Governor and cabinet make an appearance

It’s called “Capital for a Day” and it’s a chance for residents of Missouri communities to see the state’s administrative branch up close and in operation.

Governor Matt Blunt and the majority of his cabinet members turned out Friday to “run” the state from city hall. The different directors and assistants set up displays and temporary “offices” and were available to discuss any topic falling under their control. The governor took the opportunity to travel the immediate area viewing industry and regional concerns.

Blunt began the afternoon visit by opening with a brief speech at city hall. He met for a short time with Mayor Jeannie Roberts and City Administrator Greg Beavers, then was available for interviews with the media. By about 1:45 p.m. he made himself available to mingle through the main room at city hall and discuss any concerns with citizens who braved the cold and substantial snowfall.

Greg Redfield, owner of Redfields Collision Centers, spoke with the governor for a few minutes. He has some concerns regarding the insurance industry and how it is affecting the automotive repair industry and automobile owners. Blunt made stops at most of the tables with representatives from key state agencies and departments.

At about 2:30 p.m. he was ushered out a side door by a security detail and left in a small motorcade headed for several stops across the area. One of those stops was Accent Marketing.

While Blunt was visiting and discussing economic development, Accent officials announced they would be increasing starting wages for both new hires and current employees. The company spokesperson said Accent was increasing its hourly base wage rate to reward employees for providing an excellent customer experience while meeting increasingly more stringent performance metrics.

Effective immediately, newly hired customer service representatives now receive $9 per hour. When they complete training and after meeting some specific performance goals, workers will receive an additional $1 per hour, bringing their hourly base wage rate to $10 per hour. That excludes incentives and shift differential pay.

Likewise, existing workers also received a base wage increase up to $10 per hour. Approximately 625 existing employees were impacted.

“We are pleased to provide our valued employees with competitive wages, outstanding benefits, and a rewarding and empowering workplace,” said Shawn Hafley, Accent’s Farmington general manager. “This increase highlights just one of our many initiatives to attract and retain quality employees while also recognizing the accomplishments of our existing CSRs and their dedication to providing an excellent customer experience.”

Accent is an international provider of integrated marketing solutions. They partner with world-class companies to help them acquire, support, retain, and grow their customers at every stage in the customer lifecycle. Founded in 1993 and majority owned by MDC Partners, Inc., Accent employs approximately 4,000 people in 10 U.S. cities, Jamaica, and the Philippines.

Another stop for the governor took him to the Crown Valley Champagne House, located in the Farmington Industrial Park near the entrance to Engler Park.

Blunt and Director of Agriculture Katie Smith visited the “agribusiness” to see firsthand the tremendous economic impact agribusiness has in the state. Blunt and Director Smith met with Mr. and Mrs. Joe Scott, owners of the Crown Valley stable of businesses, and Bryan Siddle, operations manager, to discuss agribusinesses such as the wine and grape industry, and its economic impact both locally and in the state.

“Agribusiness and tourism are critical to Missouri's economy. With the growth of the number of wineries across our state, tourism and agribusiness' are coming together to generate jobs and economic growth in our state,” said Gov. Blunt. “It is estimated that nearly 760,000 tourists visit Missouri wineries, which support a diverse labor force of 2,430 employees statewide. Visitors also take advantage of the local bed and breakfasts’, restaurants and other local shopping attractions contributing to the growth of our economy.”

Growing grapes and making wine is a long-term commitment to Missouri communities, both financially and physically. Unlike many industries, once vineyards and wineries have been established, they are effectively rooted and tied in place — a Missouri vineyard cannot simply be relocated to another region or outsourced to another country. Missouri’s wine and grapes are tied to the soil from which they are grown.

“Wine, grapes and their products diversify local economies and create employment and new market opportunities in rural communities,” said Blunt.

The U.S. wine market has grown by nearly 14 percent since 2002 in volume and more than 15 percent in dollars. Increases in the wine market stands true in Missouri as well. Wine production in the state has grown 70 percent since 2001 ranking Missouri eleventh in grape production in the U.S.

“Agritourism is very important to Missouri agriculture. Almost half of winery sales are direct-to-consumer and wineries, and these businesses have focused their efforts on inviting consumers to visit and tour their facilities contributing to a rise in sales. The Crown Valley Champagne House is a clear example of diversified agriculture and providing consumers new opportunities to experience the wine and grape industry,” said Smith. “Agriculture continues to generate significant economic growth in Missouri and wineries have contributed to that economic impact. Missouri’s vineyard acreage and production has seen a steady climb over the past four years.”

And Blunt wasn’t done with his visit. Another stop was at a bridge that’s so old and worn-out it will need to be closed soon if repairs aren’t made. Built in 1936 and carrying more than 2,400 vehicles a day on Route D north of Farmington, the bridge’s driving surface is crumbling and it’s so narrow that oncoming cars must squeeze together to pass by.

It’s one of 800 bridges scheduled for repair or replacement under the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Safe and Sound bridge improvement program. The plan will repair or replace many of the state’s most worn-out bridges in the next five years.

“Building and maintaining transportation infrastructure is vital for economic growth and the safety of Missouri families,” Gov. Blunt said. “The Safe and Sound bridge program will help ensure that Missouri’s bridges are safe for our families and all travelers and visitors to our state.”

The governor called a special session last year and secured vital legislation to improve and replace hundreds of Missouri bridges by allowing contractors to access the bonds needed for the projects.

The Safe and Sound program is scheduled to begin in the next few months.

Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR) Director Todd Smith and Deputy Director Rod Burnett also showcased their department’s programs during Capital for a Day.

“We were excited about meeting our Farmington constituents and talking to them face to face,” Smith said. “We took a very personalized approach by actually taking to the streets and going door to door to visit with citizens,” added Burnett.

“We didn’t want to force employees or employers to have to leave their businesses to come see us on our terms. Instead, we wanted to reach out to them with minimal disruption of their schedules. The Department is all about keeping people on the job, and this just seemed to be more productive,” Smith added.

While in Farmington, Smith and Burnett held office hours at the DOLIR exhibit booth and offered brochures and information about the department. The two also educated constituents on the On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program and the Safety and Health Recognition Program (SHARP).

On-Site is a free and confidential service to help Missouri employers comply with federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Identification and removal of workplace hazards reduce on-the-job injuries and illnesses and can lead to lower workers’ compensation costs. The SHARP program recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management system.

Gov. Blunt proclaimed Capital for a Day in 2007 as part of his ongoing efforts to make state government more responsive and accessible for the people of Missouri. The Farmington event was the third so far, with the entourage also visiting Liberty and Sedalia late last year.

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