About Missouri CORE Partnership

Missouri CORE (Connecting Our Regional Economy) Partnership is a nonprofit economic development agency representing 12 counties in mid-Missouri. Missouri CORE includes the counties of Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage and Randolph.

About Mike Downing, Executive Director

Mike Downing has 26 years of experience with the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED). He most recently served as co-director for the DED Division of Business and Community Services. Downing was also the co-chair of the Missouri Interdepartmental Coordination Council on Job Creation and Economic Growth, and the 2005 chair of the Governor’s Business Incentives Review Committee for Missouri. He is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Arkansas State University and earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.