The St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking $175,000 from Buchanan County.

On Wednesday, the chamber presented the commission with its annual contract for economic development services.

The contract authorizes the chamber to recruit and retain industry and commercial business. It also assists in evaluating applications for the county’s economic incentive program.

Chief Executive Officer Ted Allison said the chamber has been more closely monitoring businesses that receive the incentives in the form of forgivable loans.

“It’s not only giving the county and taxpayers more comfort, but it keeps the companies more attuned to what the expectations are,” he said.

Cyndra Lorey, vice president with the chamber, said she has visited many businesses and is pleased with what she’s discovered.

“We are blessed to have agriculture and animal science industries that are doing very well,” she said.

Mr. Allison noted that the chamber’s strategy includes a new focus to encourage residential growth and attract executives.

“We want to put our best foot forward and make them see the benefit of living here,” he said. “If they do that, the paycheck circulates here instead of in Kansas City.”

The commission also endorsed the chamber’s plan to focus on recruiting jobs that would pay more than the current prevailing wage.

“We’re trying to raise the bar and the median income,” Presiding Commissioner R.T. Turner said.

The last two years, the county paid the chamber $160,000 per year. Two factors account for the requested increase, Mr. Allison said. One is inflation. The other is a provision for county staff to attend chamber events without paying for individual tickets.

“We can’t promise certain projects are going to happen,” Mr. Allison said. “What we do promise is to take full advantage of this model to make the most of opportunities when they do happen.”

The commission will vote on the contract on Friday.

Business editor Susan Mires can be reached at susanm@npgco.com.