Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, was recently recognized as the first in the state to earn a new Economic Development certification.
Halter was recognized by the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Economic Development Council.
He completed the new MoCED certification.
The MoCED designation represents the Missouri economic development practitioner’s commitment to advancing Missouri’s economy and elevating the economic development profession, according to a press release from the MEDC.
The designation certifies that the Missouri economic development professional has a broad understanding of Missouri’s economic development assets, and can serve as knowledgeable resources and liaisons for businesses and communities as they look to grow and thrive in Missouri.
“I am extremely honored to represent our city and county as the first in the state to complete this certification. I believe this will help us get a leg up on other communities for new business leads,” Halter said. “As always, I am excited to see rural Missouri get highlighted as well. I am so thankful for the support of my board of directors, led by Danielle Berry (Chamber) and Austin Williams (Poplar Bluff Industries)”
The objectives of the certification program are to provide resources to the Missouri economic development practitioner in order to answer questions relevant to doing business in the State of Missouri, officials said.
It also helps insure effective representation of Missouri economic development organizations by economic development professionals educated in the specifics of Missouri and to continually elevate the knowledge, skills, and abilities of professionals in Missouri’s economic development industry.
The Missouri Economic Development Council is the authoritative voice on economic development and related issues in Missouri. A statewide, nonprofit association of economic development professionals and community leaders, MEDC has been the unified voice of Missouri economic developers since 1979.