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MOSourceLink to Connect and Help Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs
KANSAS CITY, (PRNewswire), September 22 2008 - The Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) today unveiled a new program to assist entrepreneurs in Missouri. MOSourceLink will connect and help small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate the resources they need to ensure success.

MOSourceLink develops a virtual partnership of hundreds of organizations across the state that currently provides business-building services and creates a quick resource for small businesses and entrepreneurs. MOSourceLink was introduced at the Governor's Conference on Economic Development, which was this week at the Hyatt Regency and Westin Crown Center.

There are many support organizations in Missouri that provide services to both emerging and existing small businesses throughout the state. An entrepreneur can spend a significant amount of valuable time trying to find the appropriate service provider. MOSourceLink will be accessible to entrepreneurs in Missouri free of charge and will match their needs to the appropriate resource.

"Accessing the wealth of resources available to entrepreneurs can be difficult," said Rob Monsees, executive director for the Missouri Technology Corporation. "Having a virtual clearinghouse accessible to entrepreneurs, community leaders, service providers, teachers and others will be extremely valuable to Missourians. A virtual clearinghouse will assist entrepreneurs in navigating among different service providers and resources to meet their needs in one location."

MOSourceLink will assist entrepreneurs by doing the following:

Gathering information about the business and its needs Researching the available resources that match those needs
Directing the business to the appropriate support organizations
Provide follow up to ensure quality service and satisfaction

MOSourceLink is supported by the Missouri Technology Corporation, the Kauffman Foundation, state organizations and private donors. Founding board members include University of Missouri Extension, Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers and the Missouri Technology Corporation. The program is based on the successful KCSourceLink model, of which the Kauffman Foundation, the SBA and the UMKC Innovation Center at the Bloch School were founding partners.

The Missouri Technology Corporation was created by the Missouri General Assembly in 1994 and is charged by law with being a focal point for leading the state's efforts in technology based economic development and for enhancing the system for transferring new discoveries into the marketplace in order to create companies and high tech jobs for Missourians. MTC received $15 million from Governor Blunt's Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative, the largest investment in technology-based economic development in our state's history.

MOSourceLink can be accessed by calling toll-free at 866-870-6500 or by using MOSourceLink's premier online tool. Visit the web site at www.MOSourceLink.com and click on the resource navigator button.

City Partners on JE Dunn Project in East Village
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), September 22, 2008 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., and Central Bank of Kansas City have partnered to deploy $12.7 million in new markets tax credit allocations to assist the construction of the JE Dunn Construction Co. headquarters in the East Village area.

The transaction closing was made possible through participation of a combination of public and private partners, including Central Bank of Kansas City, the City's Community Development Entity, JE Dunn Construction Co., US Bancorp, Virchow Krause, UMB Bank, Americo Life and others.

The JE Dunn headquarters is the first vertical construction in the larger East Village Tax Increment Finance plan. When fully developed, the East Village area, including the JE Dunn headquarters, is projected to exceed $350 million in total development cost. "This investment is important because it represents the first major new markets tax credit deal in the city," City Manager Wayne A. Cauthen said. "The JE Dunn project is one piece of a larger plan to revitalize the City's east loop area." The JE Dunn headquarters qualified for $12.7 million in new markets tax credit debt and equity financing due to its high level of job creation potential, community impact and location (the Community Development Financing Institutions Fund, the federal allocator of new markets tax credits, defines the East Village area as a highly distressed, low-income community).

The value of the new markets tax credit equity to the project was approximately $2.8 million. U.S. Bank New Markets Tax Credits is the investor in the transaction. The proposed office building will include at least 155,000 square feet and will be adjoined to an approximately 750-space public parking garage, owned and maintained by the City.

Swope Community Builders will develop the remainder of the East Village area. Plans include 600 housing units at a variety of income levels, 750,000-square-feet of office space, 12,000-square-feet of retail space, 45,000-square-feet of office/condo space and 2,740 parking spaces. Remaining East Village projects are expected to apply for new markets tax credit financing in future phases.

The new markets tax credit financing for this project was available due to a $50 million allocation awarded to Central Bank of Kansas City, in partnership with the City, in 2007. Central Bank of Kansas City has been recognized by Community Development Financing Institutions for the bank's investment in distressed communities.

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