Building Better Things Together

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Innovate SOMO is a collaborative effort by regional resource providers and communities joined by over 100 leading businesses, colleges and universities, and community organizations and stakeholders.

Our strategic partnerships enable us to support the forward-thinking tech startups, small businesses, and digital workforce talent in southern Missouri that is producing real-world solutions and regional sustainability.

Network Founders

Innovate SOMO was founded by two of Missouri's most successful innovation hubs.
Codefi was founded in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 2014 by entrepreneurs who wanted to eliminate the skills and opportunity gaps preventing workers and entrepreneurs in rural regions from thriving in the digital economy.

Codefi's innovative model of programs and services is nationally recognized for its combination of entrepreneurial experience and technology expertise, and generating outstanding economic impact.
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efactory opened in March 2013 with one goal in mind: to serve entrepreneurs and business owners. Today, its network of programs support both large and small businesses throughout southern Missouri.

efactory is proud to be part of the IDEA Commons district, Missouri State University’s vision for an urban innovation park, and is internationally recognized for the vast array of programs and services it provides and the economic impact they create.
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Network Communities

The communities and key stakeholders who lead Innovate SOMO.

Ava

Judy Shields
Executive Director
Ava Area Chamber of Commerce
https://www.avachamber.org/
810 Collins Ave, Ava, MO 65608

Ava

Bolivar

Rebecca Baker
Administrative Assistant
Economic Development Partnership for Bolivar and Polk County
https://www.bolivar.mo.us/
Bolivar City Hall, 345 S Main Ave Bolivar, Missouri, 65613

Bolivar

Branson

Dennis Wiggins
Director of Business Retention & Expansion
Taney County Partnership
https://imaginebransonmo.com/taney-county/
(417) 243-2146

Branson

Buffalo

Hollie Elliott
Executive Director
Dallas County Economic Development Group
https://dallascounty.works/

Buffalo

Cape Girardeau

Shad Burner
CEO
Southeast Missouri Regional Economic Development, Inc. (SE MO REDI)
https://semoredi.com/
220 North Fountain St. Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
Rob Gilligan
President and CEO
Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
https://www.capechamber.com/
220 N. Fountain St. | Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Cape Girardeau

Carthage

Julie Reams
Carthage Chamber of Commerce
https://carthagechamber.com/
(417) 358-2373

Carthage

Farmington

Candy Hente
Executive Director
Farmington Regional Chamber
https://www.farmingtonregionalchamber.com/
(573) 756-3615

Farmington

Jefferson City

Brent Kahler
Director of Investor Relations
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry / Missouri Chamber Foundation
https://mochamber.com/
428 East Capitol Avenue Jefferson City, MO 65101

Jefferson City

Joplin

Travis Stephens
President/CEO
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
https://joplincc.com/
320 E 4th St, Joplin, MO 64801

Joplin

Kimberling City

Sheila Thomas
President / CEO
Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce
https://www.visittablerocklake.com/chamber-home/
P.O. Box 495 Kimberling City, MO 65686

Kimberling City

Lebanon

Brian Thompson
President and CEO
Lebanon REDI
https://lebanonredi.com/

Lebanon

Monett

Brett Heman
Owner
Cowork Collective
https://www.coworkcollective.com/
308 E Broadway St, Monett, MO 65708

Monett

Neosho

Lauri Lyerla
Neosho Chamber of Commerce
https://neoshocc.com/
(417) 451-1925

Neosho

Ozark

Kristen Haseltine
President & CEO
Show-Me Christian County
https://showmeccmo.com/
113 E Church St, Ozark, MO 65721

Ozark

Perryville

Crystal Jones
Executive Director
Perry County Economic Development Authority
https://www.perrycountymo.org/
(573)-547-1097

Perryville

Poplar Bluff

Steve Halter
Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce
https://poplarbluffchamber.org/
(573) 785-7761

Poplar Bluff

Sikeston

Marcie Lawson
CEO
Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation
https://www.sikeston.net/
(573) 471-2498
215 N. New Madrid St. Sikeston, MO 63801

Sikeston

Springfield

Jonas Arjes
Senior Vice President of Economic Development
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
https://www.springfieldchamber.com/
202 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806
Michael Eaton
Executive Director
Missouri Association of Manufacturers
https://www.mamstrong.org/
1329 E. Republic Road. Suite J Springfield, MO 65804

Springfield

West Plains

Mel Steele
Missouri State University - West Plains / efactory / Missouri SBDC at MSU
https://efactory.missouristate.edu/west-plains-sbdc/
(417) 255-7966
Heather Fisher
CEO
Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI)
https://ozsbi.com/
(417) 256-9724
408 Washington Ave. West Plain, MO 65775
Jessica Collins
Executive Director
Greater West Plains Area Chamber of Commerce
https://wpchamber.com/
397 Jackie D. Garrett Dr. West Plains, MO 65775

West Plains

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