EXECUTIVE ORDER

19-03

WHEREAS, the Missouri Department of Economic Development is created pursuant to Article IV, Section 12 of the Missouri Constitution and Chapter 620, RSMo, and is charged with promoting the economy of the State, the economic development of the State, trade and business, and other activities and programs impacting the economy of the State; and

WHEREAS, the Missouri Department of Higher Education is created pursuant to Article IV, Section 12 of the Missouri Constitution and Chapter 173, RSMo, and is charged with coordinating higher education policy that fosters a quality post-secondary system, as well as increasing participation in Missouri 's public institutions of higher education; and

WHEREAS, the Division of Workforce Development, located within the Department of Economic Development, is currently the state agency designated to receive federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Wagner-Peyser funds, conduct job training programs and labor exchanges, and administer other federal and State workforce development programs pursuant to Section 620.010, RSMo; and

WHEREAS, the Division of Workforce Development and the Department of Higher Education have worked closely with each other in the past on issues relating to workforce development and higher education; and

WHEREAS, combining the post-secondary talent development functions of the Department of Higher Education and the Division of Workforce Development will result in better consolidation and coordination of the State’s functions relating to workforce development and higher education and would benefit the citizens of the State by promoting efficient administration of post-secondary talent development functions; and

WHEREAS, the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), located within the Department of Economic Development’s Division of Business and Community Services, compiles and analyzes labor market information that is essential to the effective and efficient administration of workforce development programs; and

WHEREAS, combining MERIC with the Department of Higher Education and the Division of Workforce Development would provide targeted labor market information and analyses critical to advancing Missouri’s post-secondary talent development functions; and

WHEREAS, the transfer of the Division of Workforce Development from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education will benefit the State of Missouri by enabling the Department of Economic Development to align itself around the core economic development activities of business and community development, while maintaining close coordination and partnership with the Division of Workforce Development and the Department of Higher Education; and

WHEREAS, the transfer of the Division of Workforce Development’s customized job training programs to the newly created One Start division within the Department of Economic Development will promote economic growth and job creation; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of the Regional Engagement Division for business retention, expansion, and recruitment functions will enable the Department of Economic Development to better serve individuals and businesses in different regions of the State; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of the Strategy and Performance Division will enable the Department of Economic Development to enhance its long-term planning and use of data to more effectively carry out its internal and external operations; and

WHEREAS, the Division of Business and Community Services, located within the Department of Economic Development, provides finance and compliance functions and subject matter expertise crucial to helping Missouri’s businesses and communities grow; and

WHEREAS, redesignating the Division of Business and Community Services as the Business and Community Solutions Division will more accurately reflect the Division’s solutions-oriented nature and its mission of solving businesses’ and communities’ challenges across the State.

 

NOW THEREFORE, I, MICHAEL L. PARSON, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri, do hereby:

  1. Establish the Regional Engagement Division within the Department of Economic Development and transfer all of the authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, contracts, budgets, matters pending, and other pertinent vestiges of the Division of Business and Community Services relating to sales, marketing, and initial customer engagement for business retention and expansion and business recruitment functions to the Regional Engagement Division by Type I transfer, as defined under the Reorganization Act of 1974;
  2. Establish the Strategy and Performance Division within the Department of Economic Development and transfer all of the authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, contracts, budgets, matters pending, and other pertinent vestiges of the Department of Economic Development and the Division of Business and Community Services relating to economic analysis, communications and marketing, broadband development, departmental performance and improvement, legislative affairs, military asset support, and strategic initiatives to the Strategy and Performance Division by Type I transfer, as defined under the Reorganization Act of 1974;
  3. Establish the One Start Division within the Department of Economic Development and transfer all of the authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, contracts, budgets, matters pending, and other pertinent vestiges of the Division of Workforce Development relating to customized job training programs to the One Start Division by Type I transfer, as defined under the Reorganization Act of 1974;
  4. Redesignate the Division of Business and Community Services within the Department of Economic Development as the Business and Community Solutions Division in recognition of its solutions-oriented mission to support businesses and communities through economic development finance and compliance functions and subject matter expertise;
  5. Transfer all powers, duties and responsibilities of the Division of Business and Community Services not otherwise transferred pursuant to this Executive Order to the redesignated Business and Community Solutions Division;
  6. Transfer the Division of Workforce Development and all of its authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, contracts, budgets, matters pending, and other pertinent vestiges, except as set forth herein, from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education by Type I transfer, as defined under the Reorganization Act of 1974;
  7. Transfer the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) and all of its authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, contracts, budgets, matters pending, and other pertinent vestiges, from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Higher Education by Type I transfer, as defined under the Reorganization Act of 1974;
  8. Transfer all of the authority, powers, duties, functions, records, personnel, property, contracts, budgets, matters pending, and other pertinent vestiges of the Division of Workforce Development relating to employer service representatives to the Regional Engagement Division by Type I transfer, as defined under the Reorganization Act of 1974;
  9. Order the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Higher Education to develop the mechanisms and processes necessary to effectively complete the orders described herein; and
  10. Order the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Higher Education to take the steps necessary to maintain compliance with federal requirements so as not to jeopardize federal financial participation with the transfers completed herein.

This order shall become effective no sooner than August 28, 2019, unless disapproved within sixty days of its submission to the First Regular Session of the 100th General Assembly.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, on this 17th day of January, 2019.

[Michael L. Parson's signature]
Michael L. Parson
Governor

ATTEST:

[Jay Ashcroft's signature]
John R. Ashcroft
Secretary of State

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