As Governor Mike Parson's time at Missouri's helm comes to a close, the Department of Economic Development (DED) takes a moment to highlight the strides made under his leadership. "Due to our unwavering commitment to supporting Missouri workers and business growth, we can confidently say that Missouri's economy is stronger than ever," proclaimed Governor Parson in a statement obtained by DED's press room. His tenure, which began in June 2018, saw a notable boost in economic factors such as infrastructure and workforce development, laying down a foundation for future growth.
Supporting more than 740 business projects to the tune of over $17 billion in investment and the creation of more than 60,000 jobs, the Parson administration's economic policies took form in significant projects like General Motor's expansion in Wentzville and Google's new data center in Kansas City, according to the DED's announcement. With an impressive ranking of seventh nationally and first in the Midwest for job growth in the last year, Parson's legacy includes nearly 190,000 jobs added to Missouri's workforce, while the state's GDP growth outpaces the national average.
Community development also saw a major uplift, with the DED facilitating awards through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program that benefited over 1 million Missourians, amid allocating more than $530 million with the help of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. These grants have supported a gamut of community-centric projects from broadband access to workforce training. The Office of Broadband Development (OBD) notably secured a hefty $1.7 billion through the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, revealing more than 75,000 new and improved internet connections.
On the workforce front, Missouri One Start, formed by an executive order from Governor Parson in 2019, has trained upwards of 173,000 employees and has been associated with over 1,300 projects that boast a combined capital investment exceeding $10.7 billion. The tourism industry in Missouri also flourished, registering more than $103.7 billion in tourism-related spending and sustaining an average annual employment of over 288,000 people in the sector as a direct result of aid, according to the same DED report.
DED director Michelle Hataway recognized Governor Parson's efforts, stating, "For more than six years, Governor Parson has helped Missourians prosper by serving as our state's number one economic developer." The department is in agreement that the influence of the Parson administration will resonate for generations, sustaining a robust economic climate in Missouri. As Parson prepares to step down, the DED remains committed to extending the economic trajectory set during his time in office.
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