By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Northwest Missouri takes its show on the road to Jefferson City next month, a regional lobbying effort at the state Capitol.
Great Northwest Days will be held February 6th and 7th.
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn says the annual event brings cities and counties from 18 northwest Missouri counties together to advocate for the region before the state legislature.
“It’s really a fun event. You get to learn about your neighbors and you get to meet and network with the legislators,” Hawn tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
Hawn says that while St. Joseph has its own lobbying arm, it finds working with the region strengthens everyone’s hand. Hawn adds the website Great Northwest Day outlines the priorities for this legislative session and provides the track record from the lobbying effort.
“So, there’s a list of our current priorities and any bills attached to those and then there’s also some of our successes,” Hawn says. “So we have had some successes over the years when it comes to infrastructure, broadband, things that really affect our ability to grow as a region, especially in the area of economic development.”
Residents are invited to come along. You don’t have to be an official or politician. Hawn says officials from cities and counties in the region go to lobby legislators and area residents are welcome to take in the activities surrounding state government.
“So if you’re a resident that goes you get to learn and network with folks from all over northwest Missouri, but if you’re a legislator or a department head, you get to learn about these communities, because each community will have delegates from their community working the booth that can answer questions, not only about the priorities of the region, but also about the community at large,” Hawn says.
Hawn says Great Northwest Days begins with a reception the evening of February 6th followed by a day of lobbying at the state Capitol.
You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.