EEZ eases way for new jobs, investment in Chariton County

The Missouri Department of Economic Development has announced approval

of state tax credits for a Triplett business under the Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) program to

assist in the creation of new jobs and investment in Chariton County. Hampton Alternative

Energy Products, LLC an affiliate of Hampton Feed Lot, Inc has been approved for $119, 204 in

EEZ tax credits over a five-year period.

According to Corey Mehaffy, President of Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation,

the Hampton project is very exciting for Chariton County. Mehaffy said, “This is exactly the

type of project the Commissioners and MAEDC envisioned for the County when we established

our partnership in 2009.” Mehaffy added, “One of our first tasks in our efforts in Chariton

County was to establish a County-wide Enhanced Enterprise Zone in an effort to both attract new

business investment to the County as well as encourage existing businesses to expand their

operations. The Hampton project is the first to receive benefit under the EEZ program in

Chariton County and I am excited about the activity we are experiencing in the County.”

Chariton County Presiding Commissioner Tony McCollum added, “The Hampton project is an

example of the importance of having an active economic development effort for the County as

well as having key economic development tools like the EEZ in the toolbox. This is yet another

example of growth that can occur when the public and private sectors work together to create

new investment.”

Hampton Feed Lot is an animal feeding operation located in Triplett. Jimmy Daniels,

Secretary/Treasurer of the Hampton Corporation said that manure will be collected from 2,400

head of cattle and made into methane gas which will be captured and run through a generator set

to produce electricity. The electricity will be used to power the Hampton operation with excess

electricity being sold to Kansas City Power and Light. The process will also produce a byproduct

similar to peat moss which will be marketed. The project involves a $4.5 million dollar

investment and is expected to create six new FTE jobs over the next four years. Daniels added,

“The project will help the environment and we just think it’s the right thing to do.”