Presser Arts Center doesn’t just have space for theatrical productions.

It’s a venue that serves a number of interests and activities, as it offers a dance and classroom space, and it is still growing, with an expansion on the horizon.

And it’s an entity that can benefit from economic development funding, as the venue is seeking a Community Development Block Grant for demolition of the Hardin Gym building on its site.  At Monday's Mexico City Council meeting, the council approved a measure to hire a firm to assist the city and Presser Arts Center in seeking the grant.

Individuals representing economic development entities visited Presser along with other places around Mexico April 10 to gain an understanding of what the city has to offer. 

Michelle Hataway, director for Missouri Department of Economic Development, along with Subash Alias, CEO of Missouri Partnership, and Mark Grimm, chairman of Gilmore Bell in the St. Louis office, visited Mexico. Alias works in marketing the state to companies that are considering relocating or investing in new operations in Missouri, while Grimm, an attorney, specializes in the areas of tax-exempt bonding financing for state and local governments and in tax increment financing and other economic development incentives.   

Gigi McAreavy, director of economic development for the city of Mexico, said each place that the visiting contingent saw let them see economic opportunity.

“I wanted them to see what’s working here that maybe some other communities could learn from or something that we’re doing right here and that we could do for a new industry that came to town,” she said. 

She described the visit as a “win-win for everyone,” as the group visited a number of places in town besides the Presser Arts Center, such as Fluid Power, The 581, Cookie Club, the airport, Zenith Aircraft Co. and the Missouri Military Academy. The group also drove by some businesses in town.

“I think they left with a lot of knowledge in hand,” McAreavy said, noting that local resident Jim Dye was on the tour and helped with local expertise. Russell Runge, who formerly worked in economic development in the city of Mexico, joined the group for lunch.

“Rural communities don’t have as much of a voice because we don't have the resources, we don’t have the manpower to be down there (in Jefferson City) and lobby for our city and everything else,” McAreavy said. “This was, I think, a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m glad they took the time (to visit).”

Later, in an email, McAreavy pointed out how supportive MDED has been to communities, including in the last few years, as it has been helping local rural economic developers be educated on some topics of interest. Also, the Missouri Economic Development Council has an annual meeting for economic developers/members of MEDC to speak with the state legislature on economic development topics. 

On April 10, the tour group visited the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce and learned about the chamber’s Workforce Resource Assistance Program. Dana Keller, executive director of the chamber, described, in an email, that WRAP is an “Employee Resource Network aimed at building retention for our employers. We have four partners and combined serve about 1,200 employees. We help problem-solve external situations and problems that oftentimes impact an employees stability on the jobsite.”  

As described on the chamber website, the chamber employs two workforce specialists who offer training to employers on stabilizing the current workforce to improve retention, attendance and productivity.

At a visit at the Audrain County Commissioners office, Presiding Commissioner Alan Winders told the visiting contingent what the priority was for the community.

“We still need a hospital,” he said, noting a hospital is a foundational building block.