Monett hires consulting firm for economic development

The city of Monett hired Kansas City-based consulting firm Community Edge to help improve economic development in the area.

"We thought that the city's economic development efforts needed to be structured better," City Administrator Dennis Pyle said. "We all need to be working together. This way, all the economic development partners will be sitting around the same table and have a focused approach."

While the city, the Monett Chamber of Commerce, businesses Monett Industrial Development Corp. and the Industrial Development Authority have led efforts to market the city, the consulting firm was hired to streamline those efforts.

Two firms responded to requests for proposal.

The proposed city budget for fiscal year 2016-17, beginning April 1, has a $45,000 line item to cover the consulting contract.

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