Taney County’s first Work Force Housing Summit will be held July 29, according to Cy Murray, president of the Taney County Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
The Summit will be held from 9 a.m. to about noon at Presleys’ Country Jubilee Theater in Branson. Sponsors are the Taney County IDA and Taney County Commission. Originally scheduled in February, the Summit was postponed because of an ice storm.
“Since the winter, our economic picture has changed,” Murray said. “Gas is near four dollars a gallon, the local tourism-dependent economy is slightly down, and attracting and retaining a stable work force and providing affordable housing are as critical as they have ever been. In this Summit, we will explore the local housing situation with construction, employment and education professionals. We will hear from the key representatives of government housing assistance programs, and try to identify the next steps to address housing needs in Taney County.”
The keynote address will be delivered by Pete Ramsel, executive director of the Missouri Housing Development Commission. Charles Miller, senior project manager for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Philip Minden, Community Business Center representative of Fannie Mae, are also featured speakers. Springfield Attorney Carson Elliff will share his expertise on the opportunities available through local industrial development authorities.
Questions and observations will be invited from the audience.
“We invite developers, building contractors, bankers, educators, real estate professionals, major employers, representatives of government agencies and members of the business community to attend,” said Murray. “More than one hundred people registered to attend the session that had to be canceled earlier this year. We expect at least that many people to attend the July 29 summit.”
The event is open to the public. Those planning to attend are asked to call the economic development office in Forsyth at 417-546-7205 and leave names, business names and phone numbers. Registration is also available by emailing the same information to dawne@co.taney.mo.us.
The tentative agenda and listing of speakers and panelists is as follows:
9:00 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS
- Cy Murray, President, Industrial Development Authority
9:15 PANEL: “SO WHY IS HOUSING A CONCERN?”
- Matt Morrow, Springfield Home Builders Association
- Helena Von Seckendorff, MO Dept. of Work Force Development, Branson Office
- Dr. Sherry DeVore, Assistant Superintendent, Branson Schools
9:50 Q & A and Observations from the audience
10:00 Short Break Time
10:15 Keynote Address: Services of the MHDC and How We Can Be of Help
- Pete Ramsel, Executive Director, Missouri Housing Developoment Commission, Kansas City
10:40 How Can HUD Help?
- Charles Miller, Senior Project Manager, HUD
11:00 What About Fannie Mae?
- Phil Minden, HUD, Clayton, MO
11:25 What Should Your Expectations Be from Your Local IDA?
- Carson Elliff, Bonding Attorney, Springfield, MO
11:50 Q & A and Observations from the audience
12:00 Call to Action: Where Do We Go From Here?
- Sarah Klinefelter, Taney County Planning and Zoning Commission