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Welcoming a new year comes along with
welcoming all the new and exciting plans that
North County Incorporated has for the year
of 2008. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves.
The year of 2007 had major accomplishments
and it would be a shame if they were not shared.
Last year NCI kicked off their 30th anniversary
celebration with the 30th Annual Breakfast
recognizing other organizations that have
been apart of making North County successful
for 30 years or more, as well as honoring
several distinguished business and civic leaders
for their exceptional contributions to North
County. In addition to the Breakfast, NCI
collaborated with the North County Journal
and News 20 and held its first ever NCI
Salutes 30 Leaders in their 30s campaign.
This successful luncheon recognized 30 up
and coming leaders who are making a significant
positive impact on North County through their
profession and/or community involvement. NCI
also hosted a North County Legislative Reception
in partnership with the Florissant Valley,
Northwest and the North County Chambers of
Commerce.
Along with the 30th celebration, North County
Incorporated had an active year with our economic
development on goings as we served on the
SLCEC ED Commission, the NorthPark Joint Development
Commission and provided marketing materials
on economic investment, housing growth, transportation
improvements, development opportunities and
beneficial facts about North County, including
the new North St. Louis County, Explore
Experience, Embrace Community Magazine.
Our efforts, along with many other area organizations
also retained the National Service Record
Center and the 500+ jobs they provided. In
addition, NCI hosted free educational webinars
for area economic development professionals
and community leaders.
Collaborating with the City of Normandy
and the University of Missouri-St. Louis,
NCI applied for and obtained a Great Streets
Initiative Grant for an improvement study
along Natural Bridge Rd. We also brought municipal
leadership together to collaboratively work
on funding for the study of I-270 from East-West
Gateway Council of Governments and MoDOT and
presented this to the Missouri Transportation
Commission with the emphasis of the critical
attention needed in this area. NCI also testified
before the Public Service Commission on the
need for better maintenance of utility lines
and against utility rate increases. These
projects are just the beginning of a great
infrastructure system in North St. Louis County.
NCI's support on legislation that would provide
a new Medicaid program, opposed that would
repeal the Certificate of Need for new hospitals
and advocated legislation that would provide
liability protection from civil lawsuits to
providers responding to a state emergency
an for legislation that would provide additional
funding for trauma centers keeps our Healthcare
Task Force busy all year round.
With the attendance of numerous ribbon cutting
events for new businesses in North County,
hosting tours of North County for state employees
and regional commercial realtors and connecting
community and business leaders with various
resources in the area, Executive Director,
Rebecca Zoll, stays on her toes promoting
how great of a source NCI can be for North
St. Louis County. In one year, 2007, the launch
of the NCI Salutes 30 Leaders in their
30s Campaign, the North County Explore,
Experience, Embrace Community Magazine
and the North County Image Wall at Jamestown
Mall shows dedication and conviction that
North County is a great place to live, work,
shop, worship and learn.
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