The Show Me Strong Recovery Task Force has begun meeting to identify ways to support Missouri's small businesses.
Gov. Mike Parson established the task force in a March executive order aimed at assisting the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ashton Kever, communications director for the Department of Economic Development, said most Missouri businesses are small businesses, so small businesses have a major impact on the state's economy.
"Missouri small businesses are having issues with hiring employees, getting supplied by and finding new domestic suppliers, and returning to normal levels of operations," Kever said. "If we help address these issues and find innovative ways to support these businesses as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are helping Missouri's overall economic recovery."
Parson's executive order said the COVID-19 pandemic had "disproportionate impacts to small businesses and minority-owned businesses, including those owned by women," so there will also be a focus on how the state can aid these minority-owned businesses.
"Minority individuals will be better engaged with the state's economic development tools, and we will have established relationships with diverse businesses and business owners across the state who can help us shape economic development strategy moving forward," Kever said.
The task force will hold seven listening sessions across the state to gain insight from a diverse range of small business owners and their communities on the issues and opportunities they face.
The task force will hold seven listening sessions across the state to gain insight from a diverse range of small business owners and their communities on the issues and opportunities they face. No specific dates have been set for the sessions, but they will be held from Aug. 20-Sept. 30. The sessions will be held in St. Louis, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Kirksville, St. Joseph and Columbia.
Once the task force has concluded the statewide evaluation, a report of its findings and recommendations will be submitted to Parson.
Kever said the members of the task force represent a variety of industries and backgrounds and their experiences will help shape the recommendations. Parson is still appointing members to the task force, but several current members include directors of state agencies like the Office of Equal Opportunity, the Department of Economic Development, the Department of Labor, and Office of Workforce Development.
"When we help small businesses, we are helping Missourians," Kever said. "We're helping the business owners, the people they employ, and the communities that benefit from dollars that are spent at those businesses and the payroll the business provides."