Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce signs agreement with Innovate SOMO to expand opportunities

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce signed a partnership agreement with Southern Missouri Innovation Network (Innovate SOMO) to open up major educational and job opportunities to the Cape Girardeau region.

“When provided access to opportunities, support resources and skilled talent, entrepreneurs and small business owners produce a chain reaction of job creation, revenue growth and community improvement,” said Dr. James Stapleton, co-founder of Codefi.

Innovate SOMO was founded by Codefi, an organization headquartered in Cape Girardeau with regional offices in Springfield, and efactory at Missouri State University. Innovate SOMO’s goal is to unlock the full potential of entrepreneurship and innovation to transform communities in the southernmost 47 counties in Missouri.

The network has raised nearly $10 million in state and federal competitive grants and private contributions, according to the Cape Chamber. The funds support expanding programs and resources that connect digital workers to training, entrepreneurs to resources, and employers to talent.

The Innovate SOMO network is expected to:

• Provide programs and services to nearly 1,200 entrepreneurs and workers.
• Assist in the building of more than 60 new businesses.
• Create over 500 new high-quality jobs.

The annual economic impact from these efforts is expected to be more than $37 million, according to Cape Chamber.