The Sustainable Ozarks Partnership (SOP) will hold a public meeting at the Texas County Justice Center in Houston from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Everyone is invited.
The purpose will be to have an open dialog about Sustainable Ozarks, Fort Leonard Wood and jobs. Representing SOP will be Steve Tupper, chairman of the SOP, and Joe Driskill, executive director of SOP and Leonard Wood Institute.
Also participating will be Don Shelhammer, former presiding commissioner, Texas County and SOP Executive Committee member. The county commissioners, who suggested this meeting, will participate as well. A similar meeting was April 11 in Roby
SOP helped support the recent response to the Army by citizens in the communities neighboring Fort Leonard Wood (FLW). The U.S. Army is proposing a reduction of 3,900 military and civilian personnel at FLW. More than 2,300 letters and emails were sent to the Army. In addition, the governor, senators and representatives, and many of the state legislators and department heads sent supportive letters to the Army. Local community leaders at the county, city and civic levels added their comments to those of businesses and universities.
The U.S. Army has responded to those letters and emails. Their response and a summary of their response is available on the SOP website, www.SustainableOzarks.org. The U.S. Army has also scheduled a community listening session to be held at Fort Leonard Wood at the Abrams Theater on at 5:30 p.m. April 30. The Army has invited everyone to that meeting.
Sustainable Ozarks Partnership (SOP) is a non-profit organization that focuses on the four counties neighboring Fort Leonard Wood. It identifies and helps implement major programs and projects that sustain and improve the quality of life and business climate in the four counties and enable continued growth of Fort Leonard Wood.
SOP has established seven focus areas to sustain and improve the quality of life and business climate. They are Economic Development and Employment, Education and Workforce, Environment and Natural Resources, Health and Wellness, Quality of Life, Transportation, and Utility Infrastructure. More information on SOP can be found on the SOP website.