Story Published:
Jan 16, 2009 at 5:41 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jan 29, 2009 at 5:21 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Jay Nixon is promoting his plan to put Missourians back to work and get the economy rolling again. He was in Springfield on Friday to talk about his Show Me JOBS initiative.
Nixon signed executive orders this week to help spark Missouri's economy through job creation. One of the orders makes loans available to small businesses.
It's been a slow winter for folks at Dake-Wells Architecture.
" We had about 12 projects heading into the winter, and nine of them went on hold," said architect Brandon Dake.
But Dake and his staff are putting everything they've got into the jobs they do have. One project they've been working on is a school in Exeter, Mo.
"They didn't have the money to build three spaces, and they needed a gym, a cafeteria, and a performance hall," said Dake.
The firm came up with a one-room solution for the school.
And Dake is hopeful. So it was an exciting day at the combined offices of Dake-Wells architecture and EMSI green building consultants.
Nixon stopped by to speak about the Show Me JOBS initiative.
"Those innovators and entrepreneurs, just like those right here, are willing to take risks and succeed just like thousands of other business owners across our state," said Nixon.
As part of his initiative, Nixon is working with a couple of state agencies to hand out about 80 loans of $25,000 each to Missouri small businesses.
"I think there's absolutely potential for us to investigate that, and we may take part," said Dake.
Even if his firm doesn't get a loan, he thinks the loans may help his business more indirectly.
"I feel like our clients are the ones who need the financing. The clients are the ones going to the institutions, the banks, and not able to get the money they need," Dake said.
Nixon wants to fix that.
"They don't want a handout, and they don't want to eliminate the risks, but what they do want is encouragement, guidance, and a hand up," Nixon said.
And once those businesses have the money to build, the Dake-Wells firm can grow too.
"Then we will need to grow. We will need to hire some people," said Dake.
If you'd like to learn more about the low interest and no interest small business loans, click here.
For more about the Show Me JOBS initiative, click here.
