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Simply More Business In Clay County

Without the facts, Clay County, Missouri's claims about everything from entrepreneurs to education sound like exaggeration.

The Clay County Economic Development just completed its fourth annual business retention survey of existing companies. What these businesses say about expansion plans, workforce and quality of life is worth a look. The business survey is available on the EDC site (opens in new window).

Yet the county's nearly $5 billion in devlopment during 2006 was no accidet. Clay County is also home to both the state and national small businesses. And this spring, no less than the state's head of economic development called Clay County and its Economic Development Council a model for Missouri's efforts to improve its efforts.

These and other documented accomplishments provide substance to Clay County's new campaign, “Simply More in Clay County.” The program utilizes fact-based communications about the region's benefits for business location, education, recreation and quality of life. The most recent awards are good examples.

The American Business Association named S&M NuTec in June as the Best Overall Company in America for its category. Based in Clay County, S&M NuTec makes pet products sold in 50 countries worldwide. In May, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce also named the firm 2005 Small Business of the Year.

More recently, Nature's Window was named Missouri Small Business of the Year at the Missouri 47th Annual Governor's Business Development Conference. This Clay County company is another entrepreneurial success. Nature's Window grew from a small vegetable sales vendor to gourmet baking and catering for corporate customers.

Clay County extends from the shadows of Kansas City's rebuilding downtown to rolling rural areas that include amenities such as 7,000 acre Smithville Lake, the latter labeled “unbelievable” by a visiting New York journalist. All of Clay County's public school districts maintain the state's highest, “AAA” ranking and annually exceed state standards in areas such as college placement.

This startling range of amenities is what led the county to adopt the Simply More slogan. “Those of us who live and work here know that Clay County has more business advantage, more quality of life choices, more educational excellence and more recreation opportunities,” explained EDC Chair Tim Kristl. “But capturing that thought in the single message is an important step. The 'Simply More' campaign promises much for the EDC and Clay County.”