Meramec Regional Planning Commission

What Meramec Regional Planning Commission does

Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC), founded in 1969 and headquartered in St. James, Missouri, is a voluntary council of local governments serving an eight-county, 36-municipality region in southeast-central Missouri covering more than 5,154 square miles and approximately 201,254 residents. The organization operates with a small professional staff (11-50 employees) and functions as a multi-module regional services platform delivering comprehensive planning, transportation planning, environmental management (Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, source water protection), homeland security coordination (Region I HSOC), public housing administration (Phelps County PHA, administering over $3.4M in HUD Housing Choice Vouchers annually), business financing (Revolving Loan Fund with a $100,000 per-loan cap, previously SBA 504 loans via MRDC), roadway safety programs, and grant writing/administration services.

Underlying technology is modest and primarily commercial-off-the-shelf: ARCView GIS mapping software, three traffic counters for vehicle classification, state-certified lead inspection equipment, and ordinance codification tools. There is no proprietary software product; MRPC's value derives from institutional knowledge, regulatory designations, and the integration of these tools across multiple service lines rather than from a unified technology platform. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) completed in September 2024 covers the 2024-2028 planning horizon.

MRPC's revenue model is a hybrid of government grant funding (EDA, USDA, HUD, SEMA, MoDOT, HRSA, DRA), fee-based professional services (lead inspections, flood plain administration, ordinance codification, mapping), and recurring associate membership dues from banks, developers, hospitals, and engineers on an annual cycle. The go-to-market motion is sales-led and relationship-driven, with services delivered through the St. James headquarters, on-site visits to member communities, and virtual meetings. Most federal funds managed by MRPC are pass-through dollars rather than retained revenue, with the commission retaining administrative overhead and program-specific allocations.

Name

Meramec Regional Planning Commission

Legal name

Meramec Regional Planning Commission

Website

https://meramecregion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Meramec Regional Planning Commission is a voluntary council of local governments serving eight counties and 36 cities in southeast-central Missouri, delivering regional planning, grant administration, business lending, environmental, transportation, housing, and homeland security services to member municipalities and small businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Planning Services

NAICS

Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (925120), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD), Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

Keywords

• Regional planning services
• Government grant administration
• Community economic development
• Business loan programs
• Public housing assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: MRPC receives funding from federal and state sources including Economic Development Administration grants, USDA grants, Department of Housing and Urban Development programs, and Missouri state grants for regional planning commissions
2. Business Loan Programs: Revolving Loan Fund providing up to 40% of funding or maximum $100,000 to small businesses; SBA 504 loans; USDA Rural Development loan guarantees; one job must be created or retained for each $20,000 of RLF requested
3. Fee-based Services: Services include lead inspections (fee-based), grant writing services (contract/billed at hourly rates beyond allocated hours), flood plain administration, ordinance codification, mapping and GIS services, and 501(c)(3) preparation
4. Membership Dues: Associate Membership Program for banks, developers, hospitals, real estate agents, engineers and business people interested in economic development; memberships run March 1 through February 28 and renew annually

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Meramec Regional Planning Commission is a voluntary council of local governments that delivers regional planning, grant writing and administration, transportation and roadway safety planning, environmental and solid waste management, public housing assistance, homeland security coordination, and small-business loan programs to member governments, businesses, and residents across eight Missouri counties and 36 cities. It also acts as the fiscal and administrative agent for multiple enterprise zones, the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, and the Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee.

Product overview

Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) is a voluntary council of local governments providing a comprehensive suite of planning, economic development, and community services across eight Missouri counties. The organization operates as a multi-module service platform offering business financing programs (Revolving Loan Funds), data and research services, environmental management (including Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District), transportation planning, roadway safety programs, homeland security coordination, public housing administration, and community foundation grant-making through its MRCF affiliate. These programs function as interconnected services supporting regional development rather than a single unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Loans / Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) Revolving Loan Fund providing up to 40% of project funding or a maximum of $100,000 to small businesses in the eight-county region to create or retain employment, structured to pair with a 50% private lender share and a 10% applicant share; one job must be created or retained per $20,000 of RLF requested.
• Data Services Provision of census data, employment statistics, and demographic information for the Meramec Region to support planning and economic development decisions by member governments and partner organizations.
• Community & Economic Development Programs Includes lead inspection services, grant writing services, and project administration for local governments and nonprofits across the eight-county region.
• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Strategic planning framework for regional economic development in the Meramec Region, with the current CEDS covering 2024-2028 and updated in September 2024.
• Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District Environmental program managing solid waste, recycling, hazardous waste collection, and waste reduction initiatives across the eight-county region; MRPC provides administrative services for the district.
• Planning Services Comprehensive planning including transportation planning, ordinance codification, strategic planning, surveys, GIS mapping, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit preparation for member governments and nonprofits.
• Roadway Safety Programs Buckle Buddy car seat safety education, Docudrama crash simulations, Bicycle & Pedestrian Training, and community outreach for roadway safety awareness in partnership with the Central District Coalition for Roadway Safety.
• Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee Regional homeland security coordination administering State Homeland Security plans, programs, and grant funding for Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Phelps, and Pulaski counties, with MRPC serving as administrative agent and fiscal agent.
• Source Water Protection Groundwater protection planning for communities in the Meramec Region, including source water protection plans and best management practices.
• Phelps County Public Housing Agency HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program providing over $3.4 million in housing assistance to approximately 700 low-income households annually in the Meramec Region, administered by MRPC on behalf of HUD.
• Meramec Regional Community Foundation (MRCF) Affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, focused on enhancing quality of life through asset development and grant-making opportunities in the Meramec Region.
• City Codes / Codification Services Organizes, computerizes, indexes, and cross-references city ordinances into accessible three-ring binders with ongoing update services for municipalities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Loans create/retain jobs: 1 job per $20,000 RLF requested
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Missouri Department of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for economic development programs; MRPC coordinates CDBG grants, enterprise zones, and other DED programs for the region
• Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC through Meramec Regional Development Corporation administered SBA 504 loans for small business financing until voluntary decertification in June 2025
• Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner providing business planning and technical assistance to businesses in the Meramec Region
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA Rural Development programs including Business and Industry Loan Guarantees; MRPC participates in USDA Intermediary Relending Program for business loans
• Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for transportation planning; MRPC staff supports the Transportation Advisory Committee and works with MoDOT to identify needs and evaluate projects
• Missouri Association of Councils of Government (MACOG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide association of regional planning commissions; MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge elected vice president; MRPC staff serve on MACOG transportation subcommittee and participate in professional development training
• Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC serves as administrator for Region I Homeland Security Oversight Committee; coordinates hazardous materials training and equipment grants through SEMA; submits bi-annual reports to Office of Homeland Security
• Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC provides administrative services to the solid waste management district; assists with implementing solid waste management plans; staff available for technical assistance in solid waste management, recycling, and waste reduction
• Community Foundation of the OzarkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks; mission to enhance quality of life through asset development, grant-making, and public leadership
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhelps County Public Housing Agency administered by MRPC provides housing assistance through HUD Housing Choice Voucher Program; provided over $3.4 million to 700 low-income households
• Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner for economic development and technology initiatives; MRPC participates in S&T Tech Hub committee; Energy Research and Development Center and Center for Entrepreneurial Outreach provide technology resources
• Missouri Coalition for Roadway SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC works with Central District Coalition for Roadway Safety on Buckle Buddy, Docudrama, Bicycle/Pedestrian Training, and Outreach programs; receives grants for roadway safety initiatives
• National Association of Development Companies (NADCO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC maintains membership in national association for development organizations
• Region I Homeland Security Oversight CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC serves as administrative agent and fiscal agent for Region I HSOC covering Crawford, Dent, Laclede, Maries, Phelps, and Pulaski counties; coordinates grant funding and homeland security initiatives
• Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone (GVEZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRPC serves as administrator for GVEZ that coordinates Enhanced Enterprise Zones in Maries, Gasconade, and Osage counties
• Central Ozark Private Industry Council (COPIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees job-training programs sponsored by the Workforce Investment Act; located at Forum Plaza in Rolla

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• East-West Gateway Council of Governments: St. Louis-area council of governments performing the same range of regional planning, transportation, and grant-administration services as MRPC but covering a much larger metropolitan footprint.
• Mid-America Regional Council (MARC): Kansas City-area council of governments analogous in function to MRPC, administering federal transportation, homeland security, and community development programs for member governments.
• Southwest Missouri Council of Governments: Missouri regional planning commission serving a multi-county area with similar economic development, transportation planning, and grant-administration mandates.
• Boonslick Regional Planning Commission: Neighboring Missouri RPC providing identical council-of-governments services—planning, grant writing, revolving loan funds, and solid waste district administration—to a multi-county service area.
• Green Hills Regional Planning Commission: Missouri RPC covering north-central counties with the same model of direct service to local governments, EDA-funded revolving loan programs, and transportation planning.
• Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission: Missouri-based RPC offering comparable comprehensive planning, business loans, and community development services to county and municipal members.
• Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments: Northeast Missouri council of governments running similar programs—transportation planning, revolving loan funds, environmental services, and housing assistance—for member local governments.
• Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission: Southeast Missouri RPC geographically adjacent to MRPC and offering parallel services around community development, transportation, and grant administration.

Emerging players

• Ozark Transportation Organization (OTO): Southwest Missouri metropolitan planning organization with overlapping transportation planning scope and MoDOT coordination responsibilities similar to MRPC's TAC work.

Others

• National Association of Regional Councils (NARC): National membership association for regional councils and planning commissions like MRPC, providing training, advocacy, and federal funding intelligence comparable to MRPC's MACOG involvement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/meramecregion

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meramec Regional Planning Commission