Ken Scheve has won the 2014 Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry Extension Business Award for exceptional guidance and instruction in starting or improving businesses in southeast Missouri.

Scheve is project manager for the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (Mid-America TAAC) in Blue Springs, a program of the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program (BDP).

“Winning this award is a great honor for Ken, TAAC and the entire BDP program,” said Steve Devlin, BDP director, in a release. “Ken’s experience, tenacity and ability to maneuver the maze of federal and international regulations to match client needs and abilities to the vagaries of an ever-shifting market are extraordinary. Ken works day in and day out with regional manufacturers, making them more competitive in the global economy, boosting jobs and prosperity here at home.”

The Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) matching-grant program supplies technical support to Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas manufacturers affected by foreign competition. The assistance of TAAF has led to millions of dollars in manufacturing and marketing improvements and greater sales.

In particular, Scheve’s award-winning efforts have helped 58 manufacturers in the region to endure, flourish and even grown, including Midwest Tool in Joplin, Mo.

“This being a government program, things change from one year to the next, and Ken was always on top of things, making sure we knew of any changes well ahead of time, not at the last minute …” said Rick Gunlock, general manager of Midwest Tool. “He was always very good about answering questions via email, but when we really needed to talk, he always took the time to do so.”

For more information about manufacturing, financing, management and other issues affecting small businesses, go to missouribusiness.net.