Missouri to Get $1.7 Billion in Broadband Money

On Monday, the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced Missouri will receive more than $1.7 billion through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, part of the federal Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act (IIJA). Missouri’s BEAD program allocation ranks as the third highest among all states, the District of Columbia, and five territories.

“We appreciate Senator Roy Blunt's past efforts to secure this funding and the support of our partners at the NTIA as we continue to advance the critical priority of broadband expansion statewide,” Governor Mike Parson said. “This significant allocation will greatly assist our ongoing investments in Missouri's broadband infrastructure and build upon our recent $400 million investment. We're excited to be among the top five states in BEAD funding as we work to ensure every Missourian has access to a quality internet connection.”

Nationally, the NTIA allocated a total of more than $42.45 billion through the BEAD program. Missouri’s share of BEAD funding will be used by the Department of Economic Development’s Office of Broadband Development for its Connecting All Missourians initiative, which aims to provide high-quality internet statewide.

“Our state's BEAD allocation shows the critical need for broadband expansion across Missouri and provides an unprecedented opportunity for progress,” BJ Tanksley, Director of the Office of Broadband Development, said. “This historic funding will allow our office to work with willing providers to bring quality internet connections to those without access.”

“We’re grateful for this assistance from federal partners in investing in our state’s broadband infrastructure, which is vital to our economic success,” Michelle Hataway, Acting Director of the Department of Economic Development, said. “In today’s digital economy, access to high-speed internet is a necessity for citizens, businesses, and communities alike. As our Office of Broadband Development works to expand access statewide, this funding will go a long way in meeting our goal of connecting all Missourians.”

Large Event Planning Workshop March 6

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and Northwest Missouri State University are teaming up to offer a workshop designed to address organizations that are planning for events such as festivals, youth camps, vacation bible schools, rodeos, etc. While snow is still on the ground, many are looking to summer and starting to plan their annual summer events. With COVID-19 still impacting our communities, what efforts should we be taking to ensure our events are safe for attendees?

The Large Event Planning Workshop is being held virtually, via ZOOM and is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, at 9:30 a.m.

There is no cost to attend the workshop. Those planning to attend should register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/large-event-planning-workshop-tickets-141483094745.

John Carr, Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Emergency and Disaster Management program at Northwest Missouri State University, will facilitate the workshop which will focus on topics such as the current best practices for event hosting related to COVID-19, the trajectory of the pandemic, where we anticipate things will be this summer, and how to ensure your event is a safe one.

In addition to teaching courses, Carr serves as Exercise Director for Missouri Hope, the largest full-scale disaster training exercise in the region. The exercise brings together students, faculty, and partner agencies from throughout the country, allowing Northwest students first-hand experience in disaster response operations. Outside of Northwest, Carr serves as the Executive Director for the Consortium for Humanitarian Service and Education, a non-profit focused on promoting full immersion, full behavioral, simulation exercises to college students in the fields of emergency management, nursing, homeland security, and humanitarian relief. Carr also serves his community through his work with the Boy Scouts of America, American Red Cross, and support of emergency management initiatives in Northwest Missouri. Carr has a master’s degree in Emergency Management from North Dakota State University, a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northwest Missouri State University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Science from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. 

His research interests include citizen engagement in emergency management processes, Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), simulation design, and emergency management in higher education.

The Large Event Planning Workshop is the first of three workshops being funded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds that were awarded to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.

Business Continuity Workshops March 23 & April 13

Local businesses have been heavily impacted by the current pandemic, exposing new challenges in how we ensure our businesses carry on during a hazard event. John Carr, Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Emergency and Disaster Management program at Northwest Missouri State University, will be facilitating two upcoming workshops that will be focused broadly on business continuity (efforts taken to ensure your business can still provide services and bring in revenue regardless of it being affected by a hazard event).

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments and Northwest Missouri State University are teaming up to offer these Business Continuity Workshops. Topics being discussed will include basic information about emergency planning, threat and hazard identification, risk assessment, planning processes, and other preparedness efforts.

Attendees will also be able to request topics and ask questions through a pre-workshop survey. The first Business Continuity Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, at 5:30 p.m. and is being held virtually, via ZOOM. There is no cost to attend the workshop. Those planning to attend should register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/business-continuity-workshop-1-tickets-139018601379.

The workshops are being funded with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds that were awarded to the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The second Business Continuity Workshop will be held Tuesday, April 13, at 7:30 a.m. Registration information will be released soon.

McCaskill Sees Results in Effort to Combat Chinese Trade Practices

Weeks after visiting a Sedalia steel wheels plant where she expressed support for a trade case against China, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today showcased the positive impact on American jobs that is resulting from recent work to combat illegal Chinese trade practices.  She also stressed the need to enforce the judgements of trade cases.   

In a letter to chief customs official David Aguilar, McCaskill pointed out recent evidence that Chinese companies are shipping jobs back to the U.S. after being forced to compete fairly with other manufacturers by the International Trade Commission.    

“This shows that when the playing field is level, the U.S. will outwork and outcompete China,” McCaskill said. “The problem is that a foreign government like China’s continues to do everything it can to cheat the system, and so I’m going to keep up the pressure on both China, and federal officials here in the U.S. to make sure everyone is playing by the same rules.”

Currently, if the Department of Commerce and International Trade Commission find that a Chinese company has engaged in unfair trade practices, those companies can be penalized through tariffs on their goods. Some Chinese companies have responded by moving their production to the United States and creating American jobs. 

Unfortunately, a number of malicious companies have sprung up offering to help foreign companies evade the tariff penalties through mislabeling, smuggling or other means.  Sen. McCaskill has been working with her colleagues to crack down on this problem.  In her letter, she warns that, if Chinese companies believe they can get away with smuggling, it will undermine job growth in the U.S.

McCaskill called on Aguilar to continue the American crackdown on such practices by foreign governments.

“Customs has taken some steps in the right direction, but needs to do more to stop this kind of evasion,” McCaskill wrote in her letter.  

McCaskill has been an outspoken leader in the fight against unfair trade practices in China, introducing the FAIR Enforcement Against Duty Evasion Act, which would help strength enforcement matters.

McCaskill has also stood up for Missouri manufacturers, testifying in Congress in support of a trade action filed against them by a Maxion Wheels of Sedalia, Missouri, and visiting the plant in April as part of her Fighting for Fairness tour.

A copy of McCaskill’s letter is available HERE.