Clinton County, Missouri

Fall 2025 and 2026 Gathering Dates and Locations Released

Clinton

GUIDING COALITION GATHERINGS are typically held on the last Tuesday of most months over lunch from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or in the evening from 6:30-8:00 p.m. A meal is served at these meetings for a free will donation. Watch your email, the Clinton County Initiative Facebook page, and this website specific meeting venue announcements. The dates are:

December 30, 2025 | PLATTSBURG @ The Community Courtyard | EVENING from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

THEME: Social Connections & Sense of Belonging Importance; Membership Renewal
ACTION: Holiday gathering in the evening to say thanks & share 2026 plans

January 27, 2026 | LATHROP | LUNCH 11:30 a.m.0 1:00 p.m.

THEME: 2020/2025 Alumni & Resident Survey Results Comparison; Membership Renewal; VisitClintonCoMo.com progress

February 24, 2026 | GOWER | EVENING from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

THEME: Health and Great Northwest Day at the Capitol Follow-Up; Membership Renewal

March 31, 2026 | CAMERON | LUNCH 11:30 a.m.0 1:00 p.m.

THEME: "Make It Home: Live Local, Love Local" - How supporting and acting locally helps everyone.

April 28, 2026 | TRIMBLE | EVENING from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

THEME: Education for All Ages

May 26, 2026 | PLATTSBURG | LUNCH 11:30 a.m.0 1:00 p.m.

THEME: Natural Environment: Caring for and COnnecting with Our Parks & Conservation Areas

June 30, 2026 | LATHROP | EVENING from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

THEME: Housing and Real Estate

July | NO GATHERING | Happy Summer Vacation!!

THE NAVIGATION TEAM of officers and active project volunteers meets every second Wednesday morning from 8:00-9:30 a.m. at the Community Courtyard in Plattsburg.

The dates are:

November 12, 2025
December 10, 2025
January 14, 2026
February 11, 2026
March 11, 2026
April 8, 2026
May 13, 2026
June 10, 2026

Summer 2025 Focus was on Exploring a Farm-to-Market Network!

Clinton County is home to some of the Midwest's premier Farm-to-Table and Farm-to-Market producers. Several are featured in Kansas City restaurants and grocery stores and a few reach much farther than our urban neighbors! We also have a couple of well-organized farmers markets, community vendor fairs and events, and agri-tourism attractions. What we didn't know is whether there is a way for all of these successful small businesses and budding entrepreneurs to gather as a network and leverage the power of asking, "What can we do better together than we can do on our own?"

The topic of agriculture and entrepreneurship came up several times in meetings so we invited those who were interested to join us on Tuesday, May 27th at The Community Courtyard in the county seat of downtown Plattsburg, MO. We're offered a complimentary light dinner of homemade soups and fresh bread.

Our program was a conversation about the economic benefits for Clinton County and its small farmers if they had a network - formal or informal - of folks who share an interest in what we collectively produce. Why? We believe everyone can learn from each other, work together to promote each other, and perhaps even brand the county's farm-to-market community to attract more attention and business for everyone.

We learned more about the MU Extension program, Missouri EATS, from Jackie Spainhower, field specialist in community development. She shared how the program is already helping other northwest Missouri counties design local food systems that increase fresh food access while fostering local farming businesses large and small.

Ultimately, we learned that there is an active homesteader group with a Facebook group that communicates with each other. Further conversations and efforts will be made if and when the members of that group would like more connections and assistance.

In the meantime, CCI launched a new online visitor guide at https://www.visitclintoncomo.com, a platform that can help build awareness of our farm-to-market community and many other businesses, events, and county attractions and features! Watch this page for more information coming soon regarding how to make sure you are included on the website!

Progress Update on Establishing Library Services in Clinton County

OCTOBER 31, 2025 - The final version of the feasibility study report is now available on this web page in the Document Archive section. An executive summary, final recommendations for forming a subdistrict within the areas of the county that are most supportive of establishing library services, and updated budgets and drawings of what is possible as a smaller, mid-size, and larger scale.

MARCH 28, 2025 - We are delighted to share that the draft feasibility study report is now available on this web page in the Document Archive section or by clicking here! The extensive 227 page document explains the process and findings related to determining the possibility of establishing library services in Clinton County, MO to enhance economic development, lifelong education, and a stronger sense of belonging for all ages! The report is written to document the work conducted by the expansive feasibility study team and share the research and recommendations with the newly appointed Clinton County Library District Board of Trustees and voters. A final version of the report will be posted after the April 8, 2025 election to include the results of that key feasibility factor. Please check out the document archive to download and read the report.

NOTE ON ARCHITECTURAL RENDERINGS: They can be found on pages 59-62 of this report. There will also be large printed versions available for viewing at the Friends of the Clinton County Library's free cookout on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from Noon to 2:30 p.m. at The Community Courtyard in Plattsburg, MO.

FEBRUARY 2025 - The Clinton County Initiative is delighted to share that the County Commissioners formed a library district on October 10, 2024 and appointed a Clinton County Library District Board of Appointees, per Section 182.015 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. The Commissioners and the Board have agreed to propose in the April 8, 2025 election a tax levy to the voters of the district. The district includes all of Clinton County except Cameron where the city residents already support a city library for themselves.

A Friends of the Clinton County Library group has also formed as a separate group of volunteers to support countywide library services.

The Clinton County Initiative and the Friends group have put together a short flyer with key questions to help educate the public. Please visit the document archive on this page to download and share a copy with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Thanks for the Feedback! A Feasibility Study of Options for a Countywide Multi-Purpose Facility and Network of Library Services

FALL 2024 - The Clinton County Initiative is excited to announce that USDA-Rural Development is funding, in part with a matching grant, a feasibility study to determine if it would be possible and advisable to establish a multi-purpose facility/innovation center and network to house modern-day library services for children and adults, remote workspaces, educational programs for all ages, and other public services not currently offered in the county. The group is looking at the potential short- and long-term benefits to new and established businesses from agriculture to real estate and retail, early childhood education, workforce development opportunities, and overall lifelong quality of life, among other advantages. Residents and key stakeholders participated in an online survey (https://bit.ly/CCIFocusGroup) and several focus groups held in Gower, Holt, Plattsburg, Stewartsville, and Trimble. The goal was to hear from as many as possible of those who live, learn, work, and play here to determine what people would like and use the most if such a center of resources were established.

The Dream Big Countywide Listening Project Results_2022-2023

Thank you for participating in our survey and town hall-style community forum events held that were designed to listen to as many voices across the county as possible! The volunteers of The Clinton County Initiative hope you feel you had an opportunity to:

Learn what The Clinton County Initiative is all about, why it formed, and how it can help you.
Share your input on living, learning, working, and playing in the county.
Help sort priorities from the Dream Big Survey into take-action projects. Your voice matters!

We were in Cameron in February, Gower in March, Plattsburg in April, Trimble in May, and Lathrop in June!

Find the SUMMARY OF RESULTS HERE and the detailed report here!

The group has completed the first and is working through the second of five milestones of The Maximize [My Community] Journey Framework of getting to know our county's current story; envisioning a new story that respects what people most want to keep while working on maximizing our potential; and then taking action together to create the agreed-upon new story for our county.

Come join the CollaborACTION to ensure this is a place people can live their best rural life. It's what puts our place on the map!

If you haven't registered on our site yet, just click the "Register" button first. You will then be able to participate in the interactive features of this website and stay in the loop on what's happening in The Clinton County Initiative. We look forward to your input!

CLICK HERE to learn about Our Broadband Project OVERCOME_2021-2022

CLINTON COUNTY INITIATIVE MISSION

As The Clinton County Initiative, we come together to create a growing economy, an inclusive and diverse countywide community, and a vibrant learning environment as the building blocks of a great rural life.

WHO WE ARE

The Clinton County Initiative is a group that grows each month to include leaders from all communities and rural corners of our 420 square miles located just north of Kansas City, Missouri. People from every sector, interest group, and industry are welcome to get involved. We are entrepreneurs, educators, farmers, lawyers, property owners, artists, lawyers, bankers, elected officials, and more! We're coming together as many voices in a manner unlike any other time to work towards one vision...to maximize our collective potential. We understand that each individual community is unique and special, and together we offer people a wonderful county to live, learn, earn, and play that has access to everything from water sports to wildlife and starry nights to city lights.

Scroll down to ask questions, share ideas, and learn more. And don't forget to check out our photo gallery for a delightful peek at life in Clinton County, Missouri!

MANIFESTO

Our goal is to make Clinton County a great rural place to live with a vibrant future and a proud past.

We understand that a well-lived life includes economic opportunity and much more. It is the ability to enjoy natural surroundings, form close bonds with our neighbors, and raise our families in our chosen environment. A well-lived life requires reliable health care and convenient shopping. It is arts and culture. And it is small-town friendliness.

But we also understand that lifelong learning and sustainable jobs are essential to achieving larger goals. Therefore, the Clinton County Initiative envisions a county that will grow existing businesses and encourage new enterprises to relocate here.

In an era when we can welcome a virtual world into our homes through broadband internet, we envision a county of telecommuting as well as brick-and-mortar businesses. Such a county will offer local goods and services to its citizens while also accessing all there is to offer online.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS WEB PAGE?

This is a gathering place for online conversations and information sharing. It is also a portal of links to as many existing resources as possible to assets within Clinton County that are helpful to residents and visitors alike. If you have a link you would like to add, please let us know by sending an email to the contact person listed on this page as or together@maximizenwmo.org.

UPCOMING GUIDING COALITION MEETING DISCUSSION THEMES

JANUARY 2024 - Strengths and Needs of ARTS & CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS

FEBRUARY 2024 - Strengths and Needs of PARKS & RECREATION ORGANIZATIONS

LINKS TO OUR KEY GROUPS FOR MORE INFORMATION

Clinton County

Population: 20,387

County Seat: Plattsburg

Elected Officials: http://clintoncomo.org/government/county-officials/

County Website: http://clintoncomo.org/(External link)
(External link)

Communities with Clinton County Voters: Cameron(External link), Gower(External link), Lathrop(External link), Lawson, Plattsburg(External link), Trimble, Turney, Holt, Osborn, Stewartsville

Chambers of Commerce:

Cameron - Website: https://cameronmochamber.com/, Email: cameronmochamber@gmail.com
Gower - Website: https://www.gowermo.com/gower-area-chamber-of-commerce, Email: gowerareachamber@gmail.com
Lathrop - Website: http://www.lathropareachamberofcommerce.org/, Email: lathropcc@yahoo.com
Plattsburg - Website: https://plattsburgchamber.org/, Email: plattsburgmochamber@gmail.com

School Districts:

Cameron - Website: https://www.cameron.k12.mo.us/ - Home of the Dragons
Gower - Website: https://www.ebs.k12.mo.us/ - Home of the Bull Dogs
Lathrop - Website: https://www.lathropschools.com/ - Home of the Mules
Plattsburg - Website: https://ccr3.k12.mo.us/ - Home of the Tigers

Interested in Joining the Clinton Co Initiative Guiding Coalition?

CLICK HERE to complete the Volunteer Form