Life's Been Good

Investors & Partners,

August is here! We hope everyone has been having a great summer. Amidst vacations, weekend trips, and summer events, the SMCC staff are still chugging along, working on ten active projects, with seven additional business leads in our pipeline. With the new fiscal year fully underway, we are also closely examining our organization's annual goals to ensure another great year of growth and collaboration with our partners and investors.

Final ad used in our summer tourism campaign. This campaign had over 15,000 impressions

Looking ahead, please don't forget to mark your calendar for our upcoming board meeting on September 20th at 10am, located at 4 By 4 Brewing in Fremont Hills. And of course, as autumn approaches, be on the lookout for a plethora of exciting fall activities in the Ozarks!

As always, we are incredibly thankful for our investors and partners. We treasure your constant support and engagement. Have a wonderful day!

Kristen Haseltine

President/CEO - Show Me Christian County

417-496-5987 (cell)

Visit us at showmeccmo.com

Coming Up Next!

The next Show Me Christian County board meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at the 4 By 4 Brewing in Fremont Hills. Be sure to mark your calendars, and watch out for further updates and information!

Webinar: Starting a Small Business

This workshop teaches participants essential concepts to consider before starting a small business. Taking place on Zoom on August 10 at 4pm, this webinar is FREE and open to all entrepreneurs looking to get started with their business idea. Hosted by SBDC Missouri.

Click here for more info!

Grant Opportunities & Resources

DED ARPA Resources

The Missouri Department of Economic Development received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the pandemic, and there are still grant programs open for application. Follow the link below to learn more!

Click to view ARPA Resources

DED Small Business Loan

Did you know that the DED also offers loans for small businesses? These low-interest direct loans help small businesses take steps toward expanding and creating jobs. To learn about qualifications and receive a loan application, click the button below!

Click to view the Small Business Loan program

Christian County: By the Numbers

At Show Me Christian County, we love numbers. Part of our job as economic developers it to keep a watchful eye on demographic, economic, and industry trends. Here's a few interesting numbers you may not be aware of:

The average wage earned in Christian County is $40,210, a rise of roughly 5.2% over the previous year.
Christian County's top three industries are retail, construction, and food services/accommodation. The retail industry alone employs over 3,300 workers across the county.
The unemployment rate in Christian County currently sits at about 2.4%. For comparison, the national unemployment rate is 3.4%, the lowest rate in 54 years.

Around the Ozarks

Ozark Chamber Membership Drive

The Ozark Chamber welcomed 81 new members and raised $20,000 through their first Membership Drive! To see how you can get engaged with the Ozark Chamber, visit ozarkchamber.com today!

Nixa Chamber Teacher Welcome

Welcoming 94 teachers to Nixa Schools, the Nixa Chamber is accepting gift baskets ahead of their annual New Teacher Luncheon! For more info or to purchase tickets, click here!

FOL Book Sale - Nixa Branch

The Friends of the Christian County Library will be holding a Book Sale on August 24-26 at the Nixa library branch. For information on hours and prices, click here!

Missouri DNR Photo Contest

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources holds an annual photo contest, and there's only one month left for YOU to submit your photos! Submissions run to Sept 1, so grab your camera and get snapping! Click here for more info!

Name that Artist!

Every month, we title our newsletter after a song that seems fitting. Can you name the artist who originally recorded this month's song, Life's Been Good?