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.

Bolivar

Rebecca Baker
Economic Development Partnership for Bolivar and Polk County
https://bolivar.mo.us/economic-development-2-0-2/

Bolivar

Branson

Jonas Arjes
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

James Stapleton
Codefi
https://www.codefiworks.com/
(573) 335-9675

Cape Girardeau

Carthage

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

Carthage

Farmington

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

Farmington

Joplin

Doug Hunt
Joplin Chamber of Commerce
https://joplincc.com/
(417) 624.4150

Joplin

Monett

Brett Heman
Monett Chamber of Commerce
https://www.monettchamber.com/
(417) 235-7919
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

Perryville

Crystal Jones
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
Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation
https://www.sikeston.net/
(573) 471-2498

Sikeston

Springfield

Rachel Anderson
efactory at Missouri State University
https://efactory.missouristate.edu/
(417) 837-2600
Matt Morrow
President
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
https://www.springfieldchamber.com/
202 S John Q Hammons Pkwy, Springfield, MO 65806
Karen Kunkel
Workforce Development Manager
karen@springfieldchamber.com
Ben Vickers
Business Development Manager
ben@springfieldchamber.com
Jonas Arjes
Senior Vice President of Economic Development
jonas@springfieldchamber.com

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
OzSBI
https://ozsbi.com/
(417) 256-9724

West Plains

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