Launch Stone County highlights progress in economic development

Growth does not happen by accident, and behind new opportunities taking shape across Stone County is a coordinated effort focused on the county’s economic future.

Launch Stone County, an initiative of the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, brings public and private partners together with a focus on economic growth throughout the county.

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LEFT: The Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce team gathered with investors and stakeholders for the Launch Stone County Investor Brunch at the Table Rock Career Center. RIGHT: A packed room of investors and stakeholders gathered at the Table Rock Career Center to hear about progress through Launch Stone County. (Photos courtesy of Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce)

Sheila Thomas, president and CEO of the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, said the initiative is a community-driven effort designed to strengthen economic growth.

“Launch Stone County, an initiative of Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce, is a community-driven effort to improve economic growth in the county,” Thomas said.

More than forty public and private investors committed funding to make Launch Stone County possible, according to Thomas. The program’s work is organized around four areas aimed at supporting economic growth across the county.

“The program has four pillars of work: Business Retention/Expansion and Attraction; Infrastructure and Housing/Workforce; Effective Tourism Marketing; and Community Development,” Thomas said.

Investors and stakeholders recently gathered for a Launch Stone County Investor Brunch at the Table Rock Career Center, where the Chamber reported on progress through the initiative.

Through the second quarter of 2026, the Chamber reported assisting seventy-five businesses across Stone County. The Q2 report highlighted a workforce project through Grow with Google, with eligibility for up to five hundred fully funded scholarships for qualifying Google Career Certificates. The scholarships are designed to give employers a no-cost way to upskill employees while helping individuals, including students age 16 and older, build skills for career growth or transition.

The report identified five ongoing development projects and two business projects. Tourism marketing data showed 880,500 Stone County visitor nights from visitors 150 or more miles away and 426,000 views on VisitTableRockLake.com.

The progress reflects the broader goals outlined in the Launch Stone County plan, which includes business development, infrastructure, housing and workforce development, visitor marketing and community development. 

The Table Rock Career Center hosted the gathering, with Jennifer Noriega and her culinary arts students preparing the brunch for those in attendance.

Those interested in learning more about Launch Stone County can follow Choose Stone County on social media or sign up for the Chamber’s economic development newsletter at tablerocklakechamber.com.