Jobs, Jobs, & Jobs

This is all the talk coming from Washington, D.C. and in Jefferson City. It is also in the political debates and the basis of judging all legislation from both sides of the political spectrum. Other goals in the quest to improve the economy have been rebuilding our communities, economic development, adopting green & sustainable principles, promoting education, and stabilizing neighborhoods and neighborhood schools. Guess what? Missouri communities who promote historic preservation can accomplish all these things. Nationally know economist, Donavon Rypkema, studied this in our state and came up with the following conclusions. That public money invested through the historic preservation tax credit program creates more jobs than spending on new construction, highways, and even manufacturing. And investments in our real estate are capital expenses that create jobs during renovations with positions that cannot be outsourced. The best part is that most of the investment is private money not government money. Renovated properties become assets that are put into the service of creating more jobs in tourism, small businesses and in creating housing for families while stabilizing neighborhoods and communities. So why are state legislators considering putting caps on this program? And why aren’t the Independence Chamber and the Council for Economic Development promoting this tax credit program, especially now that the National Historic Landmark District has been expanded? And why aren’t the US Congress and the White House including revitalization and preservation programs in their job-creation plans? It seems to me the reasons these programs are left out is that there is a lack of understanding about the benefits of historic preservation and that citizens are not demanding it. If you feel strongly about this as much as I do, please let your voices be heard at City Hall, Jefferson City, and Washington, D.C. Ask candidates where they stand on historic preservation as tool for economic development and creating jobs. Become a lobbyist for job creation. Support historic preservation!