The Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation (MAEDC) on Friday held public forums in New Franklin, Fayette, and Glasgow to garner input regarding the economic development needs of those Howard County Communities. 

Jim Fram, a Certified Economic Developer and owner of Community Growth Strategies, MAEDC Director of Business Development Kaylee Paffrath, and MAEDC President Randy Asbury, hosted the meetings. Attendees were asked to list specific strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to their communities. A report is expected in about a month that will include a detailed action plan to guide the MAEDC in its efforts to improve economic development in Howard County.

Fram said that larger and midsized cities are becoming more constricted regarding large-scale operations such as distributions centers. “You have to start looking out,” he said. “I would say some time in the future, the attractive sites are going to be in Fayette, New Franklin, and other places outside of that populated area.”

Ten business and organization members attended the meeting in Fayette, with about a half dozen in New Franklin and four in Glasgow.

Half of the MAEDC’s $400,000 annual budget goes to economic development in Howard County. The corporation works to promote economic investment within Randolph and Howard counties through retention and expansion of existing businesses, new business attraction, community development, and entrepreneurial development.