Governor Jay Nixon’s nominee to head up the state’s economic development efforts has submitted his resignation, after a state senate committee refused to bring his nomination to an up-or-down vote. Jason Hall submitted his resignation Wednesday night.

Hall will continue to work closely with Gov. Nixon to create jobs and expand Missouri’s economy as a senior member of the Governor’s administration.

Governor Nixon has named a longtime state lawyer as Interim Director of Economic Development.

In a news release, Nixon said Hall was “exactly the type of strong leader Missourians need at our Department of Economic Development.”

“This inaction by the Senate will not dissuade me from continuing to work relentlessly with business and community leaders to create jobs and keep our economy moving forward,” Nixon said.

The administration says Hall’s nomination had extensive support throughout the state’s business community, including from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis Civic Progress, and Kansas City Civic Council, the Missouri Biotechnology Association, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and the Kansas City Area Development Council.

Gov. Nixon named Chris Pieper, currently deputy counsel to the Governor, as acting director of the Department of Economic Development while the Governor conducts a search for a permanent director.

Prior to joining the Governor’s office, Pieper was general counsel for the Department of Economic Development from June 2010 to January 2012. He previously served as deputy general counsel for the Department of Natural Resources and as legislative liaison for the Department of Revenue.

Pieper earned bachelor’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law.