Smithfield Food Website

Smithfield Foods and Roeslein Alternative Energy continue development of manure-to-energy projects in Missouri

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy announced an additional $45 million investment in their Monarch Bioenergy joint venture, which captures methane from hog manure to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) in Missouri. The additional investment will enable the continued implementation of “manure-to-energy” projects on Smithfield’s farms, resulting in RNG generation across 85% of the […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

Audio: Area internet providers to expand broadband services to rural residents

United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced on Tuesday that five Missouri projects will receive 60.9 million dollars in USDA funding for high-speed broadband infrastructure. The USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program announcement was made at the Metcalf Mechanical Resource Center at the North Central Missouri College Barton Farm […]

USDA Reconnect Program

USDA announces $61 million investment to bring broadband to rural Missourians

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced USDA has invested $60.9 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 11,000 rural households, 81 farms, 73 businesses, 16 educational facilities, 12 critical community facilities, and two health care facilities in rural Missouri. […]

Kirksville Regional Airport sign

Kirksville Regional Airport receives $3.3 million to rehabilitate runway and taxiway

Sam Graves has announced the Kirksville Regional Airport will receive federal money through the Airport Improvement Program. Graves received notification from the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao that the Kirksville airport will be receiving $3.3 million through the program to rehabilitate both a runway and a taxiway. “Rural airports are incredibly important […]

Roy Blunt Reservoir

North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission receives grant to improve transportation

United States House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves of Missouri announced on Wednesday that the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission of Sullivan County will receive a nearly $13,500,000 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grant for the East Locust Creek Reservoir Project. Sullivan County will complete a variety of […]

Flood Recovery

Congressional hearing focuses on flood recovery efforts in north Missouri

The House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management hosted a hearing on federal recovery efforts from recent disasters.  During the hearing, House Transportation Committee Ranking Member Sam Graves (MO-06) focused on flood recovery efforts across North Missouri, specifically the difficulties facing some Northwest Missouri residents due to an issue with the dates […]

Gas Tax

Missouri Lt. Governor says Missourians to decide if gasoline tax increase is needed

The state’s lieutenant governor says Missourians will have to decide whether a gasoline tax increase is needed. Missouri’s 17-cent gasoline tax has remained the same since 1996. Last November, voters rejected a proposed ten-cent gas tax increase. At his campaign announcement, last week at Jefferson City’s Memorial Park, Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) told the audience […]

Fiber Optic Internet Access

The net neutrality battle moves to the states, and to 2020

Net neutrality suffered a significant blow on Tuesday as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the Trump administration’s rollback of Obama-era consumer protections. Because the court upheld the repeal, it remains legal for internet service providers such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon to block or throttle any sites they want, and […]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA approves state’s request to add 14 additional counties to disaster declaration

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved Missouri’s request to expand the federal major disaster declaration for Missouri to include assistance for local governments and nonprofit agencies in 14 additional counties and the City of St. Louis. FEMA’s approval means Benton, Boone, Callaway, Clay, Cooper, Dunklin, Gasconade, Howard, Lafayette, Lincoln, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, and St. […]

Disaster Relief

USDA to provide $150 million in help for rural communities affected by natural disasters

U.S. Department of Agriculture Missouri State Director Jeff Case highlighted $150 million in grants available through the Community Facilities Program to help rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes, fires, and other natural disasters such as the recent severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in Missouri. This announcement is in conjunction with […]

Grants Graphic

Missouri receives National Dislocated Worker Grant funding

Governor Mike Parson recently announced $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Disaster Recovery National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) to provide for the creation of disaster-relief employment of eligible individuals in eight Missouri counties impacted by severe storms and flooding earlier this year. The initial grant release of $806,667 will assist affected counties with […]