Southwest Missouri News -- Branson

by Carol Harris, Branson area, and Mary Engler-Guccione, Joplin area

Executive Director Kevin Huddleston said his new organization, the Branson Regional Economic Development Association (BREDA), has moved to a new office at 141 Industrial Park Drive in Hollister from a temporary office at Ozark Mountain Bank in Branson.

Huddleston said he filled the position as executive director BREDA Oct. 1. He said a second staff member, Jane D'Alessandro, will join BREDA during the first part of January.

Huddleston said he is currently putting together a committee to oversee research for community economic profiles in both Stone and Taney counties.

With the profiles "we'll have all the information in one place. We'll use the data base to do some analysis ... to help us decide which areas we want to target," he said.

The nonprofit organization is both privately and publicly funded, with three levels of contributing members, Huddleston said. The General Member contribution level is $1,500, the Major Member is at $5,000 and the Principal Member is at $15,000.

Huddleston said there are currently about two dozen BREDA members with nine of the 18 board-member slots filled.

Board members include: Ozark Mountain Bank, The Grand Palace/First Community Bank, Silver Dollar City, Loyd's Electric Supply, White River Valley Electric Cooperative, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, city of Branson, Skaggs Community Health Center and Orr & Earls Broadcasting.

BREDA's phone number is 417-334-4149 and its Web site is at www.branson. com/breda.