Bike trail part of Stoddard County's economic development plan

An article in The Daily Statesman (Dexter, MO) outlines some of the economic difficulties facing the county and plans for improving the business climate in the area.

The Stoddard County IDA does a number of tasks to try to build up the economic development in Stoddard County, Capps explained. Currently it is leasing a building in Dexter to hold educational courses for members of the community and is working on getting a bike trail to run through the county to increase tourism the area.

Bike trails through rural Missouri are, of course, not an economic cure-all. But trails like Missouri's Katy Trail have had a significant positive economic influence on the areas they pass through. Trails could play an important part in the economic development of many rural areas in Missouri.