Sedalia Chamber and Visitors Bureau

 - The Chamber began planning for two highways that would intersect in Sedalia - the Great Lakes to the Gulf Highway (now Highway 65) and the Capital Highway (now Highway 50).

- The Chamber raised money to make sure the bridge was built over the Missouri River, which encouraged attendance at the Missouri State Fair.

- The Chamber cooperated with the Missouri Farm Bureau to study roads into Sedalia and to work with the State Highway Department to have these roads paved.

- The Chamber campaigned vigorously for the development of a Sedalia Airport, helping to secure the site and later encouraged improvements to the airport.

- The Chamber cooperated with the AAA in petitioning that the Highway Patrol be increased to 600 officers.

- The Chamber visited the State Highway Department and urged that 16th Street be oiled.

- The Chamber urged the city to provide more off-street parking and improve city streets.

- The Chamber supported the rerouting and improving of Highways 50 and 65.

- The Chamber encouraged the local dairy industry ... by establishing a cooperative plan for the breeding of prime Holstein cattle.  Purebred cows were bought and leased to dairymen who cared for them and marketed their milk; purebred bulls where purchased every two years.  After the five year lease expired, calves where sold and the profits divided between the chamber and the dairymen.

- The Chamber maintained an information bureau ... to provide local farmers with information about up-to-date farming techniques.  Later the chamber supported the local agriculture by its work with the Farm Bureau, 4-H, the Missouri State Fair and with a yearly dairy day observance.

- The Chamber advocated a city manger form of government.

- The Chamber was involved with federal efforts to revitalize the economy following the Depression.

- The Chamber paid rent on a plot of land at 16th & Engineer for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp.

- The Chamber sponsored the Community Chest drive to help support the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the Salvation Army and later to help the Melita and Minniolia Day nurseries and Teen Town.

- The Chamber encouraged passage of a sales tax to build a new fire station.

- The Chamber encouraged passage of a middle school bond issue.

- The Chamber encouraged public housing units.

- The Chamber denounced crime.

- The Chamber disputed census figures.

- The Chamber sponsored a tree planting program in conjunction with the two new schools and the park system.

- The Chamber initiated a program providing training in civic leadership.

- The Chamber produced a 30 minute qualify of life video.

- The Chamber sponsored Legislative Impact Trips to Jefferson City to increase local awareness of issues impacting our community and to increase state awareness of what our community has to offer.

- The Chamber worked to secure industry.

- Contracted with Crocker Wallace to establish a stockyard near the MoPac tracks and North Park.       

- Interstate Studios

- Pepsi-Cola Bottling

- Urged MKT to reopen shops after the Depression

- Unsuccessful bid to persuade the Army to locate a 1,000 bed general hospital.

- Established an Industrial Development Fund.

- Began the Post-War Civic Development Fund for the expansion and development of new    industries.
            *    Home Building Corporation
            *    Pittsburgh Corning
            *    Zephyr
            *    Town & Country Shoes
            *    Roseland Meats
            *    Brown and May Furniture Company

- Protested the discontinuance of the MKT passenger service.

- The Chamber sponsored Industrial Appreciation Week.

- The Chamber backed a plan to hire a full time industrial development director.

- The Chamber, sponsored the forerunner of what is now the Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival.

- Fourth of July Celebration

- The Chamber pursued renovation of the Sedalia Katy Depot.

- The Chamber receives designation as the future managing tenant of the Katy Depot.

- The Chamber completes the Railroad Heritage Museum Conceptual Design Plan.

- The Chamber sponsors a Small Museum Design Plan Charette.

- The Chamber completes the Sedalia Heritage Museum Master Plan.

- The Chamber published a pictorial history of Pettis County.

- The Chamber relocated their offices into the Depot historic site.

- The Chamber opened the heritage museum.

- The Chamber directed activities toward the war effort
        *    assisted with war bond drives
        *    promoted Women at War Week to sell war bonds and stamps
        *    helped distribute surplus Victory Garden produce to those in need
        *    maintained a registration list of men available for work on area farms
        *    worked with the Sedalia Army Air Field, helping to locate apartments for officers and 
             their families and holding dances for enlisted men at Convention Hall
        *    was instrumental in establishing the USO

- Collected furniture and supplies for a service center, where military men could gather and   relax
        *    sponsored meetings with the Veterans Administration and the US Employment    
             Administration to explain the ramifications of the G I Bill

- The Chamber directed much activity at getting the federal government to reactivate the Sedalia Army Air Field and to locate the newly proposed Air Force Academy near the base.  The reactivation of the air field, which cost the federal government nearly $23 million, was      accomplished ‘almost solely by the efforts of the chamber”.

- The Chamber supported location of the Stealth Bomber and worked to guarantee Sedalia would benefit.

- The Chamber encouraged interaction between Sedalians and Whiteman residents through various socials.

 - The Chamber sponsored a Newcomer’s Club for women, many of them officers’ wives.

- The Chamber responds to a shorting of housing
        *    maintained a list of rental housing referrals

- Directed a petition to the Local Rent Administration begging that wartime rent controls be   lifted because they were hurting the building industry.

 - The Chamber sponsors the Hometown Welcome greeting service.