Mission
Our office’s goal is to service existing employers and recruit prospective businesses to Dunklin County. We focus on Strategic Planning, Real Estate Development, Workforce Development, Public and Private Finance. We showcase the unique agricultural, industrial, and retail opportunities driving commerce in Missouri’s Bootheel. Our personnel have developed relationships with elected officials, utility providers, and community stakeholders to foster positive growth and create packages attractive to prospective employers.
PRESELECTION REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES:
PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING, DESIGN, AND INSPECTION SERVICES
The County of Dunklin on the behalf of Freeborn Township requests qualifications for preliminary engineering services, subsequent engineering design services, and construction inspection services, to assist in a proposed public facilities project to be partially financed with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The project will allow for overlayment of 2470 ft of North and South Main Street, entering the city limits of Clarkton, Missouri and also allow for repaving on Dunklin County CR 322 from MO Highway 25 to Dunklin County CR 325.
Information provided to the County of Dunklin on the behalf of Freeborn Township must include at a minimum:
1. The specialized experience and technical competence of the firm with respect to water system improvements or related work
2. The capacity and capability of the firm to perform the work in question, including specialized services, within a period of twelve months beginning 06/04/2024
3. The past record of performance of the firm with respect to such factors as control of costs, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules
4. The firm’s proximity to and familiarity with the area in which the project is located
5. References from previous clients of related work with the firm within the past five years
6. Documentation of compliance with E-Verify requirements
The firm will be selected based on the above qualifications. Once the most qualified firm is selected, a cost for preliminary engineering will be negotiated separately from the cost for engineering design. Contracting for these two activities shall occur separately and costs/payments associated with each will be clearly defined. Contracts executed for engineering design and construction inspection services shall be contingent upon the award of the grant and commitment of all project funds.
The above information should be submitted no later than 6/23/25, 12:00PM, County of Dunklin on the behalf of Freeborn Township, 100 Kennett Court Square PO Box 188 Kennett, MO. For more information, contact Melissa Combs at 573-344-6162.
The County of Dunklin and Freeborn Township are Equal Opportunity Employers and invite the submission of proposals from minority, women, and Section 3-owned firms.
The County of Dunklin on behalf of Union Township will hold a public hearing on June 16, 2025, 10 a.m. at the Dunklin County Courthouse located at 100 Courthouse Square, Kennett, MIssouri in the Commissioners Chambers to discuss the county’s submission of an application for the Fiscal Year 2025 CDBG PRogram. The county is interested in obtaining all citizens input on commuity development needs within the county.
The county proposes to overaly approximately 1.43 miles of County Road 229 from State Highway J south to the previously improved section near Campbell, MO.
For more information on the proposed project contact Cammy Murphy at 573-614-5178 ext. 105 or by email tbelcher@bootrpc.com. If you need special accomodations for th epublic hearing including LEP assistance, please contact Melissa Combs at 573-344-6162 or mcombs@dunklincounty.gov by June 13, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at an accessible location and the county will make every effort possible to provide reasonable accomodation.
City of Kennett
Request for Qualifications Archaeology Services
Fiscal Year 2024 Land Water Conservation Fund Award 29-01798
“Kennett Indian Park Baseball Lighting Project”
The City of Kennett, Missouri which has received a Land Water Conservation Fund grant through National Parks Service for improvements of existing baseball fields in Indian Park. The project includes removal of 20 existing light poles, reinstallation of 12 new poles, and filling of the existing holes which will not hold new poles.
As part of the environmental approval process, the Osage Nation has requested a qualified archaeologist be present for all ground disturbing activities and that daily monitoring reports be submitted for review and comment to the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. We are searching for a 36 CFR Part 61, Appendix A, qualified archaeologist who can monitor ground disturbance activities and report to Missouri State Parks each day of monitoring.
Please provide:
The above information is requested to be submitted no later than 6/13/25, 4:00 P.M. to Melissa Combs at mcombs@dunklincounty.gov or call 573-344-6162. An archaeologist will be chosen based on the above qualifications.
Upon verification of archaeologist qualifications and availability, a contract will be generated between the City and the chosen Archaeologist. For questions contact Melissa Combs 573-344-6162 or mcombs@dunklincounty.gov.
Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is studying the US 412 corridor between Kennett and the Arkansas state line to determine needs and solutions for improvement.
Dunklin County Commission contributed $500,000 toward the completion of the environmental work. Although funding has not been secured for future construction on this corridor, it has been designated as as the #1 priority unfunded transportation need by the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation Advisory Committee.
Extensive traffic studies, engineering analysis, environmental screening, and public involvement has occurred with a goal of producing an Environmental Assessment (EA) that satisfies the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. The draft EA has been reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and approval of EA is expected in 4 weeks. A public hearing will be scheduled after approval to gather input. This information will be incorporated into the EA for final approval of the study. The study team is working diligently to accomplish approval by Spring 2025.
Project Facts
·US 412 in Pemiscot and Dunklin Counties is part of a 1150 mile multi-state system connecting New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee.
·This specific project focues on the 20 miles of US 412, beginning just southwest of Kennett at Route Y, and continuing to Route AC near the Arkansas state line.
·This 20 miles of US 412 in Dunklin County is the final segment which has not been upgraded to four or more lanes between Paragould, AR and Jackson, TN.
·Expansion of US HWY 412 in Dunklin County is the #1 priority of the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee on the high-priority unfunded needs list.
Why this project is important to Dunklin County and the Bootheel Region:
Safety Concerns
·Agricultural vehicles such as cotton modules, watermelon buses, and combines create significant speed disparities on the roadway.
·Motorists experience difficult sight lines due to the topography and slow moving commercial vehicles.
·School buses carrying students from Soutland and Senath-Hornersville school districts cross the busy highway, or travel the route daily to and from Kennett Career and Technology Center.
·In the past 15 months, 29 serious injuries or deaths have occurred on this segment of roadway (January 2025-Source tracking of MSHP Crash Reports).
Economic Development
·The county’s economy is highly agricultural. Introduction of new and diverse agricultural crops and relative processing equipment will continue.
·Three of the county’s top four retailers sit on each end of the route, where four-lanes exist. This data tells us the corridor is valuable to Dunklin County’s business economy.
·The corridor sees high travel demands between AR & TN for employment, healthcare, education, & commerce. This route is prime for future large scale employment and economic development projects.
·Large scale economic projects frequently require direct access to four-lane highway. US 412’s presence in Pemiscot and Dunklin Counties connects Missouri to Arkansas and Tennessee. Logistically this is a great location, but the highways current two-lane conditions hinders the area leaders ability to recruit companies who would employ our citizens and improve the county’s economy.
Estimated Project Cost = $88,289,000
Dunklin County’s hope is that MoDOT and the Missouri State legislature will work together to prioritize funding to improve this vital corridor.
To read more about MoDOT’s progress on the study follow this link: US Route 412 Environmental Impact Study in Dunklin County
News Report KFVS 12 04/30/2025 https://www.kfvs12.com/2025/05/01/project-manager-gives-update-highway-expansion-project/
Bootheel Healthcare Foundation was created in 2024 to explore the needs and feasibility of healthcare in the Bootheel of Missouri. It’s purpose is to create a model that could be replicated, to provide healthcare and related education programs that will improve economic conditions, healthcare outcomes and create new jobs based on needs data and verified information in rural Missouri.
Bootheel Healthcare Foundation was awarded a Strategic Planning Grant from Delta Regional Authority in Fall 2024. BHF has engaged VMG Health to conduct the study to determine the needs and feasibility of creating a new healthcare facility in Dunklin County. The study is complete and the project is proven feasible.
To learn more about Bootheel Healthcare Foundation visit their website: bootheelhealthcarefoundation.org
Highway 412 is a vital corridor in Dunklin County, connecting Arkansas, Missouri, and Tennessee. 20 miles of the highway from Cardwell, MO to Kennett, MO are currently in two-lane status. The top transportation priority of Dunklin County Commission is the expansion of 412 to 4-lanes or greater. The Commission desires highway expansion due to safety and economic factors.
Dunklin County Commission participated in cost-sharing with MoDOT to complete an environmental and design study. That study is complete and will be presented to the public in Spring 2025 with a public hearing.
Dunklin County participates in the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission’s Transportation Advisory Committee. At the January 2025 meeting, the TAC voted to make the expansion of 412 the #1 priority for the six county region.
Looking for Commercial or Industrial property? Check out our available listings at LocationOne.
Are you a Dunklin County landowner interested in selling or leasing? Contact Director Melissa Combs to learn about listing your property to prospective investors.
MoDOT, working with RPCs and MPOs, has developed a High Priority Unfunded Needs list to guide the development of projects into funded projects as state and federal transportation funds increase.
Dunklin County features multiple items on the list, featuring the expansion of US HWY 412 due to safety and economic development concerns. To view the list follow this link: https://www.modot.org/sites/default/files/documents/High-Priority%20Unfunded%20Needs%202024.pdf
An environmental study has been conducted on the project and is awaiting approval from SHPO and FHWA. A public hearing will be announced upon approval.
Dunklin County is in the process of updating the Dunklin County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The existing plan, approved by FEMA five years ago was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. To maintain eligibility for certain FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, the Act requires jurisdictions to develop a plan to assess their risks to hazards and identify actions that can be taken in advance to reduce future losses. The law requires Hazard Mitigation Plans to be updated every five years.
Bootheel Regional Planning Commission has taken the lead in developing this plan. Dunklin County’s plan is viewable at: https://bootrpc.com/dunklin-county . The points of contact are Christy LeGrand and Christine Young, Community Development Specialists. To successfully complete this project and ensure your organization is eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation assistance funding, we need your participation and input. Jurisdictions (including county and city governments and school districts) that do not participate in an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan are NOT eligible to apply for FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants.
Jurisdictions with questions regarding the plan should contact Christy LeGrand at clegrand@bootrpc.com.
Dunklin County’s Director of Economic Development Melissa Combs earned the designation of Certified Economic Developer MoCED on October 8, 2024. The certification comes from Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) and the Missouri Department of Economic Development (MODED) who have undertaken a thorough review of how Missouri compares with other competing states and have developed a Missouri Certified Economic Developer Program, MoCED.
The MoCED designation represents the Missouri economic development practitioner’s commitment to advancing Missouri’s economy and elevating the economic development profession. The MoCED designation certifies that the Missouri economic development professional has a broad understanding of Missouri’s economic development assets and can serve as knowledgeable resources and liaisons for businesses and communities as they look to grow and thrive in Missouri.
The objectives of the certification program are:
To be eligible for the certification, Missouri economic development professionals must:
The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS, is the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission’s (BRPC) guiding plan that helps determine our activities and efforts in the coming years. The plan is updated every five years by BRPC staff and the CEDS Committee. The plan includes an analysis of the region’s:
Demographics and economy;
Inventory of region’s strengths, opportunities, aspirations and risks;
Goals and objectives to help grow, develop, and move the region forward.
Posted: July 18, 2023
Grand Opening of Cim-Tek Filtration’s Kennett Facility Celebrated by State and Local Dignitaries Kennett, MO (July 18, 2023)
Cim-Tek Filtration, a leading manufacturer of filtration products, celebrated the grand opening of its new site in Kennett, Missouri. Production at the new facility began recently and this expansion will allow the company to continue to innovate in filtration and develop new products available worldwide from production facilities in Bement, IL, Monticello, IL, and now Kennett, MO.
“Cim-Tek Filtration’s expansion in Kennett is an exciting development for the Southeast region and another example of continued business investment in our state,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Whether in an urban center or rural area, Missouri has the resource advantages companies need to find success. We’re proud to add this family-owned business to our growing list of leading manufacturers who are choosing our state for its skilled workforce, infrastructure, and low business costs. As Cim-Tek opens its new facility, we wish them much success in the Show-Me State.”
Attention Union Township Residents: Dunklin County is conducting an important survey to gather insights and better serve our community. Random addresses in Union Township have been selected to participate. If you receive this survey by mail, your input is crucial. Please take a few moments to complete it, return it, and let your voice be heard. Thank you for helping us make Dunklin County a better place for everyone!
100 Kennett Court Square
Kennett, MO 63857
1175 Floyd Street
Kennett, MO 63857
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