitol on Jan. 27, 2026, with a back-up date of Feb. 10, 2026; 
• Learned that Sen. Jamie Burger and Rep. Jeff Farnen have filed legislation to increase the funding cap on state-aid to regional planning commissions to $50,000 annually subject to appropriation; and 
• Learned that MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge was elected Presiding of the Missouri Association of Councils of Governments (MACOG), the state association of regional planning commissions. Her two-year term will start Jan. 1, 2026.

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. Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin serves as chairman of the board. A professional staff of 24 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.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at www.meramecregion.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/meramecregion/.

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