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Cavender Named to Governor's Task Force
11/13/07 Jefferson City, MO
Gov. Matt Blunt today named Missourians to the Rural High-Speed Internet Access Task Force to identify opportunities to increase access to technology across the state. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder will chair the group as they examine how best to ensure Missourians have access to the latest technology.

"It is important that we help expand access to high-speed internet to all parts of Missouri ensuring that no Missourian is left out of today’s technology-based economy," Gov. Blunt said. "Unfortunately, many communities in rural Missouri lack access to the infrastructure necessary for high-speed Internet, and this problem is inhibiting job growth and economic expansion. I have tasked Peter Kinder and others on the task force to find innovative solutions to help ensure that all Missourians have access to high-speed Internet access wherever they live."

"The development and success of high-speed internet access for rural Missouri is critical for educational and economic success" Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said. "Rural schools need to connect to the world and Missouri farmers must access the internet to compete in a global economy."

Gov. Blunt created the Rural High-Speed Internet Access Task Force earlier this year to address the technological needs of Missouri rural communities. The group will be chaired by Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and will submit a report to the governor by February 1, 2008. Gov. Blunt directed the task force to: 1)Assess the current level of high-speed Internet access available in Missouri; 2)Identify barriers to deployment to underserved areas including economic, geographic, regulatory, and market barriers; 3)Identify potential options to increase the deployment of high-speed Internet access in underserved communities; 4)Review best practices in other states to increase high-speed Internet access; and 5)Recommend statutory, regulatory, and policy changes needed to increase the availability of high-speed Internet services across the state.

The governor named the following Missourians to serve on the Rural High-Speed Internet Access Task Force:

• Henry Bradley, of St Joseph, helps operate his family’s business providing newspapers in St. Joseph and parts of Kansas City.
• Katie Bradley, of Columbia, is the editor of the Missouri Municipal Review for the Missouri Municipal League.
• Cindy Brinkley, of St. Louis, is president of AT&T Missouri where she is responsible for all regulatory, legislative, governmental and external affairs in the state.
• Chuck Bryant, of Carthage, is the Electric Superintendent for Carthage Water & Electrical Plant. Chuck is also a member of the Missouri Public Utility Association and has served as chair of the Missouri Public Utility Association’s Broadband Taskforce.
• Richard Cavender, of Rolla, is Executive Director of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission.
• Don Doucette, of Kansas City, is vice chancellor for education and technology at Metropolitan Community College-Kansas City where he serves as chief academic and chief technology officer for the campus.
• Estil V. Fretwell, of Jamestown, is the director of public affairs for the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation.
• Doug Galloway, of Jefferson City, is EMBARQ’s state executive for Missouri and Kansas and is responsible for the legislative, regulatory and public affairs functions.
• Raymond Henagan, of Rock Port, is manager and chief executive officer of Rock Port Telephone.
• Craig Klimczak, of St. Louis, is College Vice Chancellor of the Department of Technology and Educational Support for St. Louis Community College.
• David Klindt, of Jefferson City, is vice president of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives where he heads the legislative department and information technology department.
• Arthur Martinez, of Jefferson City, is director of government relations for CenturyTel’s Missouri Region.
• Peggy McGaugh, of Carrollton, serves as Carroll County Clerk.
• Bill Mitchell, of Columbia, is the executive director of the Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet).
• Rob Monsees, of Columbia, is Executive Director of Missouri Technology Corporation.
• Rod Nunn, of Jefferson City, is the Director of Education and Workforce Innovation for Governor Blunt.
• Bill Placke, of Eureka, is senior director of business development at Charter Communications.
• Bill Rohde, of Kirksville, serves as Executive Vice President and General Manager for Mark Twain Rural Telephone Company of Hurdland, MO.
• Dan Ross, of Jefferson City, is the chief operating officer for Missouri.
• Katie Smith, of Jefferson City, is the director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
• Craig Steensland, of Nixa, is the owner of Larson Heating and Air Conditioning.
• Greg Steinhoff, of Columbia, is the director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
• Julie Thompson, of Doniphan, is a small business owner, computer instructor at West Plains R-7 and technology instructor at Missouri State University-West Plains.
• Tracy Weddle, of Jefferson City, is Director of Tax Policy and Fiscal Affairs for the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
• Michael Zarrilli, of St. Louis, is senior counsel and director of government relations for Suddenlink Communications providing broadband telecommunications services.

Bond Gives Legislative Update to NEMORPC
11/07/07 Memphis, MO
U.S. Senator Kit Bond visited the Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission and Rural Development Corporation in October to celebrated the opening of their and Rural Development Corporation’s additional office space. Following the ribbon cutting, Bond updated local Missourians and area officials on the latest news in Washington. The Senator talked to the group about a number of legislative issues including the economy, health care and education. (read entire article)







MACOG Receives 2007 NADO Innovation Award
11/06/07 Washington DC
The National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) has awarded a 2007 Innovation Award to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, the Missouri Office of Homeland Security and the Missouri Association of Councils of Government for their regionalization of homeland security planning.

MACOG, the Missouri association of regional planning commissions and councils of governments along with the SEMA and the Department of Homeland Security were honored for establishing a statewide network of regional committees, comprised of local representatives, who provide input into local, regional and statewide homeland security planning efforts. Each region recruits volunteer representatives to serve on a regional homeland security committee (HSOC). These HSOCs review and select projects to be funded by federal homeland security grants and provide input to the governor's Homeland Security Advisory Committee on statewide planning and implementation activities. The regionalization of homeland security planning provides an opportunity for grassroots involvement in homeland security planning, funding and implementation.

Missouri's program is modeled after the Missouri Department of Transportation's planning program, which seeks grassroots input in making transportation decisions. The MODOT program has also been recognized at the national as an innovative approach to the delivery of transportation projects.

NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery and comprehensive strategies.

Each year, NADO's Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation's regions and local communities. Award winners were showcased during NADO's 2007 Annual Training Conference, August 25-28, 2007 in Austin, Texas.

The Missouri Association of Councils of Government officially presented the plaques to SEMA and Office of Homeland Security on Nov. 9 during a meeting of the governor's Homeland Security Advisory Committee

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission of St. James, MO, a NADO member, nominated the Missouri homeland security initiative for recognition.

According to NADO President Dan Bollinger, Executive Director of Southwest Georgia Regional Development Center in Camilla, Georgia, "Each year, Innovation Awards showcase the creativity and significant, long-term impact of numerous regional programs and projects like the Regionalization of Homeland Security Planning, that are key to sustaining and preserving the environmental, economic and cultural heritage of our nation's regions and local communities."

Since 1986, some 1,100 projects have been recognized nationally for their creative approaches to regional community and economic development.