Cole Commission ends partnership with Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce
County commissioners awarded Victory Enterprise and Strategic Capitol Consulting a economic development partnership with a 2-1 vote Tuesday, ending their deal with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Eastern and Western Commissioners Jeff Hoelscher and Kris Scheperle, respectively, voted for the change.
“I just think maybe it’s time to try something different,” Hoelscher said. The “lobbying part” of the agreement was not the initial focus, but later “became the focal point” of the decision.
Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman was the sole “no” vote.
“We’ve got something going right now that I want to be a part of,” Bushman said. “I’m not happy with going with the Victory group.”
The annual contract with the Chamber was worth $168,000, and the bid awarded today was worth $120,000, according to Director of Finance Debbie Malzner.
Cole county has had an annual agreement with the chamber since 1999. It’s possible the two parties worked together earlier without paper contracts, Malzner said. According to a Chamber presentation to the commission, the two had worked together for “over 30 years.”
Three representatives of the two companies denied an immediate request for comment but said a statement will be issued on the decision.
The Chamber said in a statement that it was disappointed in in the commission’s decision.
“We are proud of the results our economic development efforts have produced over the last decade working together with the City of Jefferson, Cole County, and the private sector,” the chamber said in the statement. “Working together, we have created over 2,000 jobs, $97 Million in new wages, and $272 Million in new real and personal property investment through a very challenging economic cycle. These jobs and wages directly impact area businesses and the quality of life while the increase in property investment and new wages have had a substantial positive impact to tax revenues for the City, County and Schools.”
The organization will continue to provide economic development services through a partnership with Jefferson City and its 1,800 members, the statement said.
It’s not clear what the decision means for the port authority agreement between Jefferson City, Callaway and Cole counties. The authority, which was spearheaded by the chamber, was approved to form by the Missouri Department of Transportation in early September. For more on the project, click here.
