8th Annual State of the County Address Brings Together Community Leaders

The Park Hills - Leadington Chamber of Commerce, alongside the Bismarck, Bonne Terre, Desloge, and Farmington Chambers of Commerce, successfully hosted the 8th Annual State of St. Francois County Address on Friday, February 21, 2025, at the Mineral Area College Cardinal Center in the Industry & Technology Center. This year's event brought a record-breaking crowd, with more than 160 in attendance.

Event Highlights

The morning began with doors opening at 8:00 AM, followed by breakfast, catered by Sweet Creek Bakery, at 8:30 AM. Community leaders from across St. Francois County gathered to provide updates on their respective towns, highlighting accomplishments from the past year and sharing plans for 2025.

Dr. Joe Gilgour, President of Mineral Area College, spoke about the college's ongoing initiatives and the role of education in the region. Municipal leaders including Desloge Mayor Pete Pasternak addressed economic growth and city improvements, while Bismarck Mayor Seth Radford discussed infrastructure projects and community development efforts.

Additional presentations were made by Bonne Terre City Administrator Shawn Kay who shared updates on public works and future city projects, Farmington Mayor Larry Forsythe who provided insights into the city's business growth and community enhancements, Leadington Mayor Dustin McKinney who highlighted recent developments, and Park Hills Mayor Stacey Easter who spoke on local progress and upcoming initiatives.

St. Francois County Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher delivered the keynote address, addressing countywide efforts to enhance infrastructure, economic development, and quality of life.

Community Collaboration

This annual address represents a significant collaboration between all Chambers of Commerce in St. Francois County and was made possible through the generous sponsorship of Missouri State Senator Mike Henderson, State Representative Dale Wright, and State Representative Becky Laubinger.

The State of the County Address has become an important tradition in our community, providing a platform for collaboration and transparency, and giving residents and business people of St. Francois County a clearer picture of what to expect in the coming months.

The Cardinal Center, where the event was held, is part of the MAC Tech Complex, which gives Mineral Area College more than 100,000 square feet of facilities dedicated to preparing students for their transition into the workforce.

**Special thanks to MAC's Danielle Basler for the photos!