Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

Classes are beginning in schools across Missouri as I write this report. Just last week, I sat in on a breakfast meeting with the retired teachers of Hickory County. School start dates and 4-day weeks were the main topic of discussion. All of the teachers in attendance remembered when Missouri schools did not start classes until after Labor Day.

Why do school districts feel like it is necessary to begin classes in August? Some reasons given include being able to complete the first semester before the Christmas break; starting earlier enables more breaks to be scheduled throughout the year to provide time away for the students and teachers; students have more learning time before statewide assessments in the Spring; and a shorter summer prevents less academic loss known as “summer slide.”

Starting early greatly affects the length of summer tourism in our state. Municipal pools and water parks close early; there are one to two weekends less of vacation/travel across the state which includes enjoying all the recreational lake and river activities the state has to offer; and attendance is affected at the Missouri State Fair which highlights youth exhibits and the best of the best in agriculture.

Missouri “first” initiative:

As I mentioned the state fair above, it promotes excellence in Missouri agriculture and raises awareness of the importance of the agriculture industry. As well, the state is also continuing efforts to increase agriculture investments. The Missouri State Treasurer was on hand at the state fair this week to talk about the Missouri FIRST initiative and the role it has played in increasing investment in agriculture through the state’s linked deposit program.

The Missouri FIRST (Financing Investment in our Rural, Small Business and Technology communities) initiative revamped the state’s linked deposit program, which partners with local lenders to provide low-interest financing to small businesses and agricultural operations. Encouraging more rural economic development, the program helps farmers by making production, land acquisition, livestock costs and other ventures more affordable. Missouri FIRST was launched in March, and has seen the total volume of active agriculture linked deposits rise from $29.3 million to $69.3 million since its inception. The Missouri State Treasurer’s office works with local lending institutions to facilitate Missouri FIRST loans. There are approximately 115 qualified Missouri FIRST linked deposit lenders with 350 branches throughout the state. A list of lenders and program eligibility guidelines can be found online at MOFIRST.mo.gov.

Lowest unemployment in almost two decades:

Missouri received good news this week as the state’s unemployment rate hit its lowest point in nearly two decades. Data released by the Missouri Department of Economic Development showed the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.4% in July. This is the lowest the state has seen since June, 2000. The July unemployment rate is down from 3.5% in June, and it is also lower than the 3.6% unemployment rate for June, 2017, last year. The state’s unemployment rate has decreased from the 3.7% level at the beginning of the year. Missouri’s rate has now been lower than the comparable U.S. rate, which is currently 3.9%, for 39 consecutive months.

Overall, the state’s employment levels have been on an upward trend. Missouri saw an increase of 8,800 jobs between May and July. The state has also seen an increase of 34,700 jobs since July, 2017. Health care and social assistance employment saw an increase of 10,900 jobs. Durable goods manufacturing added 5,600 jobs.  Arts, entertainment and recreation; retail trade; and administrative, support, and waste management services each added between 3,500 and 4,000 jobs statewide over the year.

2 weeks away! 100-mile Yard Sale:

“Discover More on Route 54” is hosting the Annual 100-Mile Yard Sale scheduled for Labor Day weekend during daylight hours, August 31-September 1, along U.S. Highway 54 including the cities of Nevada, El Dorado Springs, Collins, Weaubleau, Wheatland, Hermitage, Preston, Macks Creek, and Camdenton.  Everyone is invited and encouraged to sell, attend, and ‘Discover More on Route 54!’ Sellers will be responsible for their own yard sale signs to attract motorists. With the increased holiday traffic, it’s encouraged that other non-profits (fire departments, churches, etc.) hold rummage sales & fundraisers at the same time.

For the most up-to-date information on locations on the 100-Mile route, please go to the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MOHwy54YardSale/. If you are planning to host a yard sale on your Highway 54 property, please post the address and hours to the Facebook page.

There will be host locations for anyone not living along Highway 54 that would like to participate:

Camdenton – American Family Insurance parking lot (graveled area only), 309 W. Hwy 54. Must register with cray.hulett@yahoo.com;

Macks Creek – in front of the Public Water Supply District 1 Office in Macks Creek, 13067 W. US Highway 54;

Preston – Yates Rustic Range Trading, located 6 miles east of Preston, call for space (417)733-7193;

Hermitage – Beyond Bargains Flea Market, 624 W. Hwy 54, [Fee charged] call Kathy (417)399-1474 for prices;

Wheatland – Hwy 54 RV Park (watch for digital sign), across from Main St., call for space (417)282-5400;

Collins – Brenda’s Quilt Stop & More, located west of Collins along Hwy. 54 call to register (417)876-9997;

El Dorado Springs – the old Wood’s parking lot, at the junction of Highways 54 & 32; and

Nevada – Life Church, 421 N. Centennial Blvd. Must register with LCembassy@gmail.com or call (417)667-9760.

Rules for setting up/selling at a host site:

• First come, first setup basis each day;

• Dumpsters located on the property are NOT for public use, please remove everything you do not sell, and be respectful of the host property; and

• The sellers will be responsible for their own sale signs to attract motorists.