Berlin – Advisory Council of the international business development firm, the Transatlantic Business Investment Council added appointed a new member. David Gaines, Managing Director of Goldstone Consulting Group joins a distinguished list of international business leaders on the Advisory Council.

The Transatlantic Business Investment Council (TBIC), with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, is a highly esteemed organization committed to facilitating international business investment. Through its strategically located offices in Denmark and the United States, TBIC serves as a crucial bridge between economic development organizations and European investors who are in search of optimal locations to establish and grow their ventures within the United States.

TBIC's mission revolves around fostering stronger ties between the European business community and the American market. By providing guidance, expertise, and valuable connections, TBIC empowers European investors to make informed decisions when entering the U.S. market. This not only benefits the investors but also contributes to economic development and job creation in the United States.

The TBIC Advisory Council is comprised of site selectors, economic development experts, consulting firms, insurers, and other seasoned advisors with a wealth of experience in assisting European investors in the U.S. Their collective knowledge continues to make TBIC a powerful platform for success. 

The organization's presence in both Europe and the United States positions it as a trusted resource for businesses seeking to expand across the Atlantic. TBIC's role in facilitating cross-border investments and partnerships underscores its significance in promoting international trade and economic growth.

Through its various initiatives, TBIC plays an instrumental role in advancing global business opportunities and contributing to the continued development of a thriving international business ecosystem.

Goldstone Consulting Group, based in Moberly, Missouri is an international site selection and economic development consulting firm.

 Fort Scott, KS – Over the past several months, Bourbon County Regional Economic Development, Inc. based in Fort Scott has undertaken several projects simultaneously to better understand the region’s economic needs. One of those projects was an in-depth review of housing in Bourbon County. 

The study looked at what type of housing and at what price points are needed in the various communities that make up Bourbon County. “Housing is a very important part of our local economy,” said Robert Harrington, Executive Director of Bourbon County REDI. “We needed to understand how this will tie into our efforts to increase economic opportunity in the community.”

The housing assessment relied on a combination of data from leading statistical sources in the housing market, information obtained from an electronic survey distributed to county residents, and individual contributions from various stakeholders in the community. “Input from residents of Bourbon County as to what their future housing needs is important to the overall project,” said David Gaines, Managing Director of Goldstone Consulting Group, the firm that completed the study. “Future housing development is best done when the residents have an input into what they believe will be needed in the future.”

“The completion of the housing assessment is the third project to tie important data together to guide our economic development efforts”, said Harrington. “Without having housing options, it is more difficult to support increased employment for our employers in Bourbon County.”

Bourbon County REDI earlier undertook a Community Retail Needs Assessment. “The retail study has really helped our organization start several important conversations with current and future retailers. We feel that the new Housing Study will have the same effect with realtors and housing developers,” said Harrington. 

Workforce and the training of the future workforce have also been a focus of the Bourbon County REDI team this year. “We have been working with O’Brian & Associates to determine what our employers are needing in a skilled workforce,” said Harrington. “Together with housing and retail, a skilled workforce will help in expanding Bourbon County’s economy to the benefit of the residents and the region surrounding us.”

A public meeting is being planned in the near for those interested in housing development in Bourbon County. They will learn where the opportunities are to improve housing options in the community.

For a copy of the Bourbon County Community Housing Assessment, contact Bourbon County Regional Economic Development. at 1-620-644-7967.

Ft. Scott, KS – Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Inc. has been working to complete several projects to support economic development efforts in the county. The non-profit group earlier this year undertook a look at labor, housing, and the retail industry in the area. The first of these three projects were recently completed. A Community Retail Needs Analysis, which is an in-depth review of the retail industry in Bourbon County has been completed and the report is now available. 

"The study was designed to both help our existing retail business in Bourbon County, and let us know what opportunities exist to draw new retail business to the community", said Robert Harrington, Executive Director for Bourbon County REDI. "Having this data gives us a road map to improve the retail industry in the area."

A significant source of data in the study conducted by Goldstone Consulting Group is information compiled from a survey of residents in Bourbon County. "We had over 300 residents voluntarily provide us with anonymous responses to questions about the retail business in the community", said Joe Gaines, Managing of Data & Analytics for Goldstone Consulting Group. "Their responses are valuable to local retail businesses to understand what new opportunities exist."

The vast majority of survey respondents indicate they are making purchases in the community every week. However, a large majority of those same individuals are spending money outside of the community regularly as well. Some of the reasons retail purchases go outside of the community are the cost and availability of items and the convenience of online shopping with delivery.

"This presents an opportunity for our local retailers', said Harrington. "Expanding their online shopping options and offering new services such as delivery in the area can help them attract more business from consumers".

The study also looked at the restaurant industry in the county. "The restaurant industry is an important section of a local economy," said Gaines. "We include this information in a retail study as they closing align with each other."

Respondents indicated that they would like more dining options in the community. American and Italian cuisines topped the list of choices with 63.1% and 62.7% respectively. "There is an opportunity in the restaurant sector in our community", said Harrington. 

The study went on to identify opportunities in the automotive and automotive parts sector, clothing and accessories, and building supply materials sectors. 

"We have gaps in our retail industry," said Harrington. "The demand in the community is outpacing the supply of products retailers have to offer, which means we can grow this sector of our local economy."

The labor and housing studies that are currently underway are expected to be completed in the coming months.

The full copy of the Community Retail Needs Analysis is available by contacting Bourbon County Regional Economic Development, Inc. at 1-620-644-7967.

 Moberly, MO –  Goldstone Consulting Group, a Site Selection and Economic Development consulting firm just became stronger with the addition of a veteran business leader to the team. Traci Anderson, a seasoned business consultant and economic developer has joined the Goldstone Consulting team as Manager of Consulting Services.  

 “We are pleased that Traci has committed to becoming a key member to our growing team,” said David Gaines, Managing Director. “Traci adds valuable experience to our resources and will provide our clients with top-notch service and adds depth to our capabilities.”   

Anderson has more than fifteen years of experience working with business owners, site selectors, developers and more through several economic development agencies. Most recently she led the economic development efforts in Buda, Texas as the Executive Director of the Buda Economic Development Corporation. One of many accomplishments included bringing nearly a third of a billion dollars of new capital investments and over 2.5 million square feet of industrial speculative space.  She has also served in a similar roll in other communities in Texas. 

Anderson earned her Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and in Criminal Justice.  She is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and a Master Economic Development Practitioner (MEDP), two designations widely respected in the economic development and site consulting communities.   

“I am excited to become a part of the growing team at Goldstone Consulting Group,” said Anderson. “They have an excellent reputation of providing value to their clients and I look forward helping with the continued growth of this company.”  

Based in Texas, Anderson will be responsible for managing consulting services for the firm in North America and Europe.    

Keytesville, MO – An in-depth look at current and future housing in Chariton County has recently been completed. Chariton County Economic Development Corporation, a not-for-profit agency led the effort to complete the review of housing needs in the community.

“As a part of the task to improve economic opportunity in Chariton County, understanding what the need for housing in the county is important, said Kaitlynn Reichert, President of the Board of Directors of the Chariton County EDC. “Housing is important to our overall community health.”

The county-wide study was conducted over several months during 2021 by Goldstone Consulting Group, the contract provider of services to Chariton County EDC. The results of the study found a need for housing to address the current and future demands of Chariton County residents. 

Data in the report shows that there is a demand for housing with three to four bedrooms with two bathrooms. This is supported through a review of recent sales of homes in Chariton County.

“Having new options for housing will help in attracting new families to the community,” said Cindy Collier, Mayor of the City of Brunswick. “This is another step in a long effort to bring revitalization to our community.”

There is also a demand for new apartment housing in the County. As older residents no longer have a need for larger homes and desire not to have the maintenance that comes with it, apartments or duplex houses become a viable option. 

“As we look at ways to attract new workers to Chariton County and also retain our current workforce, housing plays an important role,” said Dr. Evan Emmerich, Presiding Commissioner for the Chariton County Commission. “New housing also builds our tax base, which benefits the political subdivisions in our County.”

A public meeting is being planned to share the results of the study with developers and builders that may have an interest in building new housing in the community. Those interested in receiving an electronic copy of the study and contact Goldstone Consulting Group at david@goldstoneconsultinggroup.com . 

Knob Noster, MO – The City of Knob Noster in west-central Missouri recently completed an in-depth assessment of the community’s housing stock. The project was aimed at providing civic leaders with a better understanding of what the community’s future housing needs may be.

“We were pleased to have the opportunity to work on such a project,” said David Gaines, Managing Director of Goldstone Consulting Group, the firm conducting the study. “Knob Noster has a good future ahead of itself and it was important to understand what the needs for housing will be.

The community is the home to Whitman Air Force base with housing the B-2 Stealth Bomber and the multiple support crews. The Air Force base has long been the major employer in the community and the region and has a large economic impact.

“As civic and business leaders consider expanding employment options in a community, they need to understand what the impact on housing will be”, said Gaines. “Workforce housing has become an issue with working with companies looking to expand jobs in a community.”

In the case of the City of Knob Noster, an opportunity exists as the study projects a future need for new housing across the spectrum of rental property and homeowner-owned single-family homes. The information comes from several sources, but the most important source was a survey of the community’s residents.

The residents that responded to the survey indicated that in the next three years a little more than 25% of them were planning on selling their current home. They were equally split between increasing the size of their home and decreasing the size of the home. It was also learned that a significant number of renters have an income that could support homeownership.

“The population growth in the area has provided an opportunity for the City of Knob Noster,” said Gaines. “There is an opportunity to catch economic growth. Having suitable housing in the community increases the chances of success.”

To obtain of copy of the  City of Knob Noster  Community Housing Assessment, contact the City of Knob Noster.

Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

Carrollton, MO – The Carroll County Economic Development Corporation in partnership with the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce has completed an in depth look at housing in Carroll County. The assessment was completed after a several months long process.

The assessment looked at the need for housing in the various communities that make up Carroll County. “We have seen an increase in demand for housing from families coming to our communities”, said Anna Barlow, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. “We needed to understand what types of housing is needed in Carroll County.”

Recently, the economic outlook of Carroll County has been improving. This can be attributed in large part due to the investments by two companies in Missouri’s new cannabis industry in Carroll County. “These new employers have or will create dozens of good paying jobs in the County”, said Jeff Adams, President of the Carroll County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. “We have also experienced new job creation by existing companies that have recently completed or plan to complete expansions.”

The Community Housing Assessment was completed by Goldstone Consulting Group, who conducted a community wide survey as a portion of the work done. Respondents indicated wanting to build a new home in the future, citing a desire to continue the growth and investment in the local community.

“We see the demand for housing increasing in Carroll County as the community continues to see growth in employment opportunities,” said David Gaines, Managing Director of Goldstone Consulting Group. “Housing has become a key component in community based economic development efforts.”

“The discussion now moves in a new direction,” said Mr. Adams. “As we work to continue to improve economic opportunity in Carroll County, the development of new and rehabbed housing will be a part of that discussion.”

To obtain a copy of the Carroll County Community Housing Assessment, contact the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.

Chariton Valley Begins Fiber Network Expansion Outside of Hale 

HALE, MO  – Chariton Valley (CV) continues to fulfill its commitment of expanding its state-of-the-art fiber network to rural communities. Yesterday, the company began construction in the rural areas outside of Hale to replace the current copper telephone facilities with fiber optics.

“Our fiber service is already available in Hale, and now we’ve started the construction process in the rural areas surrounding the town. Soon, these areas will also have access to the fastest most reliable internet available,” said Kirby J. Underberg, Chariton Valley’s President and Chief Executive Officer. 

The rural Hale expansion is part of Chariton Valley’s fiber expansion plan, in which the company made a substantial financial investment to deploy fiber optics to more unserved and underserved areas in northeast Missouri. The project’s construction is expected to be completed this summer, and installations will begin soon after.

“The Carroll County Chamber is excited Chariton Valley will be expanding fiber to Hale in April and eventually Bosworth and DeWitt. Providing services to our rural areas is vital for the growth of our county and we are thankful Chariton Valley is making this investment,” said Anna Barlow, Director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. 

"We are pleased that Chariton Valley continues to work to upgrade their systems throughout their service territory. The investment in fiber optic communications in Carroll County is significant and allows for our rural communities to be connected globally," added David Gaines, Managing Director of Goldstone Consulting Group.

Chariton Valley’s Gigabit capable speed is delivered over an advanced network that extends directly into homes and businesses through a dedicated connection. With fiber access, connected communities have many opportunities, such as educational, medical and economic benefits, including increased property values.

“We are proud to be the area’s premier communications provider and to expand this valuable and essential service to rural areas,” said Underberg.

Carrollton, MO – The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce has completed another in-depth look at the business environment in Carroll County. An Employer Demand Analysis was conducted to understand the needs of employers in the community.

The study was conducted in the fall of 2020 where over 45 employers in Carroll County participated. "We surveyed both large and small employers to understand the needs of all businesses in the county," said Anna Barlow, Executive Director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. "The information allows us to better understand what they need to be successful in our community."

Employers asked what were the most important skills they need in perspective employees. Dependability, self-motivation, adaptability, and verbal communications were deemed the most important skills for applicants to display. “These are the skills that were deemed most important by the employers in our community, said Barlow.”

Goldstone Consulting Group, the economic development contractor to the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce conducted the analysis. “It’s important to know what types of skills employers in a community consider important to the work they do,” said David Gaines, Managing Director. “The data is valuable in the conversation surrounding workforce development in the community.”

Any employer in the community may obtain of a copy of the study by contacting the Chamber of Commerce. The data contained in the Employer Demand Analysis will also be shared with the education partners in Carroll County and the surrounding area.

“Partnerships with those in education is key in improving the workforce in a community,” said Gaines. “The data provides some insight for educators as to what the employers in the community require.”

The completion of the Carroll County Community Employer Demand Analysis comes in advance to a study of employee skills. "We will be asking the members of the community to participate in an upcoming study regarding their skills," said Barlow. "We want to know what skills are in the community are not being fully utilized.  That study will tell us where our strengths are in terms of our workforce in Carroll County."

Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Completed Retail Study

Carrollton, MO – Carroll County Economic Development, an arm of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce has taken another step forward in effort to improve economic opportunity in the community. The group led by local civic and business leaders has completed a Community Retail Needs Analysis. 

The study conducted by Goldstone Consulting Group, the contract provider of economic development services to the Chamber of Commerce takes an in-depth look at the capacity for additional retail business in the County. The study included information gathered from a survey of residents in Carroll County conducted by the Chamber of Commerce.

“The report provides us with good background information about the potential for expanded retail business in Carroll County,” said Jeff Adams, Chairman of Carroll County Economic Development. “It shows us where the potential for new business is in the community.”

The retail analysis comes on the heels of the announcement that Orscheln Farm & Home is expanding into the former ShopKo building. The relocation and expansion of the Carrollton store is scheduled be completed in the first half of 2021.

“We have been working on projects like these for some time,” said Anna Barlow, Executive Director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. “The recent announcement of other companies expanding in the County and creating new jobs will only add to our ability as a community to offer more shopping and dining options.”

According to the analysis; Carroll County has a positive retail gap of just under $69 million. This is an indicator that residents of Carroll County are traveling outside of the county to make purchases, providing an opportunity for businesses within the local community to recapture spending.

The Chamber of Commerce is also conducting a study relating to the workforce and labor in the County that will be of value to employers. That report is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Those interested in viewing the completed study can contact the Chamber of Commerce at 1-660-542-0922 to obtain a digital copy. The report will also be available on the Chamber of Commerce’s new website that will be released soon.