A former Republican Senator from Missouri is leading a new non-profit organization that will offer business loans to businesses who want to build or expand in Joplin.
John Danforth called the Joplin Tomorrow Foundation a complement to programs offered by the Small Business Association, which go to businesses that already existed in Joplin before the May 22 EF-5 tornado. The Danforth family's foundation contributed $500,000 to the event, and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce chipped in $25,000.
The SBA programs, which help restore businesses to the status quo, is a wonderful program, Danforth said.
" But can we go beyond that? And can the private sector be part of creating our own future as a community?” he said.
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce says the storm obliterated 450 businesses, and left 4,500 people without jobs. The storm also killed 154 people.
