Contact: Pat Amick, CMP – Executive Director
Missouri Economic Development Council
573.636.7383
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JONAS ARJES 2016 MISSOURI PROFESSIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR
Lake Ozark, MO (June 15, 2016) – Jonas Arjes, EDFP, Executive Director of the 4-year-old Taney County Partnership has been named by the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) as the 2016 Professional Economic Developer of the Year. This prestigious award is presented to an MEDC member who has made significant contributions in the field of community-based economic development. Arjes was recognized at the MEDC Annual Conference on June 15th at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Jonas was the founding staff member of the Taney County Partnership in 2012, at a time that local political subdivisions were unable to appropriately prioritize economic development in the Branson area. Since that time there have been a few major hurdles that while may not fall into the category of smokestack economic development certainly fall within project management, tourism development and community development.
“Currently Branson is undergoing a strong reinvestment cycle with more than $300 million of new investment for 2016. Many of these projects were deemed undoable, however, with Jonas guiding business owners and investors, that trend has changed for the positive. I am confident that without Jonas the $300 million number would be substantially lower. Jonas works diligently every day to support others first and while Branson/Taney County is not known for its traditional smokestack economic development his efforts speak volumes to grow the $3.45 billion tourism economy in Southwest Missouri. He is more than deserving of the 2016 Professional Economic Developer of the Year award,” states Jeff Seifried, President/CEO, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau
The Professional Economic Developer of the Year award winner is selected by the Counselors of MEDC, which is a group of professionals who have achieved great success in their economic development careers.
About MEDC
The Missouri Economic Development Council is a statewide, not-for-profit association of economic development professionals and community leaders. Created in 1979 to provide a unified voice for economic development, MEDC offers its members programs in professional education, legislation and marketing. For more information, visit www.showme.org.
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