Republic development group gets $10K boost from Empire District

The fledgling Republic Business Industrial Development Association held its first fundraiser and introductory event yesterday at The Tower Club atop Hammons Tower in Springfield to generate support for its business development efforts.

President Gail Noggle, who is also city of Republic’s planning and development director, said the two-year-old nonprofit association has raised roughly $35,000 since its inception, most of that coming from Joplin-based Empire District Electric Co.

Yesterday, Empire District Vice President of Commercial Operations Martin Penning presented the second of three $10,000 pledges to the development organization.

Ned Reynolds, sports director for KY3, was the emcee for the luncheon event attended by roughly 100 people. Reynolds described RBIDA as an important association because it casts a vision for the city.

“If you look around, there is Hammons Field, Juanita K. Hammons Hall, JQH Arena, and all of those are products of a man who had a vision,” Reynolds said. “That’s the key to any kind of success in business.”

Noggle said the nonprofit organization serves as a resource for attracting business development by connecting people with local and state incentives such as Republic’s Enhanced Enterprise Zone. She said it also serves as a body separate from government that can promote the city.

“The RBIDA is not about building up a pot of money and then dispersing it as an incentive,” Noggle said after the meeting. She said the funds would likely be used for marketing programs or attending appropriate trade shows to bring new jobs to the city.

The group is an extension of the city’s previous efforts to encourage development by joining forces with groups such as the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership and the Missouri Partnership to draw investment into the city. Noggle said establishing RBIDA also allows people an opportunity to donate land to support development while receiving a tax benefit - since the donation would be to a nonprofit organization.

RBIDA board member Bob Beine, owner of the Ford dealership in Republic, said during the last 30 years, the city has encouraged employers such as Wal-Mart Stores, McLane Co. Inc. and Lowe’s to invest in the city, and the RBIDA is designed to further such investment. Most recently, Noggle has worked with developers to advance plans for a $350 million equestrian center planned in Republic, and connected them with Missouri Department of Economic Development staff to see if tax credits are available.

“We’ve got more than Brown’s Country Kitchen to eat at these days,” Beine said.