Shelby County focuses upon boosting economic options

Robert Harrington hopes to change minds, because he won’t have trouble winning hearts.
The Shelby County economic development director is on a mission to reverse the draw of workers to larger cities.
Technology and transportation already are on his side.
Now, he’s touting the benefits of living in smaller communities such as Shelbina, Shelbyville, Clarence or Bethel.
“It’s a huge challenge, but it’s something we have to start on now,” Harrington said.
Population losses and utility rates were among the top two concerns cited in a recent survey returned by 32 Shelby County businesses.
The county had almost 6,800 residents in 2000 and is believed to have about 6,500 now.
Unless things change, the county is expected to lose another 19 percent of its population by 2030.
“We’re losing our workforce,” Harrington said. “We don’t have the people here.”
A misguided mindset is part of the problem, Harrington said.
While technologic and transportation advances have helped Shelby County level the playing field with larger area communities, many residents still believe they have to go to Hannibal, Kirksville or Columbia to find better jobs.
“It’s the whole perspective of if you want to make money, you have to live in a big city,” Harrington said. “It’s not that way anymore.”
Harrington points to an engineer who lives in Bethel, but through the Internet works with companies around the country.
He also highlights a Shelbina firm that services fuel injectors for diesel engines. It has satellite offices in two other Missouri cities, but the owner has kept the main office in his hometown.
“We want kids to see that,” Harrington said. “If you have this great business idea, you can be successful here.”
Another huge asset for Shelby County will be completion of four-lane U.S. 36 from Hannibal to Macon. Work should be finished by summer 2010.
The highway already is a major truck route, and Harrington expects business to pick up substantially once the four lanes open.
“Every time you get a four-lane highway, you see what follows,” Harrington said. “We expect major traffic.”
Harrington believes that by addressing the needs now, the county can reverse any gloomy predictions.
“I’m very optimistic,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of positives.”