Mo. Rev. Stat. § 349.025
Whenever any number of natural persons, not less than three, each of whom shall be a duly qualified elector of and taxpayer in the county or municipality, shall file with the governing body thereof an application in writing seeking permission to apply for the incorporation of an industrial development corporation of such county or municipality to develop commercial, industrial, agricultural or manufacturing facilities, the governing body shall proceed to consider such application. If the governing body shall by appropriate order or resolution duly adopted find and determine that it is wise, expedient, necessary or advisable that the corporation be formed and shall authorize the persons making such application to proceed to form such corporation and shall approve the form of articles of incorporation proposed to be used in organizing the corporation, then the persons making such application shall execute, acknowledge and file articles of incorporation for the corporation as hereinafter provided. No corporation may be formed unless such application shall have first been filed with the governing body of the county or municipality and the governing body shall have adopted an order or resolution as provided in this section.
§ 349.025, RSMo