Five Southwest Missouri Businesses Honored for “Missouri Entrepreneurship and Innovation” in Jefferson City

The MO SBTDC, Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) and the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC) honored several outstanding Missouri businesses with an awards celebration Jan. 30 and 31 in Jefferson City.

Each Excellence in Business Award winner also received legislative resolutions from their respective state senators and representatives honoring the impact of their enterprises on the economic development of the state.

"Missouri's small businesses are the engine of economic growth in the state," said Max Summers, interim director of University of Missouri Extension's Business Development Program, which hosts the SBTDC, PTAC and TAAC programs. "These business owners work hard every day, and the awards recognize their success."

Among the Missouri businesses honored were:

•Eco-Recovery LLC, West Plains, secure shredding services

•Furniture Rescue, Joplin, furniture repair, restoration, custom furniture replacement parts

•Henson Enterprises, Inc., West Plains, heavy equipment services, machining and tool and die services

•Joplin 3D4D Imaging, Inc., Joplin, innovative ultrasound and sonogram services

•Rockridge Group, Springfield, e-catalog merchandise

Each of these businesses has worked with one of the MU Extension business development specialists that are in southwest Missouri.

For more information or assistance related to a current or future business, contact one of the MU Extension business specialists in the Ozarks: Chrystal Irons at (417) 546-4431, Kathy Macomber at (417) 682-3579 or Willis Mushrush at (417) 256-2391. There are also three Small Business and Technology Development Centers in southwest Missouri: Missouri State University in Springfield at (417) 836-5685, Missouri Southern University in Joplin at (417) 625-3128 or Missouri State University in West Plains at West Plains, (417) 256-9724.