AmerenUE

AmerenUE, Missouri's largest electric utility, provides electric service to approximately 1.2 million customers across central and eastern Missouri, including the greater St. Louis area.  Ameren's economic development department works in partnership with communities to enhance local development capacity and help promote sustainable business and community growth in our region.  http://www.ameren.com

Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.

In Missouri more than 680,000 homes, farms and businesses count on their rural electric cooperatives to deliver electricity 24/7.

And they do with power from Associated Electric Cooperative , the wholesale power supplier to six regional and 51 local cooperatives in Missouri , southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma .  

Associated Electric uses a mix of resources to provide economical, reliable wholesale power supply to member cooperatives.  

Associated’s Take Control & Save energy efficiency program builds on Missouri ’s electric cooperatives’ longtime work to help their members use electricity more efficiently and save money.

Associated partnered in Missouri ’s first utility-scale wind farms, made possible by the cooperative’s vast transmission system and Associated’s agreement to buy all the power from the wind farms in northwest Missouri .

Associated also operates two coal-based power plants in Missouri that provide members low-cost, round-the-clock power; six low-emissions, gas-based plants; and renewable hydropower.

Associated’s environmental stewardship has been recognized nationally. Nominated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Associated was selected Wind Co-op of the Year by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The U.S. Department of Interior presented its highest award to Associated for its innovative reclamation of the Bee Veer Mine in Macon County , Mo. , which has been transformed into a mix of wildlife habitat, pasture and wetlands.

Associated also has improved air quality by investing $1 billion since 1994 to reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions from its coal units by 90 percent.

Associated Electric also is among the few utilities rated AA by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings Ltd. and rated A1 by Moody's Investors Service. The financially strong cooperative employs about 665 people and is headquartered in Springfield, Mo. AECI, www.aeci.org, is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM) has served as “The Voice of Missouri Business” for more than 90 years.  AIM is the oldest general business trade association in Missouri and our mission is simple: to promote Missouri businesses and policies that make Missouri a great place to do business.  AIM is unique in that we engage in the political process by supporting pro-business candidates and issues, regardless of party.  Our stance on issues reflect the “business-friendliness” of each issue, and are not based on political affiliations or partisan politics.  We work hard to represent Missouri businesses with credibility in the Missouri Capitol, the courts and with the general public.  AIM salutes the work of MEDC through local economic development professionals around the state and is proud to sponsor and support its work that improves Missouri’s ability to support our existing businesses and attract new businesses to the state.

For more information about AIM, please contact AIM President/CEO Ray McCarty at: rmccarty@aimo.com or (573) 634-2246, or visit us on the web at www.aimo.com.

AT&T Inc. is the largest communications holding company in the United States and worldwide, by revenue. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T is recognized as the leading worldwide provider of IP-based communications services to businesses and the leading U.S. provider of wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. As part of its "three screen" integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verse^SM TV.

The merger of AT&T and BellSouth, along with the ownership consolidation of Cingular Wireless and YELLOWPAGES.COM, will speed convergence, competition and continued innovation in the communications and entertainment industry, creating new solutions for consumers and businesses.

AT&T continues to build on the heritage of its predecessor companies that have served customers for more than a century. The new AT&T will earn customer trust and loyalty with a continuing commitment to the deployment of innovative products and services, reliable, high-quality service and excellent customer care.

 Empire District Electric Company

The Empire District Electric Company, based in Joplin, is an investor-owned, regulated utility providing electricity, natural gas (through its wholly-owned subsidiary The Empire District Gas Company), and water service, serving approximately 215,000 customers in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

The Company was organized in 1909 during Southwest Missouri’s mining boom and has grown in tandem with the region. Today Empire works to fulfill its mission of being a respected supplier of energy and energy related services to homes and industry. The Company prides itself on maintaining a diverse fuel supply mix of coal, natural gas, and water to generate electricity, as well as purchasing power from the Elk River Wind Farm. Empire works hard to meet the ever-increasing needs of a consistently growing number of customers with the addition of new generation sources. The Company recently announced participation in two new coal-fired power plants, Plum Point, located near Osceola, Arkansas, and Iatan II, located in Platte County, Missouri. Empire also announced a purchase agreement with the Meridian Way Wind Farm.

This diversity of power sources allows Empire to produce and deliver energy more efficiently and at a competitive price while maintaining the environment for future generations. In addition to providing utility services, the Company also provides fiber optic services to customers. 

Gilmore & Bell, P.C.  

Gilmore & Bell, established in 1979, is one of the leading public finance law firms in the United States . Headquartered in Kansas City , the Firm represents states, counties, cities, school districts and other governmental and quasi-governmental entities as bond counsel in municipal finance transactions.  Complementing its core practice, Gilmore & Bell also acts as disclosure counsel and bank counsel in municipal debt issues and as corporate counsel in corporate securities financings.  In addition, the Firm has an extensive tax and arbitrage rebate compliance practice and offers other post issuance compliance services. 

Offices are in Kansas City , MO , St. Louis , MO , Wichita , KS , and Lincoln , NE.   www.gilmorebell.com  1-800-844-3232

Operating from headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, KCP&L has evolved into a full-service energy provider and resource. The company was founded in 1882 and has become one of the Midwest's most affordable energy suppliers because of our leadership in fuel procurement, plant technology and efficient power production and distribution.  KCP&L services more than 800,000 customers in 47 northwestern Missouri and eastern Kansas counties - a service territory of approximately 18,000 square miles. Delivering that power requires 2,500 miles of transmission lines, over 26,000 miles of distribution lines and 392 substations.

To meet customers' future energy needs, KCP&L has developed a comprehensive energy plan that includes customer efficiency, affordability and demand response programs; 100.5 megawatts of wind generation; construction of an additional 850 megawatts of generation; infrastructure improvements; and environmental investments. In addition, KCP&L offers an economic development rider that provides qualifying customers to receive a discounted rate over five years.

The Company operates nine generating stations with 26 units and 10 peaking plants providing power to our customers and selling into the wholesale market. We have over 6,100 megawatts of efficient generation assets in operation or under construction. Approximately 75 percent of our fuel costs are from lower cost coal. In fall of 2006, the Spearville Wind Generation Facility was brought online to provide 100.5 megawatts of renewable energy.

For more information, contact Greg Kindle, Senior Manager of Economic Development at 816-6541712or go online at www.kcpl.com.

MCCA Workforce Training Network

Missouri’s community colleges play a critical role in the economic success of the State.  By providing initial and continuing access to higher education and training, the State’s community colleges ensure that Missouri has the high-quality, well-prepared workforce it needs to remain competitive.  Missouri’s 12 community college districts – which include 19 campuses and numerous centers and training facilities – partner with the State of Missouri to provide worker training through Missouri Customized Training Program, Missouri Community College New Jobs Training Program, and various other projects.  More than 60,000 Missouri workers have benefited from these programs.  For additional information, contact the Missouri Community College Association (MCCA) office or your local community college. 

Missouri Gas Energy

Missouri Gas Energy is a natural gas distribution company headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., serving more than 500,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 155 communities throughout western Missouri. The company has offices in St. Joseph, Lee’’s Summit, Warrensburg, Joplin, Monett, Republic and Neosho.

MGE is Missouri’’s second largest supplier of natural gas and the primary supplier for Kansas City, Mo., Joplin and St. Joseph. It is a division of Southern Union Company (NYSE:SUG). Headquartered in Houston, Southern Union is one of the nation’’s leading diversified natural gas companies, engaged primarily in the transportation, storage, gathering, processing and distribution of natural gas. 
  

Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association

Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association:  Founded as the Missouri Telephone Association in 1913, MTIA reflects the value and success of providing a forum for discussion and cooperation among all companies on issues affecting Missouri's telecommunications industry.  

The association monitors the activities of several state regulatory and administrative agencies as well as the Missouri General Assembly, federal agencies and Congress, serving as the industry's primary liaison in the state.  Membership includes all local exchange carriers in Missouri, as well as several wireless carriers and other telecommunications providers serving the state.

Noranda Aluminum produces some 560 million pounds of primary aluminum on an annual basis and serves customers throughout the US and Mexico. Noranda's strategic location at the mid point of the Mississippi River and next to I-55 means our market service position is one of the best in the country, serving customers with on time delivery and quality aluminum products.

Noranda Aluminum is committed to delivering products and services to their internal and external customers with established requirements and expectations.

Piper Jaffray & Company

Piper Jaffray & Co. is a full service investment banking firm which specializes in providing municipal bond underwriting and financial advisory services to cities and other governmental entities throughout Missouri and many other states.  Our firm, which was founded in 1895, consistently ranks among the leading underwriters of municipal bonds in Missouri , the Midwest and nationally.

Piper Jaffray has completed numerous economic development related bond issues throughout Missouri and nationally.  With such extensive experience with numerous development tools, we know the steps to make your economic development project a success.  Whether your specific project involves tax increment financing, community improvement districts, transportation development districts or other development incentives, we can point you on the right path and help your community avoid the potential pitfalls along the way.  

For more information, please visit our website www.piperjaffray.com or contact Todd Goffoy, Jack Dillingham or Dennis Mitchell at 800 829-5377 in Kansas City or Michelle Bock, Mike Sorth or Tom Curran at 800 754-2089 in St. Louis .

Septagon

Septagon Construction has played an integral role in helping build the Midwest for more than half a century. The full-service, single-source provider of construction services, headquartered in Sedalia, MO, has been a vibrant part of the Missouri and Iowa construction scene since 1948. With roots as one of the original Butler brand builders, the company has grown and earned a reputation as one of the Midwest's preferred industrial, commercial and institutional construction companies.

Septagon Construction bases its corporate culture on the premise of exceptional customer service - a value that employees practice daily. The company currently employs more than 200 people in its six different locations, which include Sedalia, MO; Columbia, MO; Jefferson City, MO; Osage Beach, MO; Des Moines, IA; and Cedar Rapids, IA.  All of Septagon's employees receive regular training to keep them up-to-date with the latest building methods, technology and safety developments.

The company offers a variety of construction services including design-build, construction management, general contracting, reroof and maintenance services. Septagon's design-build process provides clients with a single source of responsibility for the planning, control, scheduling and construction of their project. With construction management, Septagon professionals manage a project and its trade contractors as the client's eyes and ears, ensuring cost efficiency, quality control and professional representation of the client's best interests. Under the general contracting method, Septagon works with the client's design team to execute construction of the project, many times using its self-performing crews for concrete, steel erection and carpentry. Septagon is also known throughout the Midwest as one of the leading providers of metal reroofs and is staffed with experienced roofing professionals. Septagon's maintenance services round out its comprehensive approach to satisfying a customer's complete construction needs.

Septagon Construction also has in-house architectural and engineering services, and through the design/build method of project delivery, design many of the buildings that Septagon constructs. Septagon also provides site selection, permitting, project and real estate development and multi-site projects throughout the Midwest.

Septagon's primary building markets include manufacturing, distribution, commercial, schools, hospitals, and jails. According to Septagon President Stace Anderson, nearly 73 percent of Septagon's business each year comes from past or current customers, and 24 percent from referrals.

Septagon is proud to be a long-time member and supporter of MEDC as well as many other professional, trade and civic organizations. More information can be found at www.septagon.com.

St. Louis County Economic Council

St. Louis County is committed to maintaining a vibrant, diverse community with abundant opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. Our superb quality of life is attributable to excellent jobs, an educated workforce and pro-business climate. We are proud of the continuous strides made to enhance our local economy, which makes St. Louis County an ideal location for you and your company to grow and prosper.

St. Louis County Economic Council serves as the county’s economic development agency, driving growth and prosperity in the most economically important county in Missouri. As the only economic development agency in the state to hold the esteemed Accredited Economic Development Organization from the International Economic Development Council, it provides a broad range of services through its six divisions: business development, business finance, economic development collaborative, real estate and community development, St. Louis Enterprise Centers, and World Trade Center Saint Louis.   More information can be found at www.slcec.com.