Joplin, MO 2014 Community Profile and Resource Guide

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TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME A Message From Chamber President Rob O’Brian......................... 7 The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce: Who We Are.................. 8

BUSINESS & INDUSTRY Biz Briefs ............................................................................................ 10 Major Employers................................................................................ 15

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Outstanding Business Resources..................................................... 16 The Location for Logistics................................................................. 18 Community Profile: The Joplin Metro By the Numbers................ 20

EDUCATION Question: What’s New in Joplin Schools? Answer: A Lot..................................... 22 Private School Options for Joplin Area Families................................................... 26 Higher Education...................................................................................................... 28

HEALTH CARE Mercy Hospital Joplin: Curing the Ills of Hospital Design................................... 37 Freeman Health System........................................................................................... 38

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Landmark Hospital of Joplin................................................................................... 40 Orthopaedic Specialists of the Four States........................................................... 41 Children’s Kansas City.............................................................................................. 42

CommunityLink.com • 1-800-455-5600 production vp of production operations Amanda White copywriting Mark Allen Carol Cummings Dana Hinders Jay Nehrkorn Mary West photography 12 Eighty-One: Photography

advertising ad research Carol Smith Mildred Walker

copy editor & page compositor Laura Wilcoxen lead design Josh Mueller

administrative support

website creation & support Josh Chandler director of media purchasing Diana Vaughn

administrative support Kathy Hagene

human resources assistant Teresa Craig

account support Terri Ahner

mailroom technician Melinda Bowlin

ABOUT   This book is published by CommunityLink and distributed through the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at info@CommunityLink.com.

information technology

business development director of business development George Prudhomme

ad design Mary Caldwell

publishing systems specialist Christopher Miller

customer service director Kathy Risley

executive leadership

vp of sales operations & client care Debbie Moss

chairman and founder Craig Williams

FOR INFORMATION   Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, 320 E. 4th Street, Joplin MO 64801, Telephone 417-624-4150, Fax 417-624-4303, www.joplincc.com

© 2014 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

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www.joplincc.com

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HOMES Joplin Area Housing: Redeveloped and Redefined......................... 46

CULTURE & ATTRACTIONS

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George A. Spiva Center for the Arts.................................................. 52 Joplin Museum Complex..................................................................... 54 Joplin Little Theatre............................................................................. 56 Festivals: Joplin’s Big Three................................................................. 57 Connecting With Nature...................................................................... 58 Sports & Fitness: Something for Everyone........................................ 60

FAITH & WORSHIP Compassion in Action....................................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Fellowship & Fun............................................................................................................................................................................................... 65

IMPORTANT CONTACTS Know Who to Call.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 66

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS/ PREFERRED BUSINESS LISTINGS Thank You for Your Support............................................................................................................................................................................. 68 W E ’ R E P U B L I S H I N G T H E S T O R I E S O F A M E R I C A’ S B E S T C O M M U N I T I E S

“ Thank you …”

When community leaders across the United States partner with CommunityLink for a City Magazine, Membership Directory, Relocation Guide or Street Map, they’re dealing with a highly capable, broadshouldered publishing company that understands custom community publishing — a company worthy of your loyalty and your trust. We’re proud to have published this Magazine and to be affiliated with America’s most interesting places — like yours — and take seriously the commitment we’ve made to each and every advertiser in this book to deliver a quality reflection of your community. Thank you for your support of this publication and the community it serves. We’re thrilled to be a part of both.

W W W. C O M M U N I T Y L I N K . C O M 1-800-455-5600

— Craig Williams CEO COMMUNITYLINK PUBLICATIONS

T HE L E AD ER I N C O M M U NI T Y P U BL I SH I NG

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WELCOME 6

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


FROM CHAMBER PRESIDENT ROB O’BRIAN

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elcome to Joplin! A great place to work, play and live. Since 1917, The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce has been an energetic, progressive force, which sees that future economic prosperity and improved quality of life go hand in hand. JACC works to improve all of its community’s strengths: economic, educational, physical and spiritual well-being. Each business day your Chamber assists small businesses and major industries with issues that affect their ability to survive and grow. As the lead marketing organization, in a unique economic development partnership, your Chamber works to bring new companies to the area, to create a stronger economic base and to provide jobs for area citizens. Your Chamber is 5-Star accredited by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and houses three major divisions, hosts hundreds of programs, events and services each year and takes the lead on local and regional economic development to grow the business community. Your Chamber works hard with area schools to improve education, particularly in those areas that will help youth become productive and participating members of the community. In addition, work goes on to address direct business issues, particularly in working with local and state government. Day in and day out, we work on transportation, workforce and infrastructure development and many other issues directly impacting business. Every working day, your professional Chamber staff receives telephone and walk-in inquiries about where to find goods and services in the area. In every case, staff refers these requests to Chamber members. At least twice a month, and sometimes more often, your Chamber holds networking events to encourage members to meet and do business with each other. There are a number of workshops and other programs conducted each year to help members be more competitive, find new markets or retain their valuable employees. The Chamber’s Small Business Resource Library is stocked with handpicked tools to assist your business, no matter what the size. The library includes a variety of magazines, newsletters, books, manufacturing guides and newspapers, all aimed at helping your business compete in today’s market. The library provides access to web-based training for many popular applications. You can produce flyers, brochures, PowerPoint presentations and much more on the state-of-the-art computer system complete with high-speed Internet access, color printer and LCD projector. Your productivity is limited only by your imagination! Your investment in your Chamber membership means you’re putting your support behind efforts to improve the area’s business climate, education and quality of life. We encourage you to make the most of this investment. Attend networking functions such as Business After Hours and First Friday Coffee. Come and introduce a new employee, product or service to nearly 300 business people at a quarterly Good Morning Joplin event. Take the time to attend a seminar or workshop to help you or your employees be more effective and efficient in today’s business world. Volunteer to serve on one of the many committees working on a variety of issues important to the future of this community. When you invest your membership dollars in the area’s only 5-Star Chamber, you support a great organization. When you invest your time, you benefit your community and your business. Make the most of your membership. www.joplincc.com

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THE JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: WHO WE ARE

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hether it’s organizing a networking event to help business owners meet potential customers at a First Friday Coffee or working with the governor to increase economic opportunities, your 5-Star Chamber works hard for businesses and the community. That 5-Star rating comes from the United States Chamber of Commerce in recognition of the Joplin Area Chamber Commerce’s (JACC) sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community. A 5-Star rating is the highest accreditation ranking given by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. JACC’s 18 employees are involved in everything from economic development to membership events. They make events fun, but they know the outcomes are serious. Helping members grow their business and connecting them to customers is their goal. JACC has an excellent relationship with state and local politicians to help advocate for business interests in the Southwest Missouri area. JACC’s goal is to support legislation to address business concerns, improve economic development and transportation, and to promote improved educational opportunities, healthcare and community enhancement. JACC staff knows good education is vital to moving the community forward, which is why JACC is part of the Joplin Innovation Campus, along with Missouri Southern State University, Crowder College and Joplin Schools. In March 2014, Gov. Jay Nixon joined the Joplin Innovation Campus in signing a historic agreement to give students the opportunity to earn an associate degree while in high school. The goal of the Innovation Campus program is to train students for career opportunities in

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high-demand fields while cutting the time it takes to earn a college degree and reducing student debt. Last year, Jasper County was the first community in the nation to be named a “Certified Work Ready Community” by ACT. The Certified Work Ready Community initiative provides a framework to link workforce development to education and simultaneously align economic development needs of the community so employers know potential employees have the basic skills needed to do a specific job. This year, the neighboring Kansas counties of Cherokee and Labette are undergoing the process in order to build a comprehensive workforce. The region surrounding Joplin is filled with educational and economic opportunities, and JACC works with regional partners in Kansas and Oklahoma to improve the entire region. Combined economic development efforts for the three-state region are led by the Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative (JRPI), which works closely with JACC staff on a daily basis to promote opportunities in its seven-county, three state area. A readily available workforce and entrepreneurial spirit means small businesses flourish in the region. The Joseph Newman Innovation Center, a project of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, next door to JACC provides support and resources for start-up and existing businesses by partnering with Missouri Southern State University’s Small Business and Technology Development Center. Today’s JACC looks very different from when it started 97 years ago, but its goal is the same: to improve the lives and businesses of its 1,100 members through increased economic prosperity, superior educational opportunities and a thriving art and cultural scene.


THE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK O ur Young Professionals Network consistently gains members and trains leaders each year. While their mission remained the same — to Connect, Develop and Empower young professionals to lead the community — members took on a political campaign for the first time when the City of Joplin put a curbside recycling initiative on a recent ballot. YPN members launched an educational Vote Yes campaign to encourage residents to pass the recycling issue. In addition to newly found political activism, YPN members between the ages of 21-40 focus on professional development, giving back to the community and building strong future leaders. YPN gives young professionals the opportunity to connect with their peers through various social, cultural, community service, educational and networking events. Activities are designed to expand professional networks and build lasting connections with local business leaders and other young professionals. CONNECT YPN provides its current and prospective members many ways to connect with each other and local leaders. Activities range from social mixers at local businesses to the Annual Celebration banquet held each spring. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Some activities are for the young professional only, but many activities are open to the YPs’ families too. And members from the YPN Welcome Team help new members meet other members and become active in the group. DEVELOP Professional development is a top priority of the YPN leaders. Each month, members and prospective members hear from successful business and community leaders during an “EDTalk.” During these lunches or evening sessions, YPs can interact with these leaders in a casual, roundtable format. Topics range from making powerful presentations to learning to be a better networker. For a more personal experience, members can join a Leadership League group. A small group of YPs are

coached by a business leader, who often becomes a close mentor of those in the group.

EMPOWER YPN gives members the opportunity to have their voices heard in the community and to help improve the community. Members contributed over 1,700 service hours to the community in 2013. Nonprofit organizations benefited from the YPN community service work days, and YPs benefited by growing professionally and personally. YPN Offers the Young Professional: • The chance to network, promote your business, find a new job and make new friends; • Professional development through educational workshops and mentoring programs; • Opportunities to give back to the community and area nonprofits through volunteer work days. YPN Offers the Business Owner or Manager: • Opportunities for your workforce to grow and develop; • Potential recruitment of new talent; • Contact with a younger generation of customers. YPN Offers Nonprofit Organizations: • Volunteer labor on pre-arranged work days; • Exposure to the next generation of leaders and advocates; • Possible prospects for future volunteers and board members.

188 CURRENT MEMBERS 62 NEW MEMBERS JOINED IN 2013 1,777 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS IN 2013

www.joplincc.com

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BUSINESS & INDUSTRY

BIZ BRIEFS BY MARY WEST

SNC S Q UARE D www.sncsquared.com

The digital age we live in makes a full-service IT management enterprise like SNC Squared indispensable. Founded in 1998, the company’s computer consultants have extensive technical expertise for delivering advanced solutions to area businesses. They also pride themselves on strong customer service, a factor they feel has played a pivotal role in their success. Although SNC Squared has the capability to work with large companies, its focus has always been to support the small and mid-sized businesses in Joplin and the four-state area. They go beyond the norm to develop new insights, drive results and help expand business through the use of technology. Always committed to excellence, SNC Squared has been rewarded with a variety of honors for its growth and quality of work. The company was named “Small Business of the Year 2013” by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and was listed in Inc. 500|5000 Magazine in 2013 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation. Additionally, SNC Squared has been spotlighted for its contribution to the community. Experts in disaster recovery, they were profiled by Fox Business, NPR, PBS, CRN, FedEx and the Missouri Health Information

EXPERTS IN DISASTER RECOVERY, SNC SQUARED WAS PROFILED BY FOX BUSINESS, NPR, PBS, CRN, FEDEX AND THE MISSOURI HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR THEIR SWIFT RESPONSE AFTER THE MAY 2011 TORNADO THAT DEVASTATED JOPLIN.

Technology Assistance Center for their swift response after the May 2011 tornado that devastated Joplin. In fact, SNC Squared received the prestigious “Hands That Give, No One Left Behind Award” for the aid the staff provided during the tornado’s aftermath.

CHOIC E M ARKETI NG www.choicemarketing.biz

Choice Marketing is a full-service advertising and marketing agency with the goal of making their clients’ businesses shine. The talented staff’s efforts have not only put a spotlight on their clients’ companies, but also on Choice Marketing itself — it has been the recipient of dozens of local, state, national and international creative awards. Services offered include media placement, graphic design and audio/ video production, as well as social media strategy and implementation. Customers are also provided with budget analysis, planning and management in addition to marketing consultation. Because Choice Marketing can deliver results, the company is thriving and has been entrusted with more than 60 diverse clients whose businesses range from retail to manufacturing and from gaming to health care. “I have been blessed to have wonderful clients and amazing employees,” said owner Karen Plott. “My staff understands the concept of teamwork, each giving 110 percent every day. I believe in motivating and empowering them to reach their full potential.” Plott also believes that community involvement is paramount to the success of her agency. “Joplin has been good to me, and I am proud to give back to it,” she said. Several staff members serve on the board of directors for many different organizations in Joplin, and many employees actively volunteer for a spectrum of worthy causes. The agency also financially supports many not-for-profit organizations in the area.

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W I L DC AT G LAD ES C ON S ER VATI ON & A UDUBO N CENT ER www.wildcatglades.audubon.org

The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center provides environmental education programs and exposure to the area’s unique natural resources at no charge. Each year hands-on activities connect more than 50,000 visitors to the natural world, while four miles of trails provide outdoor enjoyment to another 28,000 guests. Aside from being a popular destination for the locals, the center has attracted tourists from almost every state along with several countries. Wildcat Park’s natural assets, including ponds, creeks, streams, forests and an aquarium, enable it to serve the community in manifold ways. The park acts as a living laboratory for conservation programs, offers views of wildlife in its natural habitat and provides diverse learning opportunities. In addition, because the Audubon Center is next to some of the last remaining chert (flint) glades in the world, it gives the public a glimpse of the plants and animals that make up this rare composite of biological diversity. The center’s mission of appreciating, understanding and conserving the natural world has been superbly fulfilled. Since you are never too old or too young to learn something from nature, this community resource is a treasure, indeed, and has become a favorite for business retreats and meetings as well as family celebrations such as anniversaries, baby showers, graduation parties, music recitals and birthdays.

THE PARK ACTS AS A LIVING LABORATORY FOR CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, OFFERS VIEWS OF WILDLIFE IN ITS NATURAL HABITAT AND PROVIDES DIVERSE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

A BL E M AN U FAC TU R I NG & AS S EM BLY, LLC www.ablemfg.com

Able Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) enterprise, specializes in light metal fabrication, molded composite fiberglass and other products that serve the specialty vehicles, agriculture, construction, wind energy, defense, mining, industrial equipment and light rail markets. Headquartered in Joplin, Able’s impressive customer base includes global giants such as Kawasaki, Caterpillar, Bombardier, Case New Holland and Siemens Corporation. Garnering both local and national recognition, Able Manufacturing has received an array of honors, including the Missouri Fast Track Award for being one of the fastest-growing companies in the state. Leading in sustainability issues, the business has also been recognized for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship and been given Going Green Awards. Able Manufacturing is vitally involved in the community, with staff members serving on multiple technical advisory boards along with many area boards of directors as varied as the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Investment Board, United Way, Lafayette House and Spiva Center for the Arts. In addition, the company partners with area public schools, technical schools, colleges and universities through Bright Futures by donating resources and volunteer hours. www.joplincc.com

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R . E. S MIT H C O N S TR U C TI ON C OM PA NY www.resmithconst.com

R.E. Smith Construction is a family-owned company that has served Joplin’s construction needs for over 60 years. Established in 1952, the enterprise began as a modest carpentry and residential construction company; however, it has flourished over the years and today is one of the leading general contractors in the four-state area. The business produces exceptional work, erecting an array of commercial construction including schools, churches and health care facilities; recreation and sports centers; and manufacturing and processing plants. Services offered encompass all aspects of the building process, from design to completion. R.E. Smith’s accomplishments and growth as a business have been remarkable. The company received acclaim for the historic renovation of Joplin’s Carnegie Library and for the construction of the Southwest Area Career Center. In addition, the Joplin Regional Business Journal declared it the winner of the 2011 Top Ten D12 Dynamic Dozen. R.E. Smith Construction believes in helping the community in several ways. When bidding and building projects, every effort is made to use all

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local resources, including subcontractors and suppliers, to stimulate Joplin’s economy. The business also supports many programs that give back to the area, such as the Joplin Family Y’s Youth Athletic Program, Salvation Army and Rotary Club.


P I NN AC LE B A NK www.pinnbank.com

Throughout the communities it serves, Pinnacle Bank is known for strength, stability and values. The branches of this family-owned bank are led by managers who have a customer focus, offering solutions that best fit the varied needs of their depositors. This financial institution provides all the innovations that facilitate ease in banking, but also offers the timehonored personal approach. Pinnacle continues to invest in technology that gives access to the latest products and features of the industry. In addition to a complete online banking suite, the bank offers a mobile app available for smartphones and tablets that allows customers to manage their accounts on the go, including making mobile deposits. However, while people enjoy the convenience that technological advances have brought to banking, many customers still prefer to drop by one of the friendly local branches, where they can talk to their bankers, whom they often know by name. The staff at Pinnacle is committed to investing in people and the communities where they live and work, sponsoring numerous local causes, special events and children’s programs. Pinnacle Bank staff believe their job is more than banking — it’s being a link in the community.

H.E. W ILLIA MS , I N C . www.hewilliams.com

H.E. WILLIAMS, INC., PRODUCES MORE THAN 700 TYPES OF LIGHT FIXTURES, EMBRACING STATE-OF-THE-ART LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDING LED, INDUCTION, FLUORESCENT, HID AND INCANDESCENT.

H.E. Williams, Inc., was founded in Carthage, Missouri, by Harold E. Williams in 1921. Originally known as H.E. Williams Products Company, the company produced a variety of items including kitchen utensils, static signs, cold storage lockers and even bicycle parts. Changing with the times, eventually automotive parts and items needed to support the war efforts during World War II were produced. In 1939, with the introduction of the fluorescent tube at the World’s Fair in New York, H.E. began producing light fixtures to house the new light source. Today, H.E. Williams, Inc., produces more than 700 types of light fixtures, embracing stateof-the-art lighting technologies including LED, induction, fluorescent, HID and incandescent. Offering three complete product lines, H.E. Williams, Inc., produces fixtures for a wide variety of applications ranging from interior offices, schools, warehouses and factories to exterior site lighting for shopping centers, campuses, parks and even hazardous locations. All manufacturing and administration takes place in 65,000 square feet of air conditioned comfort. Providing employment to approximately 300 residents, many H.E. Williams employees have been with the company for several decades. Family-owned and operated by the grandson of H.E. himself, the company prides itself on its USA roots, and that pride is reflected in the quality products it produces. Always looking toward the future, the company continually moves forward, embracing the latest technologies and processes to support continued growth and productivity.

www.joplincc.com

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MY THOS www.mythosjoplin.com

Mythos provides an irresistible taste of the Mediterranean in the midst of American’s heartland. This family-owned and operated gem of an eatery, known for authentic Greek and European cuisine, impeccable service, and large portions, keeps diners coming back again and again. The ambience is quiet and elegant but relaxed, creating a versatile setting ideal for any occasion, ranging from a romantic date night, to business lunch, to a casual dinner with friends and family. Owner George Michalopoulos pours his heart into providing a wonderful dining experience, and his efforts have paid off with good reviews, an excellent reputation and loyal patrons. He visits each table and greets everyone warmly, making them feel like they are his personal guests. In addition to the restaurant, Mythos offers catering, with food that can be customized for any budget, taste and style. While they cater all types of events, they are particularly sought after for weddings. The Michalopoulos family loves the community and contributes to civic projects through involvement with many local organizations. “We always look forward to helping and plan to participate for many years to come,” says Michalopoulos. “Joplin is a wonderful place to live — large enough to keep you happy and interested, yet still small enough to be able to stay connected. The people here are truly wonderful, and there is a sense of camaraderie and care for each other, especially since the tornado.”

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MAJOR EMPLOYERS Company *Freeman Health System *Con-way Truckload *Mercy Hospital Joplin *Joplin Schools *Downstream Casino Resort *TAMKO Building Products, Inc. *Crossland Construction Company *EaglePicher Technologies, LLC *The Empire District Electric Company *Wal-Mart, Inc. of Joplin *NCO/Systems & Services Technologies, Inc. (SST) *Missouri Southern State University *Indigo Sky Casino Aegis Communications Group *AT&T Mobility Integris Baptist Regional Health Center *City of Joplin *General Mills *Crowder College *Carl Junction Schools Tri-State Motor Transit Company *Jasper Products, LLC LaBarge, Inc. Electronics Division *Cardinal Detecto Mfg. *Leggett & Platt, Inc. *Ozark Center Americold Logistics *H.E. Williams, Inc. Buffalo Run Casino *Economic Security Corporation *Schaeffler Group USA Inc. *Mercy Clinic *Able Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC *Bill’s Electric, Inc. *Modine Manufacturing Company *Wyandotte Nation Casino *RockTenn *Southwest Missouri Bank Pitsco *Names and Numbers

Full-Time Employees 3,197 2,677 2,200 1,200 1,060 1,000 860 800 785 785 750 620 600 560 540 530 490 466 453 418 417 400 392 375 375 362 350 350 346 320 310 300 280 250 245 227 223 220 215 205

Asterisk indicates membership in the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

City Joplin Joplin Joplin Joplin Quapaw Joplin Columbus Joplin Joplin Joplin Joplin Joplin Wyandotte Joplin Joplin Miami Joplin Joplin Neosho Carl Junction Joplin Joplin Joplin Webb City Carthage Joplin Carthage Carthage Miami Joplin Joplin Joplin Joplin Webb City Joplin Wyandotte Joplin Joplin Pittsburg Pittsburg

BUSINESS JOURNAL Print & Digital Editions Available!

www.joplincc.com

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OUTSTANDING BUSINESS RESOURCES BY JAY NEHRKORN

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he Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s (JACC) Economic & Workforce Development branch embraces local and regional initiatives in its efforts to improve economic prosperity in the Joplin area. From influencing public policy on behalf of the business community, to leading task forces designed to improve infrastructure and encourage technology-oriented startups, developing Southwest Missouri is a core focus at JACC.

A FFI L IAT E D O R G A N IZ AT IO NS The Chamber is affiliated with a number of organizations, subsidiary corporations and joint ventures aimed at growing the region. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, for example, promotes endeavors that support charitable, cultural and educational programs and projects. The Foundation supports the Tech Innovation Task Force and oversees the Newman Innovation Center.

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Chamber staff members also overlap as staff for a variety of these affiliate organizations, including the Joplin Business and Industrial Development Corporation (JBIDC) and Joplin Capital Corporation (JCC). The JBIDC provides revenue sources to support the economic development efforts in the Joplin area, while the JCC furnishes small business loans and/or equity for projects that would not be financed through conventional means. JACC staff also supports efforts specific to the area inside the city limits of Joplin. The Joplin Industrial Development Authority, operated by Chamber staff, strives to develop and market the Crossroads Business Park as well as maintain the Joplin-Webb City Industrial Park. Likewise, Chamber staff assists Downtown Joplin staff, which fosters development of the core downtown business district. JACC also has a voice in redevelopment, which oversees implementation of the master plan for the region. The master plan encompasses

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ALSO HAS A VOICE IN REDEVELOPMENT, WHICH OVERSEES IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR THE REGION. THE MASTER PLAN ENCOMPASSES LONG-RANGE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DIRECTION ACROSS ALL SECTORS, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS, MEDICAL CARE, SOCIAL SERVICES AND ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION.


long-range community planning and direction across all sectors, including economic development, downtown development, transportation improvements, medical care, social services and arts, culture and recreation.

THE J O S E P H N EWM AN I N N OVATI O N CENT ER The Joseph Newman Innovation Center provides a positive environment for entrepreneurs and the development of innovative new businesses. With office and light manufacturing spaces available for lease and shared amenities such as a reception area, conference rooms, break rooms and telecommunications infrastructure, the center provides a professional atmosphere for focusing on your new business without the risk of having to sign a long-term lease agreement. Located downtown, the center blends accessibility with a professional, urban atmosphere. Perhaps even more beneficial than the space itself is the network of business experts who can be accessed through connections at the center. Businesses of all types can benefit from the expertise of the Joplin team, which includes Innovation Center staff, JACC staff, the Small Business and Technology Development Center at Missouri Southern State University, and other statewide development agencies. Access to these resources is not restricted to the center’s tenants, and these partners are prepared to assist in solving problems ranging from financing, management and relocations to research and manufacturing processes. Center Director Steve Russell emphasizes the significant positive impact the facility has had not only on the fortunes of tenants, but also on the economic prosperity of the region. “Since 2005, the center has assisted over 30 tenants as they created nearly 400 new jobs. However, our outreach programs helped hundreds more within the region,” said Russell. “Further, all of our assistance programs are provided free of charge.” Contact Steve Russell at 417-624-4150 or by email at steve@joplincc.com for more information about the Center and its offerings.

JOPLIN, MO

www.modine.com

SERVING THE REGIONAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY JOPLIN REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP www.joplinregionalpartnership.com | 417-624-4150 This seven-county partnership across Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma markets the region for the purpose of business attraction. The partnership identifies and helps companies evaluating locations for relocation or expansion. The JRP provides site selection assistance, tax and business incentive information, connections to important contacts in the region, business data, and access to helpful resources for workforce recruitment and training. Director Kevin Welch says, “The Joplin Region is a great place for any type of business looking for a place to relocate or expand to. The region has fantastic community partners, great transportation access, an able and skilled workforce, national and worldwide renowned educational and training facilities, and a low cost of doing business — plus it’s a great place to live!” Contact Kevin Welch for more information on the Joplin Regional Partnership and how they can help you. JOPLIN REGIONAL BIZ CENTER joplinregionalbizcenter.com | 417-624-4150 Business planning assistance related to feasibility, market data, registration and licensing, insurance, and other topics is available through the center, which also provides guidance related to financial resources. JOPLIN REGIONAL PROSPERITY INITIATIVE www.joplinregionalstrategy.com | 417-624-4150 The Joplin Regional Prosperity Initiative (JRPI) is a regional collaborative partnership that is implementing a five year strategic plan to expand jobs, increase private capital investment, and promote a superior quality of life for residents and visitors. This plan is undertaken by a regional governing board and 100 volunteers from many different walks of life serving on work groups.

(417) 782-5800

Licensed • Bonded • Insured 1104 Byers Ave Joplin, MO 64801

www.layneelectric.com www.joplincc.com

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THE LOCATION FOR LOGISTICS I

BY MARK ALLEN

f it needs to be shipped — and everything does — there’s a good chance it’s passed through or close to Joplin. Three Class 1 railroads and two regional short-lines join trucking, rail, air and port concerns to ensure that when shipments need to get somewhere, they get there fast. Close to 6 million Americans are a mere 150 miles from Joplin’s interstate crossroads, and 65 million are within an easy day’s drive. Interstates 44 and 49 provide ultimate access — East Coast to West Coast and Canada to Mexico — while a network of state and federal highways provides unfettered access to the reaches of the four-state area of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The city’s four industrial parks — Joplin Southern Industrial Park, Crossroads Business and Distribution Park, Joplin/Webb City Industrial Park, and Joplin Airpark — provide ample goods for the more than 50 local trucking firms. Additionally, Con-way Truckload is headquartered in Joplin, and Tri-State Motor Transit handles potentially dangerous freight. It’s an easy drive to Tulsa’s Port of Catoosa, one of the largest, farthest-inland river ports in the United States. In addition to Kansas City Southern, Burlington Northern-Santa Fe and Union Pacific, the regional short-line Missouri Northern Arkansas Railroad — part of the Genesee & Wyoming system — links Northwest Missouri with Northeast Arkansas. MNA traffic generally consists of coal, grain, frozen foods, minerals, steel, chemicals and asphalt on 527 miles of line. (The line was initially chartered in 1883 and was part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad’s mainline from Kansas City to Memphis.) Watco, one of the largest short-line railroads in the United States, offers direct service to its own port in Houston. These rail lines bring Missouri shipments to ports of import on the Gulf and Pacific Ocean. The city is also home to Joplin Regional Airport (see facing page). A further trio — Springfield Regional, Northwest Arkansas and Tulsa International — are all within 60 to 90 minutes. From here to there or from there to here, Joplin is leading in logistics.

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JOPLIN REGIONAL AIRPORT 7331 North Highway 43 • Webb City, MO Owned and operated by the City of Joplin, Joplin Regional Airport (JLN) serves a broad span of aviation needs for the community, including commercial, cargo, corporate, military and general aviation. The airport has been transformed in recent years with both the construction of a new $15 million terminal facility and the replacement of the air traffic control tower. The state-of-the art terminal facility provides passengers with the convenience of a small, local airport as well as great amenities such as free parking, wireless Internet, ATM and rental car service through both Avis and Hertz. “The airport impacts the local economy to the tune of over $21 million annually, but more importantly, provides a portal into the aviation system that connects Joplin with the major business and industrial markets worldwide,” stated Airport Manager Steve Stockam. The airport’s two commercial service runways are classified to handle aircraft as large as Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and other major commercial aircraft. Passenger jet service is provided by American Airlines, including daily round-trip service to connecting flights at DFW International. There are two Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) offering services at JLN. They are Mizzou Aviation (www.mizzouaviation.com, 417623-1331) and Alpha Air Center (www.alphaaircenter.com, 417623-3113). Services available through the FBOs include: • Flight school/instruction • Line service and fuel • Charter flights • Maintenance services/parts • Aircraft sales • Pilot services and supplies • Aircraft rental Learn more about the Joplin Regional Airport by visiting www.jlnairport.com or calling 417-623-0262.

A DAY’S DRIVE – OR LESS Thanks to Joplin’s central location, it’s within driving distance of many important population centers. CITY DISTANCE

(MI.) TIME (HR./MIN.)

Tulsa, Okla.........................114...............................1:53 Kansas City, Mo..................161...............................2:39 Oklahoma City, Okla..........217...............................3:24 Little Rock, Ark....................272...............................4:22 Wichita, Kan......................288...............................4:45 St. Louis, Mo.......................290...............................4:34 Omaha, Neb......................347...............................5:22 Lincoln, Neb.......................357...............................5:50 Dallas, Texas.......................366...............................6:12 Memphis, Tenn....................402...............................6:13 Nashville, Tenn...................550...............................8:57 Chicago, Ill.........................582...............................9:14

www.joplincc.com

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COMMUNITY PROFILE:

THE JOPLIN METRO BY THE NUMBERS

P O P U LAT ION CH AN G E

EDUCAT IO NA L AT TA INMENT A GE 2 5 + (2 0 1 3 ) Percent Change

1980 Census

Number 127,516

1990 Census

134,909

5.8%

2000 Census

157,322

16.6%

2010 Census

175,518

11.6%

2013 Projection

178,178

1.5%

2018 Projection

184,801

3.7%

< Grade 9 Grades 9–12 High School Some College Associate Degree Bachelor’s Degree Graduate Degree Total

Number   6,426  13,926  39,185  27,112   8,058  14,111   7,237 116,055

Percent Change   5.5%  12.0%  33.8%  23.4%   6.9%  12.2%   6.2% 100.0%

P O P U LAT ION BY GEND ER ( 2013) Male

Number  87,431

Percent  49.1%

Female

90,747

50.9%

Total

178,178

100.0%

P O P U LAT ION BY AG E ( 2013) Number

Percent

0–4

12,240

6.9%

5–9

12,621

7.1%

10–14

12,537

7.0%

15–19

12,317

6.9%

20–24

12,408

7.0%

25–29

11,802

6.6%

30–34

11,380

6.4%

35–39

10,785

6.1%

40–44

10,862

6.1%

45–49

11,539

6.5%

50–54

12,220

6.9%

55–59

11,229

6.3%

60–64

10,155

5.7%

65–69

8,030

4.5%

70–74

6,234

3.5%

75–79

4,729

2.7%

80–84

3,588

2.0%

85+

3,502

2.0%

Total

178,178

100.0%

Median

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36.8 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LA BO R FO RCE EMPLO Y MENT STAT US 16 PLUS (2 0 1 3 ) In Armed Forces Employed Unemployed Total

Number     64 83,669  6,130 89,863

Percent   0.1%  93.1%   6.8% 100.0%


I NCO M E (2 0 1 3) Median Household Income

$39,038

Average Household Income

$52,453

Average Family Income

$60,196

Per Capita Income

$20,232

COST OF LIVING (ANNUAL AVERAGE 2013) Joplin Metro Composite

88.8

Grocery Items

85.6

Housing

73.8

Utilities

117.0

Transportation

95.8

Health Care

96.0

Miscellaneous

98.7

D AY T IME P OP ULATI ON ( 2 01 3 ) Establishments

7,040

Employees

87,076

www.joplincc.com

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EDUCATION QUESTION: WHAT’S NEW IN JOPLIN SCHOOLS? ANSWER: A LOT. BY DANA HINDERS

East Middle School

Irving Elementary

J

anuary 6, 2014, was a special day for young people living in Joplin. Irving Elementary, Soaring Heights Elementary and East Middle School welcomed students for the first time, providing a permanent educational home for more than 1,300 students who had been attending classes at temporary facilities since the catastrophic EF-5 tornado tore through Joplin on May 22, 2011. The tornado claimed the lives of 161 people, including seven Joplin Schools students and one staff member. The new facilities at Irving, Soaring Heights and East are designed to provide 21st-century learning environments that will prepare students to reach their full potential. Collapsible seating and movable walls let teachers

customize spaces to fit specific lesson objectives. Apple TVs in each classroom offer video and streaming capabilities, while elementary iPad and laptop carts increase access to mobile technology devices. To honor the past, the new school buildings incorporated various historical memorabilia into an otherwise modern design. The cornerstone from the old Irving Elementary was transferred to the new school, and the bell from Duquesne was relocated to Soaring Heights. There are large wall graphics at Irving, Soaring Heights and East that depict images of previous school facilities. Students and staff also created time capsules for the new buildings featuring mementos from the 2013–2014 school year.

DURING CONSTRUCTION OF IRVING ELEMENTARY, A TEACHER TOURING THE SITE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A NICE GESTURE FOR STAFF, PARENTS AND SCHOOL PARTNERS TO WRITE ENCOURAGING NOTES ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR AS A WAY TO CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS. THE IDEA WAS ADOPTED AT ALL OF THE NEW SCHOOLS. EVEN THOUGH THE STUDENTS WON’T SEE THE ACTUAL WORDS, THEY KNOW THAT BENEATH THEIR FEET ARE INSPIRING WORDS AND PRAYERS FROM PEOPLE WHO LOVE AND CARE ABOUT THEM.

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE




The next milestone in the district’s tornado recovery plan occurred in late summer 2014. School officials opened Joplin High School/Franklin Technology Center in August 2014. Students attending this facility are allowed to choose one of five career paths in preparation for college, trade school or entering the workforce: Human Services, Business and Information Technology, Health Services, Technical Services, or Arts and Communications. Gov. Jay Nixon awarded the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation and its partners a $1 million grant in 2012 to help establish an Innovation Campus at JHS/FTC. The program allows eligible high school students to get a jump start on earning college credits while qualifying for up to $7,500 in tuition grant assistance. “We anticipate that student outcomes will improve over the next few years as we settle into our new and renovated schools and fully implement our new career path curriculum,” said Dr. C.J. Huff, superintendent of Joplin Schools. “The new schools are designed to support learning through spaces that support collaboration and creativity. In addition, we are making curriculum changes that encourage student engagement at all levels. This includes opportunities for internships, personal learning experiences designed by students, and even the ability to earn an associate degree while in high school.” The final step in the district’s three-part recovery plan, dubbed “Operation Rising Eagle,” is to finish the construction of 14 community safe rooms built to withstand 250 mph winds. These FEMA safe rooms will provide shelter to students, staff and the community during storms, ensuring peace of mind for all those affected by the 2011 disaster. “The most challenging aspect of the post-tornado rebuilding project has been taking care of the ongoing mental health needs of students and staff,” Dr. Huff said. “Rebuilding schools is easier than rebuilding people. We are three years into a challenging recovery and ready to put the disaster behind us. We can see the finish line on our rebuilding efforts, and that is encouraging for everyone.”

TAKE A TOUR Franklin Technology Center

East Middle Media Center

JOPLIN SCHOOLS FAST FACTS • J oplin Schools are home to 7,784 students in pre-K through 12th grade. The district includes one early childhood center, 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school, one technical school, one flexible program designed to serve the needs of at-risk high school students, and a center for students with behavioral challenges. • There are 123 different sports, clubs and activities for elementary and secondary students.

Irving Elementary Gymnasium (also FEMA safe room)

• Devoted teachers and the support of over 800 community volunteers help keep the district running smoothly. In 2013, high school social studies teacher and varsity football coordinator Tobin Schultz was honored with a prestigious Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000. Jeff Starkweather, the JHS athletic director, was recently named the Missouri Athletic Director of the Year by the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. • In 2013, JHS was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2013-2015. The Apple Distinguished School designation is reserved for programs that meet criteria for innovation, leadership and educational excellence. • JHS has been diligently working to increase its graduation rate. In 2013, the school’s graduation rate climbed to 86.6 percent from 78.5 percent in 2012 and just 54 percent in 1996. The top 50 JHS students had an average ACT score of 28.6 for the last three years, demonstrating a readiness for college-level coursework.

Soaring Heights Elementary Common Room

www.joplincc.com

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PRIVATE SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR JOPLIN AREA FAMILIES JO P L IN ARE A C ATH OLI C S C H OOLS Catholic education has been present in Joplin since 1885, when 12 Sisters of Mercy started a Catholic school at 9th and Pearl Avenue. Today the school system has three facilities: St. Mary’s Elementary School, St. Peter’s Middle School and McAuley Catholic High School. St. Mary’s Elementary opened its doors in fall 2014 at its new location at 3025 Central City Road, providing education for students in preschoolfifth grade. St. Mary’s students consistently score above average on national achievement tests, all the while learning to live their Catholic faith through their daily routine and classroom setting. All students also participate in

CO L L E G E HE IGH TS C H R I S TI AN S C HO O L Established in 1978, College Heights Christian School has become well-known in the area for providing a top, rigorous academic program in a Christ-centered learning environment. To achieve the school’s mission of developing servant leaders with a biblical world view, CHCS offers a comprehensive college-preparatory pre-kindergarten through 12th grade program. At the high school level an honors program is available, with advanced placement and dual-credit course offerings. Spanish language instruction is included for all grade levels. Integrated with the emphasis on academic excellence, CHCS emphasizes Christian character, service and leadership. CHCS belongs to the Missouri State High School Activities Association and has award-winning fine arts programs in vocal and instrumental music, drama and art. Academic teams regularly rank among the highest in the region in Scholar Bowl, Math League and Science Fair competitions. Student athletes may compete in baseball, basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, football, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track or volleyball. As an example of student achievement, the class of 2013 had an ACT composite average of 25.3, compared to the national average of 21.1, and had four Bright Flight qualifiers (top 3 percent in Missouri). The class of 2013 included one National Merit Commended student (top 5 percent in the nation) and two National Merit Semi-Finalists (top 1 percent in the nation). The anticipated enrollment for 2014–2015 is approaching 600, with approximately 170 of these in grades 9-12.

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.jacss.org

music programs, a project fair, field trips and weekly Mass. There are also a variety of sports and extracurricular activities available to students in upper grades. St. Peter’s Middle School relocated to 831 South Byers Avenue in fall 2014 and provides education to students in sixth through eighth grades. St. Peter’s continues the religious education of its students and promotes personal faith development and self-discovery. Among its curriculum is a strong emphasis on development of civic responsibility and self-discipline. Students are also encouraged to become involved in extracurricular activities during these formative years. Options such as theater, athletics, quiz bowl and cheerleading help students gain confidence while developing a sense of responsibility for their community. McAuley Catholic High School, 930 South Pearl Avenue, educates students in grades 9–12. Students continue extracurricular activities formed during the middle school years at McAuley, so that more than 95 percent of the students participate in one or more student organizations available to them. All classes and organizations reinforce the morals and values associated with the Catholic faith. To date, McAuley has a 98 to 100 percent graduation rate, with student ACT scores consistently above the local and state averages. Those graduates have gone on to become integral members of the Joplin community, as well as leading others on the state and national level in government and business.

www.collegeheights.org

The average number of graduates each year is 42. CHCS families represent more than 90 different churches in the four-state area. The caring and experienced faculty team includes approximately 45 certified teachers, resulting in a very favorable 13-to-1 average student-to-teacher ratio. CHCS is accredited by North Central Association/Advanced Ed and is also a member of the Association of Christian Schools International.


MARTIN LUTHER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL www.martinlutherjoplin.com

T HOM AS J E F F ER S ON I N D E P E N DE N T D AY S C H OOL www.tjeffschool.org

Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School is a college-preparatory school that educates students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school was founded in 1993, and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. TJ has a 100 percent college acceptance rate and has graduated approximately 300 students who have pursued graduate school and a variety of careers including law, medicine, dentistry, business and education. In 2011, TJ completed a large expansion project that included many spaces dedicated to the fine and performing arts. In addition to a strong college preparatory curriculum, TJ has a very robust fine and performing arts program across all divisions of the school. Music and art classes are a part of the overall academic program, with many opportunities for specialized study as students progress through the program. Art courses in all media, choirs, orchestras, musical theater and a separate strings program within the orchestra are opportunities afforded TJ students. The school’s state-of-the-art 425-seat concert hall plays host to all of the school concerts, and each year the school produces three musicals, one within each division of the school, giving students as young as first grade the opportunity to perform in a large-scale production on stage. The TJ concert hall also hosts professional musicians from the United States and abroad. Many of these visits include opportunities for students to work and perform with these professionals.

Serving students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, Martin Luther Christian School provides a challenging academic curriculum. Starting with the youngest students, classes introduce science, math, reading and social studies with age-appropriate lessons and activities. Spanish lessons begin in kindergarten. Additionally, all grades’ daily studies include biblical lessons so students can grow in their faith. Art courses include both study of art and culture and creative projects by students. Music and band further expand students’ horizons. Perhaps the school’s most unique staff members are Jackson and Louie, the Comfort Dogs. These specially trained golden retrievers helped area children transition back to school after the May 2011 tornado, and the boys traveled to Arkansas to help comfort kids returning to school after a devastating tornado. In 2014, Martin Luther Christian School began a $1.5 million renovation and expansion project, which includes updating the kitchen and adding new offices and a covered entry, as well as two new classrooms for early childhood development that will double as storm shelter safe rooms capable of withstanding EF-5 tornadoes. Martin Luther Christian School has achieved National Lutheran School Accreditation and Missouri Nonpublic School Accreditation.

www.joplincc.com

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HIGHER EDUCATION MI SS OU RI S OU TH ER N S TATE U NI VE RSIT Y

www.mssu.edu

Behind the ceremonial shovels and hard hats set up for groundbreaking for the new residence hall complex at Missouri Southern State University, earth movers and other pieces of heavy equipment were already on the scene preparing for construction to begin. “It’s a very exciting day for us,” said President Dr. Alan Marble, during opening remarks to kick off the project on Thursday, May 1, 2014. He noted that the groundbreaking was originally set for April 28 but was postponed in the aftermath of the tornadoes that hit the area the day before. The first priority, he said, was making sure the 40 university students from the impacted areas were safe. “This residence hall project is no different,” said Marble. “We have the best intentions of our students at heart. It will be more than just a building. It will be a home.” The three-story complex, to be located north of Newman Road and east of International Boulevard, will feature 51 student apartments throughout six buildings, the vast majority of which will be four bedrooms. Each bedroom will have its own bathroom, and students will share a common living area and full kitchen. Each apartment will also have its own washer and dryer.

The exterior of the complex will include an open courtyard and common areas, a pedestrian-friendly design and parking on the back side. In April 2014, the university’s Board of Governors approved the sale of $29 million in bonds, $14 million of which will be used for construction of the residence hall. Joplin’s R.E. Smith will serve as the construction manager and contractor. The project will allow more than 200 students to call the university home, said Darren Fullerton, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “All of the amenities our students are used to at home, we’ll be proud to offer at Missouri Southern,” he said. Tyler Roby, the head resident assistant for the Residence Hall Association, talked about the years he spent living on campus and the benefits it can hold for students. “It’s wonderful to be able to step out your door and connect with your peers,” Roby said. “Not to mention the convenience of being able to get out of bed 10 minutes before class and run across the street.”

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE



P I TTS B URG S TATE U N I VER S I TY Steeped in tradition and continuously building for the future, Pittsburg State University is one of the premier institutions of higher education in the Midwest. With more than 150 academic programs, state-of-the-art facilities and a strong reputation for quality academics, Pittsburg State offers its students a vast array of educational and life experiences. More than 7,700 students from nearly 40 states and more than 40 countries call themselves

Gorillas, and more than 63,000 proud alumni can be found around the world. All have the distinction of being affiliated with the only university in the country with a Gorilla as its mascot. Pittsburg State boasts four unique colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences, Kelce College of Business, College of Education, and College of Technology, housed in the internationally acclaimed Kansas Technology Center.

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.pittstate.edu

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 19-to-1, students receive a high-quality education in a setting that allows for close contact with professors during and after class or around campus. Pittsburg State students have access to stateof-the-art technology and facilities. In 2014 construction began on a $33 million Center for the Arts, a $17 million indoor athletic facility known as the Plaster Center, and a $16 million expansion and renovation of the Overman Student Center. Choosing Pittsburg State opens the door to a college experience complete with respected


programs, caring and professional faculty, and multiple opportunities to get involved — this beautiful, 630-acre campus is home to more than 150 student clubs and organizations. Pittsburg State is also a place of intense preparation for the future. Within six months of graduation, approximately 90 percent of graduates are either gainfully employed or enrolled in advanced studies. Located in Southeast Kansas, Pittsburg State is within two hours of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Kansas City; Springfield, Missouri; and Fayetteville, Arkansas. Students are close enough for big city visits, but they can still choose from a host of local activities and entertainment. The 20,000 citizens in the picturesque community of Pittsburg, Kansas, take pride in supporting Pittsburg State and its mission of encouraging all individuals to achieve their potential. Pittsburg State’s tuition rates are among the most competitive in the region, and the Gorilla Advantage program offers in-state tuition to students in several counties in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Qualified students who live outside of these areas can take advantage of the Gorilla Edge program, which allows students in Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas to attend Pitt State at a reduced rate. Pittsburg State University is not just your ordinary university. Many colleges can boast a small student-to-faculty ratio, a nicely sized institution with a wireless campus, or qualified faculty. The unique advantages of being a Gorilla are seen campuswide in the new or recently renovated facilities, beautiful landscaping, engaging classroom settings, on a Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium and throughout the community, where the split-face Gorilla logo can be found virtually everywhere. And as they say … “Once a Gorilla, Always a Gorilla.”

www.joplincc.com

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CR O W D E R C OLLEGE Crowder College is a two-year community college located in Southwest Missouri. Crowder was established in 1963 by the voters of the Newton and McDonald County school districts. Beginning with around 300 students, the college has thrived over the last 50 years. Today, the college boasts enrollment of almost 6,000 students and has locations in Neosho, Webb City, Cassville, McDonald County and Nevada. The college also offers classes in various towns throughout its nine-county service district. Degree options at Crowder include an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science or Certificate of Study. Students may transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce upon graduation. Crowder offers over 80 degree and certificate programs, including business, agriculture, nursing, welding, occupational therapy assistant, alternative

www.crowder.edu

energy, education, automotive, emergency medical services and more. Crowder is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association, and is affiliated with the Missouri Department of Higher Education. Transferability is something Crowder has established with universities to help students pursue their bachelor’s degrees. This allows students to continue their education and complete a bachelor’s degree program online or on campus while staying in the area. Crowder offers flexible schedules with day, evening and online options for students. The Neosho location offers housing, which provides the students opportunities to experience college by living on campus. Approximately 400 beds are available at this campus.

MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED A+ MAY ATTEND CROWDER TUITION AND COMMONS FEES — FREE!

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Crowder also provides scholarships through the Crowder College Foundation as well as outside sources. The college’s tuition is one of the lowest in the state, which makes it very affordable. Missouri High School graduates who have been designated A+ may attend Crowder tuition and commons fees FREE! This allows students to attend Crowder with limited expenses, making college more affordable. Crowder offers an in-district rate to students living in its taxing district, but the college opted several years ago not to charge out-of-state tuition due to its geographic location. The college also participates in the Division 1 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), with women’s basketball and softball, men’s baseball, and soccer. All have well-established programs with many Region and Division appearances, along with several trips to national tournaments. Crowder College is a leader in Alternative Energy and was designated by the Missouri General Assembly as the Missouri Alternative and Renewable Energy Technology (MARET) Center.

MI SS OU RI S TATE U N I VER S I TY - J OPLIN O UT REA CH CA MPUS

www.outreach.missouristate.edu

Missouri State University, based in Springfield, has offered graduate degree programs in Joplin since 1997. MSU boasts nearly 24,000 students across its various campuses, making it the secondlargest university in the state. Missouri State offers several graduate programs in the Joplin region through traditional in-person courses, courses delivered from Springfield by videoconferencing, and through online courses. Students are able to take evening courses and receive support services at the university’s Joplin Extension site, which hosts classrooms and offices for MSU’s regional outreach coordinator and faculty. Programs offered include the Master of Social Work, a master’s and specialist program in educational administration, the Master of Science in Literacy, the Master of Arts in Teaching, a doctorate in educational leadership (in conjunction with the University of Missouri), and the MBA. MSU is also active across Southwest Missouri, offering undergraduate degreecompletion programs at the Crowder College campuses in Neosho, Nevada, Cassville, and McDonald County.

www.joplincc.com

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W I L LIA M W O O D S U N I VER S I TY Founded in 1870, William Woods University expanded its mission in 1992 to address the educational needs of working adults. WWU is located in Fulton, Missouri, but serves students at locations statewide and in Arkansas. William Woods has something for everyone — from associate to doctorate. In addition to an impressive lineup of majors for undergraduate students, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs for working adults, both on-site and online. On-site degrees include bachelor’s degrees in management, paralegal studies and elementary education; master’s degrees in business administration (with online specialties in health care management, human resources, and marketing and public relations) and education (administration, curriculum/instruction or athletics/activities administration); an education specialist (administration or curriculum leadership); and a doctorate in educational leadership. Online degrees include an Associate of Arts in liberal arts; bachelor’s degrees in interpretation studies in ASL-English, management and paralegal studies; and master’s degrees in business administration and education (in equestrian education or teaching and technology). William Woods University is a leader when it comes to designing quality programs for adult students. Everything WWU does in its evening and online programs is specifically designed to help adults succeed in reaching their goals as efficiently as possible. WWU offers competitive tuition at all degree levels, and financial aid is available for all students who qualify. Degree programs provide the convenience and flexibility that allow students to balance family, work and education.

O ZARK C HRIS TI AN C OLLEG E

The ultimate mission of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The immediate mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education. Emphasis is given to vocational preparation for Christian ministry in a variety of specific fields. Biblical and practical instruction is also provided for those who will serve in bi-vocational or volunteer ministries. The Ozark Christian College campus includes the Chapel, Missions Building, Seth Wilson Library, Casteel Administration Building, Hillside

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.williamwoods.edu Newly minted doctors of education celebrating at their commencement at William Woods’ Graduate College.

WILLIAM WOODS HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE — FROM ASSOCIATE TO DOCTORATE. www.occ.edu

Building, Dining Hall, Multi-Purpose Building, Mabee Student Center, Missionary Residence and Hospitality House, Physical Plant Building, and six residence halls. A strong faculty consists of over 30 full-time teachers and over 20 parttime teachers. The current student enrollment is over 700. Ozark Christian College continues to prepare men and women for vocational and volunteer Christian service and reaffirms its historic purpose by teaching the Word of God to men and women who will be equipped to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).


HEALTH CARE

F

rom children’s health care to assisted living, the medical facilities of the Joplin region provide a full continuum of care for patients of all ages. The brand-new, state-of-the-art Mercy Hospital Joplin, scheduled to open in spring 2015, is at the vanguard of innovative hospital design, built not only to provide an optimal healing environment, but a safe shelter that can withstand the type of storms that took its predecessor. The regional hospitals of the Freeman Health System and Landmark Hospital have also

expanded facilities and services since the storm and round out the region’s hospital services with everything from orthopaedics to autism care. The cutting-edge new Premier Surgical Institute has added inpatient surgical services to the Ortho Four States campus in nearby Galena, Kansas. Additionally, a variety of care specialists are here to treat everyday health needs, from cleaning teeth, to treating backache, to physicals for school and work, and everything in between.

www.joplincc.com

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


MERCY HOSPITAL JOPLIN

CURING THE ILLS OF HOSPITAL DESIGN

wwww.mercy.net

I

mproving health care can start by curing hospitals themselves: The construction of the new Mercy Hospital Joplin comes amid a revolution in thinking about how buildings themselves can improve medicine. Researchers and designers have talked to patients and doctors and applied modern science to tweak the physical space that will house the sick and their caregivers. The new building does away with maze-like hallways, patients searching for bathrooms and families stumbling around fast-moving gurneys. Wide corridors also will connect departments where patient care naturally flows, such as the emergency department to cardiac care. “It’s all part of easy ‘wayfinding,’” said Michele Stewart, Mercy Joplin chief operating officer. Wayfinding is an area of formal study borrowed from other public spaces, such as shopping malls and airports, that have made a science of efficiently moving visitors through a building. Mercy has developed a set of standards that guide construction across its four-state region. “Everything we are doing is based on extensive research,” said Cynthia Beckham, Mercy’s executive director of facility design. “We have a vast body of data that guides our standards.” Joplin is the first place those standards can be applied to an entirely new, general acute-care hospital. The project was born from disaster — the 2011 tornado that made a direct hit on the old St. John’s Regional Medical Center. In choosing to rebuild in Joplin, Mercy is erecting a care center that will showcase the science, empathy and common sense that shaped its construction standards. Design ideas came after hours of meetings with Joplin physicians, nurses, patients and community members. Opening in the spring of 2015, the new hospital and physician offices will have about 880,000 square feet of space and more than 200 patient beds. It not only replaces the former

St. John’s, but also three temporary facilities built as Mercy worked feverishly to continue care in Joplin. Mercy will build about 1 million square feet of new space in Joplin — or about what was lost to the tornado. Plans for the new hospital itself include medical and surgical, critical, intensive and cancer care — as well as greatly expanded care for women and children, with labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms and a new neonatal intensive care unit. Other changes include more elevators designed to separate patients from the public, easing awkward moments for both. Intensivecare rooms get their own bathrooms, and there will be one for every pair of surgical prep rooms, saving a trip down the hallway. Cardiac care will feature new hybrid operating rooms that enable a catheterization, where a long probe is sent through blood vessels to the heart for X-rays. But patients can stay in the same room if surgery is warranted — rather than being trundled to another operating room. Other operating suites will sit next to the emergency department, with anesthesiologists nearby. Inpatient floors will have decentralized nurse stations outside every two rooms, encouraging

collaboration between nurses and other team partners, including case managers, physicians and therapists. The hospital will have only private inpatient rooms, with warmer colors and comfortable chairs that fold nearly flat for loved ones spending the night. The rooms will have large windows, which was a special challenge because Mercy wanted them storm-hardened. Research shows all these innovations aren’t luxuries, but cost-saving changes that contribute to faster healing. Private rooms, for one, mean shorter stays because patients benefit from less noise, fewer transmitted infections and longer visits by loved ones. Next to the building will stand healing gardens where patients can benefit from walks amid nature. Plus, said Stewart, “The staff will have access to the gardens, too, as a great place to escape a stressful day.” In addition to curing the ills of hospital design, Mercy has hardened the new Joplin hospital with a window system designed to withstand 250 mph winds, a concrete roof, fortified “safe zones” on every floor, and half-buried generators away from the main building.

MERCY USES EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN, ALONG WITH RESEARCH AND VOICE OF THE CUSTOMER, TO BUILD A JOPLIN HOSPITAL AT THE LEADING EDGE OF A DESIGN REVOLUTION.

www.joplincc.com

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FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM

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verall medical care for Freeman Health System was recognized as #1 in the State of Missouri by CareChex®, a division of Comparion® Medical Analytics, and was placed among the top 100 in the country for overall patient safety. With 485 patient beds, Freeman is the region’s largest healthcare system, offering comprehensive care across more than 60 specialties, including cancer, heart and vascular, orthopaedics, neurosurgery and behavioral health. Freeman recently partnered with Children’s Kansas City, a nationally recognized pediatric hospital, to enhance care for children in Southwest Missouri. Through this partnership, Children’s Kansas City opened a permanent clinic on the Freeman campus, providing pediatric specialty care in cardiology, endocrinology/diabetes, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, nephrology and rheumatology. In order to meet the community’s needs following the May 2011 tornado, Freeman finished out the fifth and sixth floors of the Gary & Donna Hall Tower at Freeman Hospital West. The completion of these two floors, which were left unfinished when the tower was constructed in 2007 to allow for future growth, provided an additional 59 patient beds. Patient input was gathered for the design of both floors, which provide an atmosphere more reminiscent of a hotel than a hospital. Each patient room features ample sitting areas for family and guests. Flat-screen TVs are standard

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.freemanhealth.com

and warm colors envelop the floors. Each room is integrated with a new touch-screen call system that immediately puts patients in communication with their attending nurse. Freeman Neosho Hospital also underwent a recent renovation, providing updates to its two main corridors and to 21 patient rooms. In addition, the hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation, outpatient wound care, infusion therapy and medication injection services were consolidated under one roof, allowing for greater patient convenience. Through Ozark Center, Freeman’s behavioral health division, the health system operates Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism. Developed in consultation with the Cleveland Clinic Autism Consulting Group, Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism provides intensive therapy vital to unlocking parts of the brain that control functions such as language, emotion, social skills and interest. Since opening in 2007, more than 300 children and young adults have received treatment through Bill & Virginia Leffen Center for Autism. In 2010, a Special Education Center was established, expanding therapy services to kindergarten through 12th grade students. In January 2011, the school opened the Four State’s only Autism Diagnostic Center, which features the resources of an entire team of diagnostic professionals.


FREEMAN PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING THE AREA’S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED, LOCALLY GOVERNED NOT-FORPROFIT HEALTH SYSTEM.

FREEMAN STATISTICS •A 485-bed health system comprised of four main components: - Freeman Hospital West: tertiary care, Level II Trauma Center - Freeman Hospital East: rehabilitation units, outpatient services and adult psychiatric care - Freeman Neosho Hospital: critical-access facility providing care for Southwest Missouri’s rural population - Ozark Center: the area’s largest and most comprehensive behavioral health care provider, serving children and adults • Services include heart interventions, cardiothoracic surgeries, neurosurgeries, pain therapies, intensive care, trauma care and advanced diagnostic services • Freeman Health System has earned a number of US News & World Report distinctions, including Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri, as well as excellence in over 50 specialties through CareChex • Freeman is the area’s only locally owned, not-for-profit health system with a medical team that includes more than 300 physicians representing 60 specialties • Freeman is the region’s only teaching hospital, training doctors in emergency medicine, internal medicine and otolaryngology RECENT AWARDS •A National Research Corporation award that named Freeman among the nation’s top hospitals, as well as one of the top ranked in the Joplin area •D esignation as a Blue Distinction Center + for quality cardiac care • One of only four hospitals in the state recognized as a Blue Distinction Center + for Knee and Hip Replacement • One of only six hospitals in the state named a Blue Distinction Center + for Spine Surgery •D esignation as a Premium Total Joint Specialty Center by UnitedHealth Premium

www.thefamilyrx.com

www.joplincc.com

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LANDMARK HOSPITAL OF JOPLIN

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andmark Hospital of Joplin is the premier Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) hospital of the four-states area. This hospital has built a solid reputation for providing the best patient care and excellent customer service. This has been verified by the hospital’s receiving full accreditation by the Joint Commission after a comprehensive on-site survey, the most rigorous standard for excellence in hospital care. Discharge planners who refer patients to Landmark say their patients return from their stay at Landmark with rave reviews and are highly satisfied with their experience. This excellence is due to the tireless efforts of

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the highly experienced and competent staff of physicians, nurses, other clinicians and support personnel, who are dedicated to being the best at what they do. The hospital operates as a joint-venture between Landmark Holdings of Missouri, LLC, and the two short-term acute-care hospitals in Joplin, Freeman and Mercy Hospital Joplin. The facility has 30 single-occupancy rooms, providing a more private, comfortable experience during the patient’s stay. A patient’s average length of stay is about 27 days, depending on his or her level of acuity. Primary services include ventilator weaning, complex medical and wound

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.landmarkhospitals.com

care. Most patients come to Landmark from a short-term acute-care hospital and are discharged to home, skilled nursing or rehab. The nurse-topatient ratio is one of the best in the industry. Weekly patient care conferences by the clinical team help ensure each patient receives the best care to maximize their healing. Landmark Hospital has developed strong relationships in the medical community and works in partnership with other hospitals and doctors. The care the hospital provides will continue to make a positive difference for critically ill patients and their families in the four-states area.


ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALISTS OF THE FOUR STATES

www.ortho4states.com

The Ortho Four States campus. The new Premier Surgical Institute is the facility at top center.

ON A MISSION TO RESTORE PATIENTS’ QUALITY OF LIFE.

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rthopaedic Specialists of the Four States (Ortho Four States) is the largest and most comprehensive neck-to-toe orthopaedic care group and facility in the four-state area, with a trusted reputation for its compassionate, patient-focused approach to world-class orthopaedic care. Unlike the hospital system, Ortho Four States was founded and is operated by fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic doctors and surgeons focused on a mission to restore patients’ quality of life. Many Ortho Four States physicians grew up in the Joplin area and returned home after training and working their residency in larger cities around the country. While away, Ortho Four States’ doctors not only acquired advanced medical and surgical techniques, but identified various ways to best care for patients. Each with their own area of orthopaedic specialty, Ortho Four States physician-architects came together to collectively forge a master plan to build Ortho Four States’ patient-centered practice and orthopaedic facility. Ortho Four States is uniquely structured to maximize patient benefit and choice, with physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and physical therapists, working together to provide patients and their families with individually created care plans targeted at correcting and eliminating the pain and suffering caused by injuries and disorders of the spine and joints. From medical treatments and physical therapy, to non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures, to the most challenging musculoskeletal surgeries, Ortho Four States offers comprehensive care to patients from all over the region. Neck-to-toe, those needing care for accidents, injuries, sports medicine, joint replacement or revision, medical conditions, disease processes and even infection needn’t travel to larger cities to receive the caliber of care expected from the nation’s top orthopaedic facilities.

With a spacious facility campus designed for total comfort and convenience, Ortho Four States patients enjoy full-service and easy-access orthopaedic care, including state-of-the-art equipment and HydroWorx therapy pools in the nationally recognized rehabilitation center, as well as a pharmacy, outpatient surgery center and hospital. Also differentiating Ortho Four States is the ability to take the confusion out of navigating the complex insurance and health care system, with patient service from a staff that’s always friendly and available to help. Patients don’t need a referral to receive care at Ortho Four States, which accepts most insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield and many Freeman and Mercy directed plans. Ortho Four States is located only minutes from Joplin, just past the Missouri state line in Galena, Kansas. For added patient convenience, Ortho Four States has satellite offices in Pittsburg, Kansas; Carthage, Missouri; and Grove, Oklahoma.

NEW PREMIER SURGICA L INST IT UT E New to the Ortho Four States campus is the Premier Surgical Institute, opened in February 2013. Owned by the city of Galena, Kansas, Premier Surgical Institute is managed by Four States Management Solutions. Specializing in inpatient surgery, Premier Surgical Institute offers services in orthopaedics, spine, pain management, general surgery, gynecological surgeries, urologic surgery, vascular and gastroenterology. Additional services will be in imaging (radiology), including CT scanning, ultrasound, floroscopy and X-ray. For more information, visit www.premiersurgicalinstitute.com.

www.joplincc.com

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“WE ARE COMMITTED TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN JOPLIN AND SOUTHWEST MISSOURI IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FREEMAN.”

CHILDREN’S KANSAS CITY F or over 100 years, the Children’s Mercy mission has been to ensure that all children, no matter where they live, have access to the health care they need. For this reason, Children’s Mercy recently joined forces with Freeman Health System to advance pediatric care in Southwest Missouri. As part of this collaboration, Children’s Mercy opened a permanent location on the Freeman campus. The new Joplin clinics, known as Children’s Kansas City, are an extension of Children’s

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www.childrensmercy.org

Mercy, a nationally ranked pediatric medical center in Kansas City, with full support of its 600 pediatric specialists. Children’s Mercy and Freeman share a commitment to providing area families with better access to high-quality pediatric specialty care. For more than 20 years, Children’s Mercy specialists have traveled from Kansas City to Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas to provide convenient appointments to local children. In addition, each year hundreds of families from this area also traveled to Kansas City.


“We’ve heard from both families and physicians that their patients want access to our specialty services without having to travel to Kansas City,” says Marshaun Butler, vice president, Children’s Mercy. “We are committed to meeting the needs of children in Joplin and Southwest Missouri in partnership with Freeman. We value that partnership and know Children’s Kansas City will complement the exceptional pediatric services already available in this area.” In addition to the permanent location and specialists, the institutions will collaborate on clinical practices, including sharing of data, resources, protocols and guidelines; development and use of standardized pediatric measures and processes; sharing of expertise in particular specialties; and exchange of joint educational opportunities, all of which will contribute to quality care of our children and families.

FA ST FA C T S • 1,832 square feet of clinic space • Offers seven specialties: • Cardiology • Endocrinology/Diabetes • Gastroenterology • Hematology/Oncology • Nephrology • Telemedicine Neurology (Epilepsy) • Telemedicine Rhumatology

We accept payments from: MOHealth Net • Medicare • Missouri Health+ Some Commercial Insurances

www.accessfamilycare.org

www.joplincc.com

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At Good Vibrations we want you to feel better.

www.joplincc.com

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HOMES

JOPLIN AREA HOUSING: REDEVELOPED AND REDEFINED BY CAROL CUMMINGS

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n May 22, 2011, a devastating EF5 multiple-vortex tornado struck Joplin late in the afternoon. Reaching a maximum width of three-quarters of a mile across the southern part of the city, it intensified and tracked eastward across Joplin and Duquesne into rural portions of Jasper and Newton counties. It was the seventh-deadliest tornado in U.S. history, and the deadliest since 1947.

As the city dealt with the catastrophic aftermath, including the loss of 161 lives, the community began the efforts of rebuilding. In addition to being one of the most deadly, the Joplin tornado was one of the most costly on record, with direct insured losses topping $1.9 million and overall damage estimated at $3 million. More than 7,500 homes were damaged or destroyed. FEMA and state officials immediately established four joint task forces to manage

Loretta Bailey Agency

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

the largest recovery priorities: Housing, Debris Removal, Schools and Critical Infrastructure. These task forces included numerous other local, state and federal agencies — all with the goal of bringing an experienced, comprehensive approach to recovery in these key areas. According to Kim Cox, Executive/CEO of the Ozark Gateway Association of REALTORS®, with thousands displaced from the tornado, the disaster literally “turned the housing market on


its head. In the first week after the storm, we saw 10 times the average number of homes placed under contract, which greatly depleted the market,” she said. “All of the available homes were going fast, and that left a real void in the market that the community had to fill.” Cox said the community soon discovered that the majority of homes lost in the heart of the city were small homes on small lots. “Many of these were affordable starter homes and rentals,” she explained. “You can’t rebuild those small 1940s homes affordably, and therein lies the huge blank.” Crystal Harrington, executive officer with the Homebuilders Association of Southwest Missouri, elaborated.

JOPLIN HAS A HUGE VARIETY OF AFFORDABLE HOMES, INCLUDING RURAL HOMES WITH ACREAGE AND HOMES IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

www.joplincc.com

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Photos on this page provided by Ozark Gateway Association of REALTORS®

“The housing market has truly taken a turn and was literally turned on its ear when the tornado went through,” she said. “What we found when we examined the aftermath was that very few luxury homes were affected by the tornado. In addition, many of the homes in well-established areas — built 30 to 35 years ago and valued at around $200,000 — were being replaced by housing of higher value. What we really lost were moderately priced homes.” Cox said organizations like Rebuild Joplin and Habitat for Humanity are working hard to add back affordable housing, with about 70 new homes completed to date. “Still, new multi-family housing duplexes are full and have waiting lists, and there are very few onebedroom units available. Senior housing is very slim, though some is slowly being rebuilt.” Joplin’s overall redevelopment is being guided by goals identified during the citizen-led CART (Citizens Advisory Recovery Team) process and is overseen by the City of Joplin and its elected officials. City leaders also activated the Joplin Redevelopment Corporation (JRC) and selected a master developer to lead the rebuilding process. The Joplin disaster affected low-income housing as well. Matt Moran, executive director of the Housing Authority of Joplin, said a total of 103 public housing homes were destroyed, and 85 families lost homes they rented with Housing

SOLD R

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Choice Vouchers (also known as the Section 8 program). He said the public housing units have since been replaced, and most of the Section 8 recipients have now been able to find housing options. As for the overall housing market, Moran said what’s been built looks great, but many neighborhoods still need to be finished. “Many of the new homes that are being built are not affordable for much of our population, but if they draw people out of some of the older, unaffected areas, then I think we would end up with more affordable homes in the older areas,” he said. According to Harrington, the real estate story in Joplin is one of rebirth, and results so far are heartening. “In the area from Connecticut to Range Line, from 15th to 22nd, many of these homes have been rebuilt similar to the original footprint. I’m encouraged by what I see,” she said, adding, “In fact, many areas have been significantly upgraded.” Cox said an average of 3,000 homes are on the market in the greater Ozark area, with 130 to 170 homes being sold each month. In February 2014, the average home sold for $105,566. “In Joplin, certain areas with older and wellmaintained housing still have homes available,” she said. “These are in the $160,000 to $175,000 range and generally feature three bedrooms with quality craftsmanship and wood flooring in established neighborhoods. Likewise, in the same price range there are new homes in the tornado zone. These are generally smaller in size, but feature upgrades such as granite and wood flooring.” A variety of apartment properties are also available, including Royal Orleans on College View Drive. These units offer great floor plans for individuals or roommates, spacious kitchens, tennis, and a swimming pool. Close to all forms of shopping, dining and entertainment, the complex is also within walking distance to Missouri Southern State University. Median gross rent for all properties is $659. With a 2010 population topping 50,000, Joplin combines the beauty and hospitality of country living with the convenience and commerce of city vitality. The area also includes highend properties. “Joplin has a huge variety of affordable homes, including rural homes with acreage and homes in the metropolitan area,” Cox said. “West and north of downtown are historic neighborhoods. From country-living, to city homes, to lofts and multi-family dwellings, we have options for everyone.”

FHA/VA, Rural Development, Conventional and Reverse Mortgages at:

417-624-LOAN (5626)

Evening and weekend appointments available.

www.joplincc.com

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RESIDENTIAL SALES TRENDS 2014 Courtesy of the Ozark Gateway Association of REALTORS速, Inc.

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Total Units Sold.................................................................... 172 1-2 Bedrooms.................................................................... 47 3 Bedrooms....................................................................... 85 4+ Bedrooms..................................................................... 40 Average Days on Market (DOM)............................................. 129 1-30 DOM......................................................................... 27 31-60 DOM....................................................................... 24 61-90 DOM....................................................................... 16 91-120 DOM..................................................................... 27 121-180 DOM................................................................... 38 181+ DOM........................................................................ 41 Average Sales Price......................................................$105,566 Median Sales Price........................................................ $79,950


Joplin Floor Designs, Inc.

CARPET • WOOD VINYL • CERAMIC GRANITE • AREA RUGS LAMINATE GLASS BOWLS

Granite

Back Splash

Area Rugs Wood Flooring

THE REAL ESTATE STORY IN JOPLIN IS ONE OF REBIRTH, AND RESULTS SO FAR ARE HEARTENING.

Carpet

Update your home with granite countertops, traditional and glass bowl sinks, custom shower remodels and always the best in flooring!

Duane & Holly Hukill, Owners

2309 E. 32ND STREET • JOPLIN, MO • 417.659.8000

joplinfloordesigns.com www.joplincc.com

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CULTURE & ATTRACTIONS

GEORGE A. SPIVA CENTER FOR THE ARTS www.spivaarts.org

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he George A. Spiva Center for the Arts celebrated its 68th anniversary as Joplin’s independent community arts and education center in 2014. The Center’s mission — to celebrate the creative experience — encompasses everything from promoting the arts, to nurturing creative expression, to inspiring and educating visiting audiences. In addition to showcasing exhibitions in three galleries year-round, the Center also schedules performances and offers myriad classes to excite and involve students of all ages. “At Spiva we celebrate every aspect of creativity, whether it’s making art or appreciating it,” said director Jo Mueller. “It’s that creative energy that propels us to keep expanding gallery programming to include not only visual arts, but also the performing and literary arts.” Spiva’s signature annual event, PhotoSpiva, is the longest-running competition of its kind. Founded in 1977, the competition and exhibition feature the work of photographers from across the nation. Every year, a nationally known photography expert is challenged to create “an exhibition of excellence” that acknowledges the scope of this dynamic, ever-changing medium. Of the more than 1,000 photos submitted each year, fewer than 10 percent are accepted, with traditional, “single source” photos, digitally manipulated and photo-based mixed media images included. The annual

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BY MARK ALLEN

Juror’s Lecture and private portfolio reviews provide invaluable opportunities for photographers. Offshoot events include 1,000 Words, which showcases area poets reading original works based on exhibit photos; PhotoSpiva Kids (for ages 4 through 8) and PhotoSpiva Tweens (ages 9 through 13), designed to encourage the area’s youngest photographers. After hosting the Discover Downtown 48-Hour Film Competition for its first four years, Spiva Center for the Arts assumed ownership of the event in 2014. Now known as FilmSpiva, the competition is on its way to becoming another signature Spiva event. Gallery Coordinator Shaun Conroy, the event’s organizer and founder, is taking the competition to a new level, actively seeking sponsors and prizes to attract more filmmakers. “The quality of the films gets better every year,” he said, “and there are some returning filmmakers that are really getting competitive.” Films are screened for the public during the May Third Thursday event, with winners decided by popular vote. Spiva’s educational programs take place in the galleries and classrooms, and sometimes, in the streets! Programs for teens include Art Lounge, which introduces students to professional artists, art blogging, collaborative and individual art making, and guidance for application to art schools. Classes for pre-K through adults often explore the methods and techniques of national, regional and local artists featured in current exhibits. A partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Missouri Chapter, brings


“Memories in the Making”™ to Spiva. The weekly painting program is designed for individuals with memory loss, their families and caregivers. The Gallery Gift Shop is a showcase of creativity that offers visitors the opportunity to purchase fine art and finely crafted items created by talented regional artists. If pottery, fused and hand-blown glass, sterling silver and gemstone jewelry, sculptural works, books, and artist-made greeting cards aren’t enough, gift certificates — good for classes, too — are available. The Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. Spiva is closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission to the galleries is by voluntary contribution; scholarships are available for children.

R I CH HE RITA GE — H I S TOR I C H OM E Joplin native George A. Spiva is remembered as an influential man who was deeply involved in his community. Spiva’s career as a businessman included leadership roles at Crocker Packing Company, First National Bank and EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, but he was a man of many interests and gave his time and resources to many community service organizations. A statue honors his memory in — quite appropriately — Spiva Memorial Park at 4th and Main in Joplin. Spiva was a patron of the arts. George A. Spiva Center for the Arts sprang from a group known as Ozarks Artists Guild, which met at the old Carnegie Library in the late 1940s, and Spiva was financially instrumental in helping the group establish an arts center in 1958 at the 1893 Zelleken House in Joplin. He was also influential in the development of Missouri Southern State University — the library there bears his name — and the Spiva Center moved to the Fine Arts Building on campus in 1967. Today, Spiva Center for the Arts is housed in the historic Cosgrove Building, located at Third and Wall in downtown Joplin. A two-story commercial building now just over a century old, the structure’s commercial feel remains in the storefront-scaled window displays and red-brick facade with stone pilasters.

www.joplincc.com

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JOPLIN MUSEUM COMPLEX

BY MARK ALLEN

www.joplinmuseum.org

J

oplin Museum Complex truly lives up to its billing, offering a host of exhibits of all kinds. The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum and Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum are the gateway to a realm that also includes the Empire District Electric Company Museum, the Joplin Sports Authority Sports Hall of Fame, the Merle Evans Circus Tent #27 Miniature Circus, and the National Historical Cookie Cutter Museum. The museums weave the tale of Joplin and the Tri-State Mining District, aiming to provide inspiration for future generations to better understand the economic and social history of Joplin and the Tri-State Mining District. The Everett J. Ritchie Tri-State Mineral Museum boasts one of the world’s most exceptional collections of lead and zinc ores as well as other minerals found in the Tri-State District. This museum interprets the geology and geochemistry of the area and illustrates mining processes and methods used from the 1870s through the 1960s. Everett Ritchie was the curator of the Tri-State Mineral Museum for more than 30 years. He was a chemical engineer at EaglePicher prior to his involvement with the mineral museum. It was Ritchie who organized the specimens and many of the displays in 1994. The Joplin City Council honored Everett’s years of dedication by renaming the mineral museum wing after him. The Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum emphasizes the growth and development as the result of the mining in the Tri-State District. On display are assorted historical items from Joplin’s mining era, including a circus

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room, a child’s playhouse (children are invited in with adult supervision), a 1927 American LeFrance fire engine, Victorian furnishings, textiles and a doll collection. Dorothea B. Hoover was instrumental in the formation of the Joplin Historical Society and the Historical Museum. She was an early advocate of historic preservation, actively collecting and preserving artifacts of Joplin’s early history. As the daughter of an early pioneer family, the Bliedungs, she lived in the magnificence of Joplin’s boom years. After attending Wellesley College and pursuing a career in Washington, D.C., she returned to her hometown to become a major cultural force. The complex is located in Joplin’s oldest greenway, Schifferdecker Park, which boasts multiple picnic pavilions, an aquatic center, walking trails, an 18-hole public golf course and a skateboard ramp.

MUSEUM HO URS Open Year ’Round • Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. • Wednesday–Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sunday–Monday: CLOSED • Admission: $2 per adult; $5 per family; group rates available. Free admission on Tuesdays

For more information or to schedule a group tour, please contact the Museum Complex at 417-623-1180.


The third Art in Public Places project, “Celebrating the Performing Arts in Joplin,” created by artist Garin Baker of New York, was dedicated in May 2014. The mural, located on Main Street & 8th Avenue, depicts performing arts venues and patron experience from the history of Joplin to the present. The Club Theater offered big-name talent featuring live entertainment, and outstanding performers, musicians and politicians came to Joplin to perform there. In addition, Joplin’s proud mining heritage is highlighted in the trompe l’oeil elements surrounding the depiction. Other important venues are highlighted in Joplin’s performing arts history: Memorial Hall, dedicated in October 1925; the Shubert Theater, later known as the New Joplin Theater, which opened in 1908; and the Park Playhouse, home of the Joplin Little Theater since 1948, which is the longest-running community theater west of the Mississippi. By the 1930s, talking pictures were a major form of entertainment, and the Fox Theater was built, and in 1990, was listed on the National Historic Register. The final panel of the mural invites the viewer into the actual experience of the performer and celebrates the arts by highlighting the performer’s world, pulling back the curtain to Joplin’s performing arts future by featuring our young artists and a few of its current cultural offerings. Funded through “Dancing with the Joplin Stars,” this mural will be a showplace for our community for many years to come!

For over 40 years, the Joplin region has relied on PLJBD for creative, sustainable designs. 417.624.4004 www.pljbd.com

www.joplincc.com

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BY JAY NEHRKORN

JOPLIN LITTLE THEATRE www.joplinlittletheatre.org

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stablished in 1939, Joplin Little Theatre is the oldest continuously operating community theatre west of the Mississippi River. Originally offering their productions in places such as a former movie house (which had no chairs or heat) and above a city market and saloon, they settled into a renovated riding academy in 1948, and the place was renamed Park Playhouse. The facility, located at 3009 West 1st Street, was expanded in the 1990s, and Joplin Little Theatre remains there today. “Theatre is like nothing else. It creates worlds that the participants, both performers and audience, willingly enter for a short time and exit as different people,” said Tony Flint, board president of the Joplin Little Theatre. “Quality community theatre, particularly at JLT, affects us even more, because it is we that affect our family, friends and neighbors and not anonymous actors or audience.” From murder mysteries to musicals, Joplin Little Theatre brings a variety of crowd-pleasers and thought-provoking shows to theatre fans. They also provide Children’s Summer Workshops for aspiring young performers and technicians. The theatre operates on ticket sales, sponsorships and donations. For more information about auditions, performances, workshops or how you can volunteer, visit their website.

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FESTIVALS:

JOPLIN’S BIG THREE

Inaugurated to honor those lost in the May 2011 tornado as well as to celebrate a great city’s resilience, the Joplin Memorial Run celebrated its third anniversary in 2014. The two-day competitive event, which includes a half-marathon, a 5k and a Kids Run for those under 18, raises funds for RebuildJoplin.org.

Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center hosts the Shoal Creek Water Festival, an event celebrating all things water, including who can make the most seaworthy cardboard boat!

December brings DickensFest to Joplin’s historic Murphysburg neighborhood. The holiday celebration features thousands of winter lights, an outdoor Olde English village, costumed Dickens characters, street performers, indoor concerts, food and craft vendors, live Nativity, a petting zoo, horsedrawn carriage rides, and Father Christmas, while also offering nightly entertainment. www.joplincc.com

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CONNECTING WITH NATURE BY MARK ALLEN

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n the Joplin area, natural areas and trails abound for those seeking a relaxing saunter or a brisk run, and residents have been careful to preserve the region’s unique environmental resources for future generations to enjoy. Regional highlights, as suggested by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, follow.

neighborhoods along North St. Louis Avenue and North Florida Avenue.

C AM PBELL PA RKWAY Located at Connecticut and Murphy, this city park offers a beautiful walking trail winding along Joplin Creek.

FR I SC O G RE E N WAY TR AI L

GEOR GE WA SHINGT O N The Frisco Greenway Trail runs along a C AR VE R NAT IO NA L PA RK

portion of the former St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (the Frisco), which played an important role in the development of Joplin and Webb City. The line was abandoned by Burlington Northern in 1990, and the greenway has been maintained by the Joplin Trails Coalition since its opening. The trail, utilized by runners, walkers and bicyclists, treks through scenic woodlands; a paved spur along Turkey Creek connects the trail to

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This 240-acre national park in nearby Diamond, Missouri, is the birthplace and childhood home of George Washington Carver, the famous African-American agronomist, educator and humanitarian. The park consists of the Visitor Center, which includes a museum, theater, discovery center area, and gift shop; the 1881 Historic Moses Carver house; Carver Cemetery; and 0.75-mile nature trail. Guided

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The young child known as the “Plant Doctor” tended his secret garden while observing the day-today operations of a 19th century farm. Nature and nurture ultimately influenced George Washington Carver on his quest to become a renowned agricultural scientist, educator and humanitarian.


tours are offered daily, and the nature trail is partially handicapped accessible.

MCC L E LLAN D PAR K This Joplin park features a 36-hole disc-golf course as well as a playground and walking trails.

SCHIF F E RD E C K ER PAR K Joplin’s oldest park, Schifferdecker boasts multiple picnic pavilions, an aquatic center, walking trails, 18-hole public golf course and skateboard ramp and is home to the Joplin Museum Complex.

WA LT E R W O O D S CO N S E RVAT ION AR EA This 68-acre natural area features a meeting lodge, several ponds, trail system and a freshwater spring, offering a great environment for nature study, bird watching, outdoor photography and hiking. In addition to the parks listed above, Joplin offers many greenspace options. Go to www.joplinparks.org for a complete listing.

W I L D C AT G LAD ES CO N S E RVAT ION & A U D U B O N C E N TER Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center, located in Wildcat Park, is adjacent to some of the last remaining chert glades, a globally unique habitat found only in this area, and the biologically rich Shoal Creek, an important place for migratory birds and other wildlife. The Audubon Center highlights include a 1,300-gallon aquarium and Ozark stream; a large terrarium complex with glade species, including collared lizards, snakes and tarantulas; a wildlifeviewing area for visitors to see animals in their natural habitat; more than five miles of trail systems, with five outdoor learning stations; and three indoor classrooms. The center itself is a celebration of nature. Innovative “green” technologies create a truly distinctive building in keeping with the mission of appreciating, conserving and understanding our natural world. The local Missouri Department of Conservation offices are also located on site.

G R A N D FA L LS Grand Falls, on Shoal Creek, is one of Missouri’s most scenic destinations. The largest continuously flowing natural waterfall in Missouri, Grand Falls plunges 25 feet to a solid ledge before flowing southward. Grand Falls is only a few minutes from Wildcat Park and has been one of Missouri’s and the Ozarks’ most popular pilgrimages for decades. www.joplincc.com

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SPORTS & FITNESS: SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

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he arrival of professional soccer and the availability of great facilities for residents offer fantastic excitement, but the diamond looms large of late. With professional hardball returning when the Joplin Blasters dig into the box at historic Joe Becker Stadium for American Association baseball next season, the local sports scene has seldom looked so grand. Shawn Suarez, team general manager, notes the rebranded team moving from El Paso offers a union of traditional and modern excitement. “Hopefully, it’s something traditionalists can be proud of, but it’s also a new and fresh look for Joplin. “There’s kind of two different camps: the traditionalists, they wanted to be the Miners; then another camp wanted something new, something modern,” Suarez continued. “And so once we saw the Joplin Blasters, we realized that’s a perfect way of bridging both of it.” Joplin resident Cliff Mansley earned season tickets and a night in a suite for 2015 for submitting the Blasters name. “I love baseball and I love having a blast. I kept thinking, ‘What would connect with Joplin’s history as a proud mining city? What would connect with the Miners? What would connect with the kids today?’ I kept thinking everyone loves to have a blast. If you’re a miner, you’re blasting things. And if you’re going to baseball, you want to have a blast. So the Joplin Blasters made a lot of sense to me,” The Joplin Globe quoted Mansley as saying. To create a fitting home for the Blasters, a big renovation is in the works for Joe Becker Stadium, which turned 100 in 2013 and has served as the proving grounds for future Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog. Expansions of the bleachers and seating along the first and third baselines will accompany improvements to the stadium’s seating, restrooms, lighting and infrastructure. The city will spend $4 million enlarging and updating the stadium; the baseball partners will spend $5.3 million building an entry plaza that eventually is to have a ticket booth, management office, restaurants and some loft apartments in addition to parking lots in the surrounding area. Soccer kicked off a professional revival in Joplin when the Demize began summer play in the National Premier Soccer League, a pro men’s league. The team calls Joplin Athletic Complex home, where the city has relocated bleachers from the vacant Gabby Street Park for spectator seating. A previously unused portion of the operations building at the JAC has been converted to home and away locker rooms. According to The Joplin Globe, Chris Hanlon, director of soccer operations, said the team is hoping to draw 400-500 fans at home games. “We’d like to sell out every game,” he said. “That’s our goal. And if we fall a little short of that this year, then we’ve got something to work toward in the future.” The Demize, an extension of a Springfield Demize club in the USL Premier Development League, was brought to town by collaborative efforts of the city’s Parks and Recreation director, Chris Cotten, and Joplin attorney Ed Hershewe, the expansion team’s owner.

PA R K S AN D REC R EATI ON From playgrounds to pools, from trails to tennis, from grills to golf and more, the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department boasts an astounding array of popular play areas, featuring 23 parks with 933 acres for public enjoyment. At parks across the city, outdoor lovers will find ball diamonds, basketball, tennis courts, volleyball, disc golf, boat ramps and fishing areas. Many

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

AT THE Y

WWW.JOPLINFAMILYY.ORG Featuring three branches: the Downtown Branch, the South Branch and the YMCA Heritage Youth Center, the Joplin Family YMCA offers facilities for all ages. In addition to traditional fitness and strength-training equipment, Y members will find classes, aquatics facilities, educational programs, special spaces for kids, locker rooms, sports programs and more. The Joplin Family YMCA is also one of the largest area providers of schoolage childcare and activities, operating in 13 schools and two summer day-camp locations.

parks feature convenient restroom facilities, and almost all city parks offer picnic facilities. Shelters, sports fields and swim facilities are available for rental for your family party or group. For more information on the abundant recreational facilities offered through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, from parks, sports leagues and swimming facilities to tennis, golf and more, visit www.joplinparks.org.


HIT THE LINKS BRIARBROOK COUNTRY CLUB 502 Briarbrook Drive, Carl Junction www.briarbrookgolfcourse.com Briarbrook Golf Course is a communityowned 18-hole public golf course located just northwest of Joplin. Built in 1964, the course features bent grass greens and Bermuda grass fairways. Stretching through densely wooded and residential areas, Briarbrook is recognized for its beauty and friendly hospitality. Facilities include a clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis courts for residents and guests to enjoy. EAGLE CREEK GOLF CLUB 2742 Ben Pell Drive, Joplin www.downstreamcasino.com/Golf.aspx Operated by Downstream Casino Resort, Eagle Creek Golf Club provides an 18-hole, championship course in the rolling foothills of the Ozark Mountains. The course features Bermuda grass tees and fairways with bent grass greens and a variety of water hazards. Transportation is provided to the course for resort guests who choose a stay and play package. SCHIFFERDECKER GOLF COURSE 506 S. Schifferdecker Avenue, Joplin www.joplinparks.org Owned and operated by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, Schifferdecker is a public 18-hole, par-71 course for all skill levels. Characterized by Bermuda fairways and remarkably reasonable fees, the course also hosts golf events such as the Joplin Golf Club’s Ozark Amateur. Open year-round. TWIN HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 2019 S. Country Club Drive, Joplin www.twinhillsgolf.net A tradition among Joplin area golf lovers for more than a century, Twin Hills features an 18-hole course with four tee sets to choose from. Members also enjoy an 8,500-square-foot practice green, a short game practice area and a driving range with tee mats that can be used during the off season. Golf clinics and a Junior Golf Program are available.

www.joplincc.com

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FAITH & WORSHIP

COMPASSION IN ACTION FOLLOWING THE MAY 2011 TORNADO, A GROUP OF KANSAS CITY ARTISTS CREATED A MEMORIAL FOR JOPLIN RESIDENTS. THE 7-FOOT BY 14-FOOT MEMORIAL WAS CRAFTED OUT OF DEBRIS AND WRECKAGE FROM THE STORM, AS WELL AS MATERIALS FOUND AT THE SALVATION ARMY THRIFT STORE IN JOPLIN. THE FINISHED PIECE, TITLED “THE HOPE MEMORIAL,” WAS DEDICATED IN NOVEMBER 2011 AT THE JOPLIN FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER. THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE UNVEILING WERE INVITED TO SUBMIT A PRAYER FOR THE BACK OF THE MEMORIAL.

W

accountability of the benevolence system through the use of Charity Tracker software and joplinresource.net. • Leadership for Charity — JAMA directors serve in several board and committee positions that support a wide range of charitable organizations.

• Ministry to Spiritual Leaders — JAMA supports and strengthens the area pastors, who can become vulnerable to burnout and subsequently leave the ministry. The alliance offers forums, meetings and care networks, all of which provide fellowship, encouragement and opportunities to share information. • Ministry to City Leaders — JAMA supports and counsels community and city leaders. • Benevolence Ministry — Members of the alliance offer monetary assistance and resources to the needy with the intent of empowering them to change their circumstances, rather than merely providing for a momentary necessity. JAMA supplies oversight, coordination, organization and

It is clear that JAMA has a multifaceted positive impact on the community. However, its benefit to the area was never more strongly showcased than during the aftermath of the catastrophic EF5 tornado that hit the city in 2011. JAMA and the regional faith community — with help from churches across the nation — provided practical as well as spiritual care for those affected by the tragedy. The diligent work to relieve the suffering of so many did not go unnoticed. Federal and state officials commended JAMA and the faith community for responding immediately in a coordinated effort to lift the burden of crisis. Their commendations included a wish to bottle up the response and take it to other areas affected by disasters. “We attribute these and other commendations from officials to the love of God and the love for people exemplified in the heartland by people of faith,” said Wermuth. Whether Joplin is undergoing a time of crisis or experiencing a time of good fortune, JAMA is a steady resource for meeting the most profound human needs of pastors, public servants and residents.

hile Joplin has many assets, certainly one of the most enriching is the Joplin Area Ministerial Alliance (JAMA), an organization of Christian ministry leaders who work in unity to represent God and facilitate outreach to the community. Their mission statement, “Many gifts, one Spirit,” reflects their belief that through joining hands and drawing upon the unique gifts of each member, they can serve the area more effectively. According to Rev. Daniel H. Wermuth II, chairman of JAMA, their service encompasses meeting the spiritual needs of worship, fellowship and evangelism in addition to helping with the physical and material needs of area residents. JAMA provides:

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


FELLOWSHIP

AND FUN

VI CT O RY MIN IS TRY & S PORTS C OMPLEX Exercise Your Faith AND Your Body

Rare is the place where you can attend a worship meeting and practice your kickboxing under the same roof, but Victory Ministry & Sports Complex provides people in the Joplin region with just such a location. With 62,000 square feet of space encompassing a gym, an activity center and an event center, this Christ-centered environment is designed to provide an ideal location for retreats, lock-ins and events as well as a recreational gathering place where area believers will find fellowship. The gym at Victory, which is open Tuesday through Saturday, features a fitness center, batting cages, basketball courts, fitness classes and other fun surprises. League sports are available, as well as basketball, boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling and general fitness classes. Within the activity center, guests can choose from a café, rock climbing, a media center, a games area and a Wi-Fi lounge. The event center hosts daily worship and prayer sessions during the weekdays, as well as conferences, special events and regular concerts. Every Friday evening is “Friday Nights Out at Victory,” with live praise and worship, open basketball courts, rock wall, café, video games, and more. For more information about Victory Ministry & Sports Complex, see victoryjoplin.com or call 417-206-6886.

STA INED GLA SS T HEAT RE The Show Goes On

Stained Glass Theatre (SGT) of Joplin exists as an artistic ministry for fellowship and community outreach, combining the stage talents of actors and volunteers from Christian church congregations throughout the Joplin area. Productions are chosen and performances are designed to educate, evangelize, encourage and, of course, entertain. Fifty-six cast and crew members were in the process of cleaning up and striking the set following a performance when the May 22, 2011, tornado struck Joplin. Three members of the company lost their lives; six others were seriously injured. The structure was completely lost, but the group’s faith and spirit stayed strong. “Struck down, but not destroyed,” as the SGT website quotes from Second Corinthians, the group moved forward and now has a new home in Joplin at 21st & Annie Baxter. While the new facility is not yet performance ready, the group is using it for rehearsals and auditions. In the meantime, the Joplin School District is lending the group their stage at the brand-new Irving Elementary School. For more information, visit www.sgtjoplin.org, or call 417-626-1293. www.joplincc.com

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IMPORTANT CONTACTS

KNOW WHO TO CALL. City of Joplin 602 S. Main Street • Joplin, MO 64801 www.joplinmo.org Airport............................................................................. 417-623-0262 City Attorney....................................................... 417-624-0820 ext. 225 City Clerk............................................................ 417-624-0820 ext. 220 City Manager....................................................... 417-624-0820 ext. 205 Convention & Visitors Bureau............................................. 417-625-4789 Emergency Management............................ 417-624-0820 ext. 261 & 260 Fire Department............................................................... 417-623-0403 Health Department............................................................ 417-623-6122 Human Resources................................................ 417-624-0820 ext. 210 Library............................................................................. 417-623-7953 Mayor.............................................................................. 417-624-0820 Municipal Court Administrator.................................................... 417-624-0820 ext. 236 Court Clerk....................................................... 417-624-0820 ext. 233 Parks & Recreation .......................................................... 417-625-4750 Golf Course................................................................... 417-624-6421 Planning & Community Development..................... 417-624-0820 ext. 510 Police Chief......................................................... 417-623-3131 ext. 400 Dispatch.......................................................... 417-623-3131 ext. 405 Public Information................................................ 417-624-0820 ext. 204 Public Works Director............................................................ 417-624-0820 ext. 500 Operations........................................................ 417-624-0820 ext. 560

Jasper County Government 302 South Main Street Carthage, MO 64836 jaspercounty.org

Carthage Courthouse Offices Main Line......................................................................... 417-625-4350 Assessor - Personal Property............................................. 417-358-0437 Assessor - Real Estate ..................................................... 417-358-0440 Auditor’s Office ............................................................... 417-358-0406 Circuit Clerk’s Office ........................................................ 417-358-0441 Clerk of the County Commission ....................................... 417-358-0416

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


Collector’s Office - Personal Property................................. 417-358-0409 Collector’s Office - Real Estate .......................................... 417-237-1007 County Clerk’s Office......................................................... 417-358-0416 County Commissioner’s Office ........................................... 417-358-0421 Election and Voter Registration........................................... 417-358-0413 Public Administrator.......................................................... 417-358-4268 .................................................................................... 417-358-4271 Sheriff............................................................................. 417-358-8177 Treasurer’s Office............................................................. 417-358-0448

Driver/Vehicle Licensing

Joplin Offices

www.empiredistrict.com | 417-625-5100

Assessor’s Office Personal Property .......................................................... 417-625-4355 Real Estate ................................................................... 417-625-4356 Civil Defense ................................................................... 417-623-5858 County Clerk ................................................................... 417-625-4307 County Collector .............................................................. 417-625-4324 County Commission ......................................................... 417-625-4347 Circuit Clerk’s Office ........................................................ 417-625-4310 Emergency Dispatcher ..................................................... 417-624-1600

Circuit Courts Circuit Courts - Associate Division...................................... 417-625-4316 Circuit Courts - Division 1 ................................................ 417-625-4318 Circuit Courts - Division 2 ................................................ 417-625-4320 Circuit Courts - Probate (Joplin) ........................................ 417-625-4325 Circuit Courts - Probate (Carthage) .................................... 417-625-4370 Circuit Courts - Small Claims ............................................ 417-625-4322 Circuit Courts - Child Support Division................................ 417-625-4328 Prosecuting Attorney ........................................................ 417-625-4314

Driver Examination Office of Joplin 1110 E. Seventh Street..................................................... 417-629-3230

Driver License & Vehicle Registration 1110 E. Seventh Street, Suite 6......................................... 417-623-9700

Utilities The Empire District Electric Company Missouri American Water Company www.amwater.com/moaw | 417-627-3800

Missouri Gas Energy www.missourigasenergy.com/MGE | 800-582-1234

Residential Waste Removal Republic Services............................................................. 800-431-1507

Internet / Telecommunications CableONE www.cableone.net | 417-624-6340 Stouffer Communications www.stouffercomm.net | 417-626-0638 Windstream Communications www.windstream.com | 417-877-4790

Media Television

www.missourienterprise.org | 417-429-6066

FOX 14 – KFJX www.fox14tv.com | 417-782-1414 KJPX-TV, Retro-TV kjpxtv@gmail.com | 417-623-4646 KOAM-TV Joplin www.koamtv.com | 417-623-6111 KODE-TV www.fourstateshomepage.com | 417-623-7260 KSNF-TV www.fourstateshomepage.com | 417-781-2345

Missouri Work Assistance

Radio

www.workforcezone.net | 417-782-7249

AMI Radio Group www.rock1071.com | 417-781-1313 KMXL Radio www.951mikefm.com | 417-358-6054 Zimmer Radio Inc. www.joplinradio.com | 417-624-1025

Economic / Community Development City of Webb City www.webbcitymo.org | 417-673-4651

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce www.joplincc.com | 417-624-4150

Missouri Enterprise

Wallace Bajjali Development Partners, LP www.wallacebajjali.com | 417-208-5100

Wildwood Ranch Development www.mixedusemasterplancommunity.com | 417-627-9675

Workforce Investment Board of SW Missouri www.workforcezone.net | 417-206-1717

Newspapers Joplin Globe Publishing Company www.joplinglobe.com | 417-623-3480 Joplin Regional Business Journal www.jrbj.biz | 417-625-6699

www.joplincc.com

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 12 Eighty-One Photography....................................30

Joplin Regional Business Journal..............................15

ACCESS Family Care.............................................43

Joplin Regional Partnership.....................................72

Allgeier, Martin and Associates, Inc.........................17

Joplin Schools.......................................................24

Alliance Cancer Center..........................................43

Keller Williams Realty

Allstate – Loretta Bailey Agency...............................46 The Arbors at Silver Creek

of Southwest Missouri – Donny Allen....................43 Layne Electric Co...................................................17

Memory Care Assisted Living by Americare...........45

Mercy Clinic.........................................................36

Arvest Bank..........................................................44

Mid-Missouri Bank...................................................3

BKD LLP CPAs & Advisors.......................................46

Missouri Southern State University...........................29

Charles Burt REALTORS ����������������������������������������� 48

Modine................................................................17

Children’s Kansas City...........................................42

Northpark Mall.....................................................17

City of Webb City – Centennial Park........................55

Patterson Latimer Jones Brannon

College Heights Christian School.............................27

Denham Incorporated Architects - Engineers..........55

Commerce Bank.............................. Inside Front Cover

Pinnacle Bank.......................................................44

Community Bank & Trust.........................................47

Pittsburg State University........................................23

Connect2Culture...................................................56

RE Smith Construction Company..............................12

The Cottages of Foxberry Terrace

Ronald McDonald House Charities...........................39

Independent Living by Americare.........................45

Roper Honda/Buick GMC/KIA.......... Inside Front Cover

Crowder College...................................................32

Royal Orleans Apartment Homes...............................1

Downstream Casino Resort.....................................62

Sapp Design Associates Architects......Inside Back Cover

Empire District.......................................................19

Sign Designs.........................................................51

Family Pharmacy...................................................39

Silver Creek Assisted Living by Americare.................45

Foxberry Terrace Assisted Living by Americare..........45

Southwest Missouri Bank........................................50

Freeman Health System............................................5

Spring River Christian Village..................................40

Good Vibrations....................................................45

State Farm – Kyle Hickam Insurance Agency Inc........31

Hermann Lumber Company.....................................47

Steve’s Frame and Body of Joplin, Inc......................15

Indigo Sky Casino.................................................59

Top Flite Financial Inc............................................49

Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau.........................57

U.S. Bank.............................................................21

Joplin Floor Designs, Inc.........................................51

The UPS Store.......................................................27

Joplin Industrial Electric..........................................21

Walmart...............................................................61

Joplin Regional Airport................... Outside Back Cover

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


CHAMBER PREFERRED BUSINESS LISTINGS AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING EQUIPMENT & REPAIRS

P1 Group, Inc. 3501 W. Red Iron Drive, Suite B Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 626-7888 http://www.p1group.com

P1 Group has provided electrical, mechanical and service solutions for commercial and industrial clients in the Midwest since 1919. Today, we are one of the nation’s top specialty contractors with eight locations, including a regional office in Joplin.

ARCHITECTS, PLANNERS & ARCHITECTURAL ILLUSTRATORS Paragon Architecture, Inc.

Acme Brick Company 807 S. Pebble Road Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 781-1931 aogden@brick.com www.acmebrick.com

Patterson Latimer Jones Brannon Denham 303 S. Main Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 624-4004 denham@pljbd.com www.pljbd.com

ARTS & CRAFTS 1603 S. Main Street Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 437-9281 phoenixfiredart@gmail.com www.facebook.com/pages/ phoenix-fired-art/250317528347379

Joplin Plaza is a luxury property with spacious 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units. Amenities include a resort-style pool and hot tub, fitness center, movie theater, business center, dog park, and 24-hour access to both above- and below-ground storm shelters.

Villas at the Plaza 1817 Rex Avenue Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 621-0200 manager@villasattheplaza.com www.villasattheplaza.com

Villas at the Plaza is a gated community with 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units. Amenities include private garages, granite counter tops, walk-in closets, gas fireplaces, resort-style pool, hot tub, fitness center, move theater, dog park and storm shelters.

APPLIANCES Metro Appliances & More 5571 N. Main Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 782-1008 tpickett@metroappliancesandmore.com www.metroappliancesandmore.com

Mitchell’s Mobil 1 2525 S. Range Line Road Joplin MO 68404................ (417) 206-7755 Bryan@mitchellslubeexpress.com http://www.mitchellslubeexpress.com

We are proud to be YOUR complete mechanical repair center — oil changes, state inspections, tires, brakes, wiper blades, transmission and coolant flush, starters, batteries, and much more — all performed quickly at a great price! Come and see us at Mitchell’s Mobil 1 Lube Express!

BANKS & BANKING ASSOCIATIONS

ASPHALT PAVING

Joplin Plaza 1715 Rex Avenue Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 626-0692 www.joplinplaza.com

BRICKS, CERAMIC TILE, FIREPLACE EQUIPMENT

1300 S. Main Street, Suite A Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 885-0002 erwin@paragonarchitecture.com www.paragonarchitecture.com

Phoenix Fired Art APARTMENTS

AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS & SERVICE

Swift Construction Company, Inc. 225 E. Main Street Neosho MO 64850.............. (417) 451-4313 collin@swiftasphalt.net www.swiftasphalt.com

ASSEMBLY

Joplin Workshops, Inc. 501 School Avenue Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 781-2862 jworkshops@jworkshops.com www.jworkshops.com

Joplin Workshops employs area citizens with disabilities who, under skilled guidance, are capable of performing the most intricate tasks. Performing assembly/packaging/healthcare laundry services.

CASINO Wyandotte Nation Casino 100 Jackpot Place, Highway 60 Wyandotte OK 74370.......... (918) 678-4946 marketing@wyandottecasinos.com www.wyandottecasinos.com

CONSTRUCTION CO-HOME BUILDERS,GENERAL CONTRACTORS/DEVELOPERS JMH Construction Management, Inc. 111 W. 3rd Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 782-1381 jmhjones@sbcglobal.net www.jmhconstructionjoplin.com

Landis Construction Co., Inc. Pinnacle Bank 802 S. Main Street Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 623-8860 john.lopes@pinnbank.com www.pinnbank.com

Pinnacle Bank is proud to be part of a family-owned bank, serving customers since 1938. We focus on community involvement and customer service. Pinnacle Bank has six area locations in Joplin, Sarcoxie and Webb City.

BEARINGS MANUFACTURING Schaeffler Group USA Inc. 3900 S. Range Line Road Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 781-3600 william.bowley@schaeffler.com www.schaeffler.com

607 E. 15th Street Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 781-8320 jheiniger@att.net

P1 Group, Inc. 3501 W. Red Iron Drive, Suite B Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 626-7888 http://www.p1group.com

P1 Group has provided electrical, mechanical and service solutions for commercial and industrial clients in the Midwest since 1919. Today, we are one of the nation’s top specialty contractors with eight locations, including a regional office in Joplin.

BEAUTY SALONS Oasis Salon & Day Spa 2915 E. 29th Street Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 206-9999 aubreetempleman@att.net www.oasissalonanddayspa.com

BOWLING Carl Richard’s Bowling Centers 1419 W. 4th Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 624-5681 ronrichard@cableone.net www.carlrichardbowl.com

TP Construction, LLC 7898 Eland Road Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 540-2023 tpconco@yahoo.com http://www.tpconco.com

TP Construction is a full-service building and contracting firm. We specialize in residential and commercial projects. We have been providing clients quality workmanship for over 8 years. We are a member of the BBB. www.joplincc.com

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CONSULTANTS The Alliance for Business Webb City MO 64870 (800) 783-8053 choward@crowder.edu www.alliance4biz.net

COOKIES/CRACKERS MANUFACTURING Annie’s Baking LLC, a division of Annie’s Inc. 1401 W. Junge Boulevard Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 623-2255 mjones@annies.com www.annies.com

DENTISTS/ORTHODONTISTS ADC Dental Group 2827 Arizona Avenue Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 782-5005 sbrown@adcofjoplin.com www.adcdentalgroup.com

ENGINEERS - CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MECHANICAL & CONSULTING

1802 W. 32nd Street, Suites H-J Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 781-6466 www.joplindentist.com

• Sedation Dentistry • Invisalign & Invisalign Teen • Early Morning & Lunch Time Appointments • Accepting New Patients • Friendly & Caring Dental Team • American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa & Care Credit Accepted

CJW Transportation Consultants, LLC 5051 S. National, Suite 4-110 Springfield MO 65810........ (417) 889-3400 jwynn@gocjw.com http://www.gocjw.com

• Specializing in Roadway & Signal Design • Transportation Planning • Streetscape Design • Stormwater & Sewer Design • Detention Design • Floodplain Management • Utility & ROW Coordination • Construction Inspection • Boundary Surveying • ALTA Surveys • Construction Staking

Wayside Furniture 3732 N. Main Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 781-6810 jaycruse@hotmail.com www.waysidefurniturejoplin.com

HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT & REPAIRS C & H Heating and Air 1149 S. Pennsylvania Avenue Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 627-9894 dustincoleman@live.com www.candh-airconditioning.com

HOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS Integrity Home Care LaFerla Ortho Michael R. LaFerla, DDS, MS, PC Specialist in Orthodontics Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 206-7770 bresakas@hotmail.com www.laferlaortho.com

LaFerla Ortho is fun for the whole family! We love to see you smile and provide the most advanced and comfortable orthodontic treatment for both children and adults.

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ADECCO Employment Services 2639 E. 32nd Street, Suite W Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 624-1911 karla.hess@adeccona.com www.adeccousa.com

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MOTORCYCLES

Hospice Compassus-Joplin

FURNITURE Joplin Dental Care

HOSPICE

4830 E. 32nd Street, Suite 1 Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 659-8500 lyndsey.normand@integrityhc.com www.integrityhc.com

2650 E. 32nd Street, Suite 100 Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 623-8272 www.chahospice.com

Hospice is fully covered by Medicare/ Medicaid and most Insurance. Available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Medical equipment, medication and personal care supplies.

JEWELERS Cindi’s One Hour Jewelers 101 N. Range Line Road, Suite 326 Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 782-2773 onehourjewelers@yahoo.com

Located in the NorthPark Mall. We do custom jewelry designs!!! Have you seen something you just can’t live without? Bring in a photo or drawing (that’s right, drawing) and we’ll do our best to replicate it!

KIDNEY DIALYSIS CENTER Fresenius Medical Care 522 W. 32nd Street, Suite 2 Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 782-4055 rebecca.ames@fmc-na.com www.fmcna.com

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTSCONTRACTORS & DESIGNERS Mowed Over P.O. Box 153 Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 540-1122 mowedover23@yahoo.com

Services Include Mowing, Trimming, Landscaping, Mulch, Aerating, Bush Trimming, Weed Control & Seeding Leaf Removal, Storm Cleanup, Wood & Chain-link Fencing, Snow Removal, & General Maintenance.

LAWN CARE HOME IMPROVEMENT

Mowed Over P.O. Box 153 Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 540-1122 mowedover23@yahoo.com

Home Depot 3110 E. 20th Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 206-7510 www.homedepot.com

* Appliances * Windows & Doors * Blinds * Hand & Power Tools * Tool Rental & Repair * HVAC * Paint * Lawn & Garden * Building Materials * Hardware * Flooring * Plumbing * Electrical * Kitchens * Lumber

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Services Include Mowing, Trimming, Landscaping, Mulch,Aerating, Bush Trimming,Weed Control & Seeding Leaf Removal, Storm Cleanup,Wood & Chainlink Fencing, Snow Removal & General Maintenance.

MARTIAL ARTS/ SELF-PRESERVATION INSTRUCTION Universal Sport Karate 6815 Dutch Elm Drive Joplin MO 64804................ (402) 699-6152 gage.p.hanlon@gmail.com www.universalsportkarate.com

Hideout Harley-Davidson 5014 Hearnes Boulevard Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 623-1054 .................................... fax (417) 623-3866 eric@hideouthd.com www.hideouthd.com

Joplin’s only authorized full-service Harley-Davidson dealership. We carry a complete line of new and pre-owned motorcycles, as well as parts, accessories, clothing and collectibles. Hideout Harley-Davidson, Walk in — Ride Out!

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS/ CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS Boys and Girls Club of Joplin 317 Comingo Avenue Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 623-8072 rgorham@bgcswmo.org www.bgcswmo.org

Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri 3510 E. 3rd Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 206-0087 showard@empiredistrict.com www.cfswmo.org

Home Medical Equipment Services 819 E. 9th Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 782-6752 hmes@cableone.net

We offer support to people with disabilities, temporary or permanent, by providing medical equipment at a low monthly rate to facilitate a more functional, safe and comfortable home environment. We are a United Way Agency.

Hope 4 You Breast Cancer Foundation/Surviving Together P.O. Box 816 Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 438-8348 skcpm64835@hotmail.com www.hope4youbcf.org

Joplin Family YMCA 3404 McIntosh Circle Drive Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 781-9622 www.joplinfamilyy.org

With personal training, indoor swimming, group exercise, youth sports, day camp, after-school programs, senior fitness and a stand-alone childcare center, the Y will help your family live, grow and thrive.


PAINTING

RESTAURANT/BAR

TRUCK & TRAILER SALES OR SERVICE Tri-State Truck Center, Inc.

ABE Painting 1248 W. 10th Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 291-4122 abepainting@gmail.com www.abepaints4states.com

Providing quality interior and exterior painting services to the Joplin 4-state area.

PET SUPPLIES

3100 Davis Boulevard Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 782-8201 ggarton@tristatetruck.com www.tristatetruck.com

Golden Corral 2415 S. Range Line Road Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 625-1684 http://www.goldencorral.com

All-you-can-eat buffet, real homemade fresh food, variety abundance, value for the money, family-friendly casual dining, hand-cut USDA top sirloin steak 1¼" thick. Breakfast Buffet on weekends.

SECURITY - PRODUCTS, SYSTEMS, BURGLAR ALARMS & COMPANIES Pet Warehouse 2207 W. 7th Street Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 781-8100 pw008@pwpets.com www.pwpets.com

We invite you to come visit our store for all your pet supply needs. We carry a wide variety of pet food and supplies and we have fish, birds, small animals and professional grooming services.

REAL ESTATE - COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Joseph Properties, L.P. 1801 West 32nd Street Building B, Suite 201 Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 782-4777 josephproperties@cableone.net

SimplexGrinnell

VETERINARIANS Madison Pet Clinic 1631 S. Madison Webb City MO 64870.......... (417) 673-2455 info@madisonpetclinic.com www.madisonpetclinic.com

WAREHOUSING Reynolds Warehouse, Inc. 912 S. Blackcat Road Joplin MO 64802................ (417) 626-9585 jerryreynolds@reynoldswarehouse.com www.reynoldswarehouse.com

2757 S. Austin Avenue Springfield MO 65807........ (417) 883-8985 klabadie@simplexgrinnell.com www.simplexgrinnell.com

STEEL FABRICATION Mitchell Mill Systems USA 927 S. Schifferdecker Avenue Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 623-2224 www.mitchellmillsystems.com

PROVIDING OUR CUSTOMERS • Turnkey Solutions / Design / Build • Facility Upgrades & Custom Fabrication • On Site Maintenance • Field Installation / Equipment Rigging

STORAGE FACILITIES

RECYCLING SERVICES Service Recycling 3178 N. Kentucky Avenue Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 625-0700 p.meltabarger@servicerecycling.net www.servicerecycling.net

RESORTS

Sky Ranch Cave Springs 7750 S. 655 Road Quapaw OK 74363............. (918) 542-1547 cavesprings@skyranch.org www.skyranch.org

Full-service, year-round Christian retreat and conference center offering excellence in service and facilities for up to 450 guests. Amazing lodging, meals, meeting spaces, service, reasonable rates and activities.

Countryside Self Storage 1813 W. 20th Street Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 623-5616 joplin@yourstoragesolutions.com www.yourstoragesolutions.com

We have storage solutions to fit every need. We offer an electronic gate, 24/7 access, security camera and other amenities. We have RV/boat storage spaces and sizes ranging from 5' x 5' up to 14' x 50'. Call today for our competitive rates!

SURGEONS - GENERAL Oral & Facial Surgery Center of Joplin 620 W. 32nd Street Joplin MO 64804................ (417) 621-0500 bburnett@oralfacialjoplin.com www.oralfacialjoplin.com

SWIMMING POOL & SPA CONTRACTORS, SERVICE, EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE Joplin Pool & Spa 3040 N. Range Line Road Joplin MO 64801................ (417) 781-9470 jps@4state.com www.joplinpoolandspa.com

www.joplincc.com

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