DRIVING BUSINESS GROWTH AND EXPANSION
”Grow Me State” Initiative
Implement coordinated, sustainable policies and programs for technology-based economic development to address Missouri’s “capital formation gap” relative to other states, including:
- a $5 million angel tax credit,
- a $1.25 million proof of concept fund to assist technology companies in advancing research into a commercial product,
- a $10 million seed capital revolving fund to make early stage investments in promising, entrepreneurial advanced technology companies, and
- increased funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation to assist companies with intellectual property issues and business growth.
Capital Formation
Encourage venture capital policies which stimulate economic growth by attracting, assisting and retaining quality technology businesses. Maintain at least $75 million in funding for the Illinois State Treasurer’s Technology Development Account to provide seed capital funding for research and development and commercialization of products. Encourage state pension funds to establish policies for local private
equity investments and economically targeted investments.
Economic Development Tax Credits
Support proven tax credit programs that leverage private investment and stimulate employment and economic growth for our region. Support the use of tax credits for job retention as well as job attraction activities. Eliminate sunsets and caps on proven tax credit programs, including the Missouri Quality Jobs Program. Oppose efforts to cap or reduce the Missouri Historic Preservation Tax Credit, and maintain its transferability.
Employment At-Will
Support legislation in Missouri to codify state case law regarding the at-will doctrine to require evidence of wrongdoing on the part of an employer before an employee may receive “whistleblower” protection. Require evidence that any act which the employee refused to perform would have violated the law.
Urban Redevelopment
Support initiatives to spur redevelopment efforts in the center city and economically distressed areas:
- Federal Historic Tax Credit – Raise the value of this tax credit from 20 percent to 25 percent of the costs of rehabilitating a historic building or a building within a historic district. Extend the tax credit availability for use in the construction of owner-occupied units.
- Brownfield Redevelopment – Increase direct funding and tax credits for brownfield cleanup. Enact liability reform for brownfield sites to encourage their conversion to a productive use. Support increased funding for the Illinois Municipal Brownfield Redevelopment Grant program.
Small Business and
Entrepreneurial Growth
Encourage policies that stimulate an entrepreneurial culture and enhance the growth of small businesses. Provide direct assistance to small businesses with high-growth potential such as: grants for professional services, mentoring and training through the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), greater access to low-interest loans for start-up and expansion capital or state matching-grants for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Increase funding to the SIU-Edwardsville Entrepreneurship Center and to the Innovation Challenge Grant program in Illinois. Increase funding to the St. Louis-based Innovation Centers in Missouri. Encourage greater access to markets for minority and women business enterprises in the public and private sectors. Support pooled-purchasing associations to offer self-insured coverage under ERISA to small businesses, individuals and the self-employed. Support above-the-line deductions for individuals who pay their own health insurance premiums.
International Trade
Promote fair trade legislation or agreements that enhance our member companies’ ability to compete in the global economy by breaking down barriers and increasing export trading.
STRENGTHENING KEY INDUSTRY SECTORS
Plant and Life Sciences Industry
Support full funding of Missouri’s Life Sciences Research Trust Fund and oppose the diversion of funds to other purposes. Oppose limitations on types of research funded by the Life Sciences Research Board. Support further development of wet lab space and incubators. Support continued capital and operating funding for the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center in Edwardsville to continue its research into ethanol production and usage. Continue to support tax incentives for biodiesel and grants for construction or improvements of renewable fuels production facilities such as the Illinois Renewable Fuels Development Program.
Stereotaxis, a growing biotechnology firm, is located
in the CORTEX life sciences district of St. Louis.
Stem Cell Research
Preserve the protections enacted in the Missouri Constitution in 2006 for all types of stem cell research, therapies and cures allowed under federal law.
Telecommunications
Support policies that encourage investment in technology infrastructure and promote customer choice. Support policies that establish minimal regulatory treatment of all providers of telecommunications and video services to enhance infrastructure investment and maximize consumer benefits
from competition.
Arts and Tourism Funding
Restore full funding to the Missouri Arts Council and Cultural Trust partners as defined in state statute. Oppose any attempts by other groups to receive revenue from the athletes and entertainers tax. Support and encourage funding that reallocates appropriations from the Fund Sweep legislation to the Illinois Bureau of Tourism for state parks and landmarks, scenic drives, festivals, agritourism, and wineries.
Research and Development
Support restoration and funding of Missouri’s research and development tax credit. Support the creation of an Illinois corporate income tax deduction for income, royalties and fees from patents developed in the state. Support increased federal funding for research and development at the National Institutes for Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy.
Defense Appropriations
Support increased federal authorization and appropriations for research in defense-related businesses. Support funding for the third multi-year procurement of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA 18G Growler to prevent a shortfall in naval tactical aircraft requirements. Support increased opportunities for small and medium-sized defense contractors. Support continued appropriations for the C-17 transport planes and full funding of the Future Combat Systems program.
Boeing F/A-18
RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT
Arch Grounds Connector
Support action on the Arch Grounds Connector project and a revitalization program that will encourage active public use of the Arch Grounds.
Chouteau Lake District
Support funding from the Water Resources Development Act for the Chouteau Lake District and for the St. Louis Regional Greenways Plan.
River Locks and Dams
Support appropriations from the Water Resources Development Act to upgrade locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.
River Levees
Support funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair the Wood River levee and other levees in the St. Louis District. Urge FEMA to revise floodplain maps for the entire St. Louis District on a unified basis, to protect economic development throughout the region.
River Edge Redevelopment Zone
Support the continued funding of the brownfield cleanup grants and economic development incentives for the River Edge Program in East St. Louis.
Mississippi River Bridge
Ensure timely completion of the New Mississippi River Bridge and related highway improvements.
Illinois Infrastructure Improvements
Support funding in the capital bill for transportation projects in Southwestern Illinois to augment the region’s economic growth, including implementation of critical intermodal freight projects. Support the region’s listed projects in Illinois Department of Transportation Highway Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2014. Support increased funding for public transportation in Madison and St. Clair counties.
Missouri Transportation Funding
Actively support the work of the Missouri Transportation Alliance, a statewide business-led effort designed to educate citizens on the importance of multi-modal infrastructure and identify the most critical transportation needs. Support adequate Missouri transportation funding and a formula that reflects the economic strength and development needs of the St. Louis region. Oppose attempts to redistribute money away from St. Louis region. Maintain regional representation on The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
METRO
Support increased funding for system expansion and operations.
Road Safety
Support passage of the primary seat belt law to increase the number of lives
saved from vehicle accidents and to increase federal funding for transportation safety projects.
Higher Education and
Workforce Development
Support the next installment of the
agreed increase in the Missouri higher education core budget by 4.4 percent.
Support job training funding to aid in the retention of existing businesses. Support increased funding for workforce training and skills development with special
emphasis on advanced manufacturing, information technology and plant and
life sciences.
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Support the final $1.9 million adjustment for the University of Missouri–St. Louis
to address system-wide equity issues. Support the capital requests for new facilities at the Colleges of Nursing
and Optometry. Support a plan to provide consistent funding for campus capital improvements.
Community Colleges
Support capital funding for construction, maintenance and repair of buildings and equipment as well as development of new campuses and centers. Support funding for St. Louis Community College to construct the new William Harrison Education Center in St. Louis to provide training and education in computer technology, environmental and allied health professions.
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville Improvements
Support funding in the state capital budget bill for the renovation and expansion of the Science Laboratory and Classroom Building. Support continued state funding of the SIUE School of Pharmacy with an appropriation from the Board of Higher Education. Support SIUE’s efforts to become an NCAA Division I athletic program.
”Caring for Missourians”
Support “Caring for Missourians,” a $38.5 million initiative to increase capacity at Missouri’s universities and community colleges for training and strengthening the State’s health care workforce including additional physicians,
dentists, nurses and allied health providers.
Math, Science, Engineering and Technology Education
Support efforts to improve math, science, engineering and technology education in Missouri, including: streamlining the mathematics and science curricula, expanding the pool of students motivated to pursue math, science, engineering and technology careers through greater scholarship opportunities and advanced education experiences, increasing the number of educators in math, science, engineering, and technology, and adding and improving technology use in the classroom.
Early Childhood Education
Support policies that expand access to quality, licensed childcare programs for at-risk young children. Support a statewide quality rating system for early childhood programs.
St. Louis Public Schools
Support stability in the governance of the St. Louis Public Schools and the work of the Special Administrative School Board. Support legislation granting the sponsorship authority for new charter schools to the Mayor of St. Louis.
K-12 Scholarship Tax Credits
Support the Missouri Student Success Scholarship Program to provide opportunities to students in disadvantaged school districts to obtain a quality elementary and secondary education. Support governance reforms and organizations that improve the academic performance of students in under-performing public schools.
Missouri
Request and strongly advocate for adequate state funding of MoHealthNet and enhanced use of available federal funds to reduce the number of uninsured in Missouri. Oppose shifting of the cost of the uninsured to businesses. Assure full and affordable access to health insurance, and informed choice of doctors, hospitals and insurance plans, for all Missourians.
Illinois
Ensure adequate and timely Medicaid reimbursement to hospitals in Madison and
St. Clair Counties and to St. Louis hospitals serving Illinois patients. Assist small business owners with lowering double-digit increases in their health care costs. Oppose new health insurance mandates and liability that undermines employers’ abilities to provide high-quality health insurance at a reasonable cost to their employees.
Certificate of Need
Support certificate of need regulations that ensure a level-playing field between hospital and specialty providers.
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