1 Sustained Funding For COVID-19 Recovery And The .

20211#2#3#4#LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIESSustained Funding forCOVID-19 Recovery and theReopening of Regionaland Community AssetsIncrease Full Access to Mental Healthand Primary CareSupport Innovation Within Rural Education:Early Childhood, K-12, Higher Education,and CommunityEnsure End-of-the-Road Access to High-SpeedBroadbandINTRODUCTIONGreat Northwest Day at the Capitol exists as a cooperative effortby Northwest Missouri communities to unify and enhance ourregion’s image in Jefferson City. For the past 20 years the eventhas created a forum for northwest Missourians and legislatorsstatewide to meet face-to-face. Due to COVID-19, the GreatNorthwest Day at the Capitol event will be held virtually onFebruary 1-3, 2021 at www.facebook.com/GreatNorthwestDay.The goal of the Great Northwest Day Priorities Committeeis to present to our legislators and government officials a strongunited message based on a broad circle of voices and research.The feedback is reviewed against the criteria of (1) legislativeimpact, (2) overarching regional impact, and (3) non-partisanperspective. Short videos discussing the priorities will be postedat 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, followed at Noonby a Facebook Live event with Missouri Governor Mike Parson.Growing the Missouri of the Future

2021LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES1#Sustained Fundingfor COVID-19 Recovery andthe Reopening of Regionaland Community Assets Support for Public-Private Partnershipand collaboration between entrepreneurs,local public entities, and private supportorganizations working on economicand community development Wayfair Online Sales Tax Reform Tailor resources to rebound and builda stronger culture of empowering localbusinesses throughout the regionto expandGrowing the Missouri of the Future

The year 2020 caught everyone by surprise. Many communitiesand businesses in northwest Missouri suffered tremendouseconomic setbacks due to COVID-19. While the Federal government and The State of Missouri have designated pandemicassistance to some business owners, schools, and localgovernment entities during these difficult times, many otherorganizations and entrepreneurs have yet to experience anyrelief. Especially hurting are the local employers - businessesand nonprofits - that are considered nonessential and were forcedto close temporarily or permanently due to COVID-19.The impact of these closures is significant from an economicperspective. From a social capital perspective, the negative trickledown may have even deeper and longer-lasting consequencesthan the economic challenges. We must do everything in ourpower to keep residents of ages connected and continuing to feelas though they belong to their local communities and our regionas a whole. Hence the reason the residents of NWMO needsustained funding for all of the Public-Private Partnership andmulti-sector collaboration efforts that are helping our regionsurvive and thrive.Local economic developers in northwest Missouri highlyrecommend supporting sustained funding for COVID-19 relief.This can be accomplished by providing resources at all levels ofgovernment and all types of community organizations. We mustprovide local businesses with the resources, technical assistance,and empowering networks they need to adapt the way theirbusiness operates. The Great Northwest region is seeking thesupport from the State of Missouri to assist local business ownerswith the more resources and better guidelines that will level theplaying field for small business owners to survive. Ensuringthat Internet sales are taxed in a way that benefits ourlocal economy is one way to estday.comA 19-County Northwest Missouri Legislative Educational Event

PRIORITIES2021 LEGISLATIVE2#Increase FullAccess to Mental Healthand Primary Care Collaborate across the aisle to implementMedicaid expansion fairly throughout thestate considering unique characteristicsof rural and urban residents Ensure resources that help reduce opioiduse and dependency“Easy access to affordable healthcare affectseveryone. The issues that are facing us areenormous, but I know for a fact that bycoordinating our efforts we can accomplishmuch more together than alone.”– Rodney Hummer, RN BSN, Director of Development andCommunity Engagement, Northwest Health ServicesGrowing the Missouri of the Future

High-quaity and accessible health care amid a global pandemicrequires top-priority attention as we are all concerned for thehealth and safety of our residents and for the front-line workerswho are caring for our families and friends. We must continue todo everything we can to get past the threats of COVID-19 and onto the work of building and leading a more thriving state. Thatsaid, all of the challenges that existed related to our healthcaresystem prior to the pandemic are still a concern that must beresolved for our region to thrive.Increasing access to quality affordable primary care and treatingmental health the same as any other area of health care can help: Prevent more serious – and costly - physical and mental healthproblems from developing. Reduce substance abuse and crime. Encourage and educate residents to make healthier life choices. Decrease deaths of despair; particularly those caused byoverdose.1 Keep and attract more healthcare professionals in and to ourcommunities who also play important leadership roles beyondpatient care. National statistics tell us there are only 55 primarycare physicians and 30 specialists per 100,000 rural residentscompared to 79 and 263 respectively per 100,000 urbanresidents.2 Keep and attract more businesses in and to our region. Someof our largest employers have indicated that health care is anessential aspect of economic development and they will notrecruit or retain employees without it.31& 2 “Rural Health Insurance Market Challenges,” National Advisory Committee on Rural Health andHuman Services, August 2018, th-Insurance-Market-Challenges.pdf3NW Electric Power, Inc. Targeted Load Growth Strategic Plan prepared by AdyAdvantage,December 16, estday.comA 19-County Northwest Missouri Legislative Educational Event

2021LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES3#Support InnovationWithin Rural Education:Early Childhood, K-12,Higher Education,and Community Ensure access to high-quality, affordablechild care and early childhood development programs in the interest ofsustaining and growing our workforce Maintain core funding for highereducation institutions so they can sustainacademic programs as well as workforcedevelopment and community involvement Fully fund the education formula Encourage new and high-quality approachesfor in-person and online learners in K-12 Retain good teachers in our schools Ensure NWMO representation onstate-level education-related boards,task forces and committeesGrowing the Missouri of the Future

If ever there has been a time to think outside the proverbial boxof “doing things the same way because that is how they havealways been done,” it is now. COVID-19 has demonstrated thatall kinds of things are possible in education from birth throughretirement that were never thought possible or even considered.When teachers and parents give it enough time and attention,virtual learning and connection can happen. Large numbers ofpeople can function safely in schools together when everyonerespects each other enough to follow the health safety rules.Both options are viable. Education is no longer bound by therestrictions of sitting in class after class, day after day.Our country and state has a unique opportunity to not only makesome changes, but transform educational approaches that canmeet the learning needs of each unique child as they prepare fora very different work world. We could, if made a priority, help ouryouth build lives of prosperity by better preparing them for theneeds of employers that are navigating a global economy that ischanging at a faster pace than ever experienced in human history.We must not retreat from funding our educational institutions.Now is the time to ensure they not only have the resources theyneed, but also the empowerment to think differently.The future of our region depends on an educated and motivatedworkforce that is skilled in the needs of today as well as the abilityto anticipate the needs of tomorrow. These skills are not learnedby following the same methods of yesteryear. School districts andeducational institutions contributing to the development ofMissouri’s next generation of citizens, from preschool throughmultiple postsecondary options such as professional certificateand degree programs, cannot fulfill their mission without yoursupport. We ask our legislators to continue investing ineducation, workforce development, and leadershipdevelopment that can move our state thwestday.comA 19-County Northwest Missouri Legislative Educational Event

2021LEGISLATIVEPRIORITIES4#EnsureEnd-of-the-Road Accessto High-Speed Broadband Expand access to agriculture, businesses,and households – especially those withstudents and remote workers – beyondthe fiber fringe Encourage innovative solutiondevelopment and implementationin addition to expanded fundingby lifting any regulatory roadblocks Support multi-sector collaborationsto move solutions forward fasterGrowing the Missouri of the Future

High-speed broadband that is reliable, easily accessed, and pricedreasonably for every residence and business is no longer an amenity. It is an essential utility for living in today’s global, fast-paced,and technology-dependent world. The stay-at-home orders andnecessary quarantines brought about by COVID-19 made Internetaccessibility critical for any continuity of education and businessfor nearly everyone. Those living without high-speed broadbandin our primarily rural region have especially felt this year thecrushing reality of the inequities that exist between urban andrural communities in our state. Conversely, those who do havefiber or have found innovative - albeit expensive - ways to staydigitally connected are finding more opportunities than ever toexpand their learning and grow their businesses. There is hope!This priority of broadband has been on our region’s list of keyconcerns for many years and some very good progress has beenmade. However, the urgency of the big opportunities we have toattract new residents, entrepreneurs, and businesses at all stagesof growth to our area is growing exponentially. We must launcha faster pace of investment. We must ensure that our rural residents, and those living in our metropolitan and micropolitancommunities on the fringe just outside of the fiber lines, have thesame dependable connections as those living elsewhere.Rural, suburban, and urban residents and businesses all use theInternet for approximately the same amount of time and connecting with the same types of devices each day.1 In fact, the advancedagri-business technology of today that feeds the world is evenmore dependent on excellent connectivity for their GPS-enabledequipment. Telemedicine and education at all levels need fast upload and download speeds. We cannot rest on this priority untilhigh-speed broadband is available to the end ofevery road in Missouri!1 northwestdaywww.greatnorthwestday.comA 19-County Northwest Missouri Legislative Educational Event

#2 Increase Full Access to Mental Health and Primary Care #3 Support Innovation Within Rural Education: Early Childhood, K-12, Higher Education, and Community #4 Ensure End-of-the-Road Access to High-Speed Broadband INTRODUCTION Great Northwest Day at the Capitol exists as a cooperative effort by