< Previous66 M I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG .K A N S A S C I T Y P R O F I L Eansas City is not just the largest city in Missouri; it’s one of the most vital economic hubs in the center of the country.“Kansas City is a place where talent wants to move and start a career and a life,” says Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council. “With our accessibility, affordability and mobility, all of the elements are here and available to help all types of companies grow. Our central location is certainly an advantage for Kansas City area companies. From here, their people can move freely across North America. We are no more than a three-hour flight from every major North American market.”With an MSA population of 2.2 million (29th largest in the U.S.), the Kansas City Area ranks as the largest employment center in Missouri and includes a sizable labor shed in Kansas.“From a regional standpoint, 2017 was truly a phenomenal year for the Kansas City Area,” says Cowden. “It was a strong year for manufacturing, logistics and e-commerce.”Kby R O N S TA R N E RKANSAS CITY: WHERE TALENT WANTS TO GOPhoto courtesy of Missouri PartnershipLarge capital investments last year came from Nucor Steel, which announced a $250-million steel mill project in Sedalia; Dollar Tree, which announced a 1.2-million-sq.-ft. logistics center in Warrensburg; and Hy-Vee Aisles, a supermarket chain that announced a new e-commerce operation in Kansas City that will create 150 jobs and cost $30 million.In addition, information technology firm Auto Alert relocated its corporate headquarters from Southern California to downtown Kansas City. The move will create 500 jobs over three years.“These companies are choosing to move and grow here because Kansas City is an easy place to live and an easy place to do business,” says Cowden. “There is a real sense of pride in the KC Area. KC is a region on the rise.”That rise is reflected in a series of notable rankings. Glassdoor in September 2017 named Kansas City the No. 3 Best City for Jobs; Forbes in June 2017 named Kansas City the No. 2 City for High-Wage Jobs; and Money in June 2017 named Kansas City the No. 5 City for Tech Jobs.Entrepreneur also named KC the No. 4 Best City for Startups in the U.S. last May, while Yahoo Finance named KC the No. 5 Top City for College Grads last May.“When we bring corporate executives and site selectors to KC, they are often pleasantly surprised by the level of activity and how beautiful a community this is,” says Cowden. “They all leave knowing how cohesive a team we have. They see a spirit of cooperation that does not often exits in other areas of the country, and they know that we will do whatever we can to help their business grow and thrive right here in the Kansas City Area.” DID YOU KNOW? KANSAS CITY’S DOWNTOWN RANKS AS THE SIXTH-FASTEST-GROWING DOWNTOWN IN THE U.S., AS ITS POPULATION IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY MORE THAN 40 PERCENT BY 2022.6th68 M I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG .J E F E R S O N C I T Y P R O F I L Eand McNally reports that Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri, holds the title of America’s Most Beautiful Small Town.One visit will explain why. Located in the heart of Missouri, the “Jeff” is known for its majestic bluffs and its scenic wine country. The town, founded in 1835 and named for Thomas Jefferson, is located on the western edge of one of the major wine-producing regions of the Midwest, an area called the Missouri Rhineland. A mild climate, with average winter highs of 45 and average summer highs of 87, makes the region quite fertile for grapes and other crops.While many may think of Jefferson City as a typical state government capital, it is much more than that. With 45,000 residents and a highly educated workforce, the city is home to a bevy of successful companies. Among the larger employers are Scholastic Inc. (1,500 workers), Central Bancompany (967), ABB Power T&D Company (775) and Unilever (510). Other major employers include Quaker Window Products (660), WIPRO Infocrossing (315) and CenturyLink (275).The largest employer in the community is the State of Missouri, which employs 14,223 people in the state capital.Top industries in the capital region include government, manufacturing, health care, financial services, hospitality and education. The diversity in the business community translates into a healthy mixture of technical, industrial and professional labor skills.Businesses will also find that the dollar stretches much further in Jefferson City than it does in other places around the country. The city’s cost of living is just 96.8, well below the national average. Lower taxes and lower housing costs add up to put more money in worker’s pockets, and more money for employers too.Factors like these are a big reason why SmartAsset named Jefferson City the fifth Best Small City to Start a Business in 2017 and the 13th Best City for Career Opportunities in 2016.Moreover, excellent schools at every level define Jefferson City. Lincoln University, a public, historically black, land-grant university founded in 1866, has a stellar reputation, as do the public schools serving K-12 students in the community. Rby R O N S TA R N E RJEFFERSON CITY: AMERICA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL SMALL TOWNPhoto courtesy of Missouri PartnershipM I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG . 69P O PL AR B L U F F PR O F I L Eestled in the foothills of the Ozarks in Southeast Missouri, half way between St. Louis and Memphis, Tennessee, lies the town of Poplar Bluff. The small town in Butler County is home to about 17,000 people. But don’t be fooled by its size, it packs an economic punch. The region’s central location makes it a regional hub for education, health care, and light industry with a workforce of more than 77,000 people within a 45-minute drive. More than 20 percent of the region’s workforce is employed in the manufacturing industry. One of the city’s largest employers is small engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton Corporation. The company opened in 1989 and produced its 80 millionth engine in February 2017. Legacy Fasteners, a nail manufacturing plant, also chose to locate its new facility in Poplar Bluff in 2017 The region is a logistics hub offering interstate access via US 60, 63, 67 and 160 and two Class 1 railroads. The city is less than hour away from the Southeast Missouri Port on the Mississippi river providing direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. In April 2017, Pepsi opened a new distribution center and created 75 new jobs. “I’m just very appreciative to the community, and the support that they’ve given Poplar Bluff and the surrounding community Missouri area,” said Keith Dickens, the president of Pepsi Mid-America. “We also built a similar facility in Cape Girardeau, so we just really believe in Missouri, and the success we’ve had is attributable to the support of our team.”Steve Halter, director of economic development for Poplar Bluff Industries, the region’s nonprofit economic development organization, says the community’s chief selling points include its central location and infrastructure, as well as it’s status as an ACT Work Ready Certified Community — a designation earned by Butler County in 2014 making it one of the first certified communities in the state.Halter notes the community also has a 10-acre Missouri Department of Economic Development Certified Site. The greenfield site is located near two four-lane highways, 67 and 60, and is the only certified site in Southeast Missouri. Nby S AVAN NAH K I N GPOPLAR BLUFF: THRIVING CENTRAL LOCATIONPhoto courtesy of Missouri Partnership70 M I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG .J O PL I N PR O F I L Ehen an EF5 tornado ripped through Joplin and killed 161 people on May 22, 2011, some wondered whether the city of 52,195 people in Southwest Missouri would ever fully recover.Seven years later, that question has been answered with a resounding “Yes.” After $800 million in reconstruction efforts that included 7,500 new homes and a $40-million performing and cultural arts center, Joplin is more than back. It is better than ever.“Our best-kept secret is just us in general,” says Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Joplin Regional Partnership, which serves an area of 350,000 people. “Nobody is out there beating the drum for Joplin. People are surprised when they come to this region and find out how dynamic and diversified it is. We have a very good business focus in manufacturing, technology, logistics and healthcare.”That focus recently manifested itself in some sizable expansion projects. Frozen-foods producer Ajinomoto Windsor invested $54 million into a 150,000-sq.-ft. facility that will employ 240 workers. Heartland Pet Foods, which makes Blue Buffalo products, is adding 112,000 sq. ft. and 50 jobs; and Missouri’s first new medical school in 50 years just opened.The Joplin campus of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences opened on June 6, 2017. Some 162 students enrolled in the first class and began coursework last July. After four years, the school is projected to have an enrollment of 600 students and generate an annual economic impact of more than $100 million in the region.Chief selling points of the Joplin area, he adds, are its central location in the state and country, transportation connectivity facilitated by Interstates 44 and 49, strong rail network served by two Class I railroads, lower property taxes and utility rates, and overall low operating costs. In addition, about 55 percent of the available labor pool has some college education, and 88 percent have earned a high school diploma.“We encourage business growth and new business attraction,” O’Brian says. “People support each other and cooperate as a region. And the quality of life is very good.” Wby R O N S TA R N E RJOPLIN: A PORTRAIT IN RESILIENCEPhoto courtesy of Joplin Convention & Visitor BureauM I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG . 71S ED A L IA / W A R R EN S B U R G P R O F I L Eby S AVAN NAH K I N GSEDALIA AND WARRENSBURG OFFER CENTRAL PERKS Photo courtesy of Sedalia Convention & Visitor Bureauissouri’s prime location doesn’t get more convenient for businesses looking to grow in the Midwest. As a leading region for agtech, advanced manufacturing, defense and distribution, Sedalia/Warrensburg offers industries a prime location and talented workforce that can’t be beat. Some of the region’s largest companies include Ditzfield Transfer, Schreiber Foods and 3M. The region is also home to the Air Force Global Strike Command’s 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base. Pilots from the base also teach at the University of Central Missouri (UCM).UCM has two campuses located in Warrensburg and Lee’s Summit. The university’s Missouri Innovation Campus has been recognized as a model of higher education. Other schools in the region include State Fair Community College in Sedalia, and Missouri Valley College in Marshall. Located east of Kansas City along the I-70, I-50 and Highway 65 corridors, the logistical advantages are numerous. As such, Dollar Tree selected the region for its new 1.2 million-sq.-ft. distribution facility. The Warrensburg expansion will create 375 new jobs within the next few years and represents more than $110 million in capital investment. In 2017, Nucor, the largest producer of steel in the nation, invested $250 million to construct a steel bar micro-mill in Sedalia. The investment will create more than 250 high-paying jobs. “This rebar micro-mill project is consistent with out long-term strategy for profitable growth and builds on our position as the low-cost producer,” said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO and President of Nucor. “Strategically positioning this micro-mill in Sedalia will give us a sustained cost advantage over other domestic steel producers supplying rebar from outside the region.” Nammo AS, an international aerospace and defense company headquartered in Norway, launched its logistics center, Capstone Precision Group LLC, just outside of Sedalia in 2017. The company will create up to 21 jobs over the next five years and invested nearly $1 million in its new 30,000-sq.-ft. facility. “Nammo is excited about the creation of the Capstone Precision Group logistic center in Missouri,” said Raimo Helasmäki, Nammo’s EVP of Commercial Ammunition. “This move to Missouri is a well thought through strategy where all the benefits for all counterparts are optimized. The local authorities have been very easy to work with to help develop this project. We look forward to years of growth through this facility” M72 M I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG .S T . J O S E P H P R O F I L Eby S AVAN NAH K I N GST. JOSEPH: CORNER OF INDUSTRYPhoto: Getty Imagesrom the C-130 “Top Gun” pilot training school, to the KC Animal Health Corridor — the St. Joseph region in the Northwest corner of the state doesn’t do mediocre. Indeed the 18-county region is a powerhouse in the agtech, advanced manufacturing, distribution and financial and professional services industries. Recently, St. Joseph was ranked one of the Best Places to Work in Manufacturing, according to SmartAsset.com. Most notably perhaps, is the region’s status as a world leader in animal health sciences located along the KC Animal Health Corridor. Seventy five percent of the global animal health industry is located along the corridor. We spoke with Brad Lau, Vice President of Economic Development for the St. Joseph Economic Development Partnership about the region’s strengths and its benefits for growing industries. What were your three biggest project wins of 2017?Brad Lau: The St. Joseph Economic Development Partnership was pleased to assist local industry with nine expansions that anticipate the creation of over 258 new jobs and exceed $173 million in new capital investment. The three largest projects were Altec Industries, Johnson Controls and Purina Mills. All three projects increased production capacity, increased efficiencies and improved quality.What are your community’s chief selling points?Lau: St. Joseph bodes an environment where business can succeed and grow, as evidenced by the impressive list of national and international industries and businesses that continue to grow and invest in their St. Joseph locations. The community is centrally located for distribution, offers an outstanding U.S. Highway and Interstate network, is located just 35 minutes from an International Airport, has shovel-ready sites with good and reliable utility capacities and reasonable rates. St. Joseph has a high-quality of life, and an aggressive Workforce Development Alliance implementing strategies to promote a pipeline of qualified and skilled individuals to meet industries’ needs. FM I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG . 73S T . L O U I S P R O F I L Eby S AVAN NAH K I N GST. LOUIS: CENTER OF BUSINESSPhoto courtesy of Missouri Partnershipt. Louis is a powerhouse of business activity in the state. Home to Fortune 500 corporate headquarters and 2.2 million people — the region is a leader in agtech, financial services, health innovation, manufacturing, distribution and defense. Sheila Sweeney, CEO of the St. Louis Economic Development Council, says the city has seen several major economic development wins over the last year. The most prominent coming from health giants Pfizer and Centene and the world’s largest food and beverage company Nestlé. Pfizer invested $200 million in its Chesterfield, Missouri, R&D facility, where it plans to unify it’s regional operations under one roof. Centene, No. 66 on the Fortune 100 and No. 27 on the Fortune 100 list of fastest growing companies, recently expanded its existing Clayton Campus. The expansion includes 1,000 new jobs and $770 million in capital investment. And Nestlé Global N.A. established its North American IT center in St. Louis with a $112-million capital investment and created 300 new jobs.Sweeney notes talent was a major factor in National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) decision to invest $1.7 billion to locate its western headquarters in St. Louis has been a boon for the region. The headquarters, just north of downtown, will add 600 employees to its ranks of 3,100 when the facility is completed in 2024. The council has partnered with universities and area schools to help ensure NGA’s talent needs will be met both now and into the future. St. Louis colleges and universities graduate 44,000 students every year.“The American Institute for Economic Research named St. Louis as one of the top 15 cities for young college graduates,” said Jim Alexander, Sr. Vice President of the St. Louis Regional Chamber. “The best factor was rent, St. Louis ranked No. 1. This really is a college town with a college student population of 200,000 and ranks among the top 10 metros annually for degrees awarded.”The region is ideal for distribution companies that are looking to reach a global market. The multimodal logistics industry cluster in St. Louis is made up of nearly 6,500 companies. With four interstate highways, six Class-I railroads, five airports and three major rivers — the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois — companies can move goods to market quickly. S74 M I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG .T A N E Y C O U N T Y P R O F I L Eby S AVAN NAH K I N GTANEY COUNTY: MUSIC TO BUSINESS EARSPhoto courtesy of Missouri Partnershipocated on Missouri’s southern border with Arkansas, Taney County is home to world-famous tourist destination, Branson, Missouri. And while tourism is the region’s bread and butter, its business acumen should not be underestimated. Millions of tourists visit the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World” each year to take advantage of the region’s three beautiful lakes, more than 40 music theaters, and its 13 world-class golf courses. According to the City of Branson, visitors to the city add $1.7 billion to the local economy each year. Branson was recently ranked No. 21 on New York Times’ global 52 Places to Go in 2018. “Being listed along with other great destinations around the world really highlights the wide variety of live entertainment, outdoor adventure and family fun that visitors can enjoy in Branson,” said Lynn Berry, the Director of Communications for the Branson CVB.The Times noted Branson’s Silver Dollar City 1880s-style theme park and its newest roller coaster, the Time Traveler — which is set to be the world’s tallest, steepest and fastest complete-circuit spinning coaster — as must-visit attractions. The $26-million roller coaster boasts the most inversions ever on a spinning coaster and is the first and only in the world to include three different inversions; a dive loop, a zero-G roll and a vertical loop.“We are looking forward to sharing our lakes, golf courses, shopping and attractions with the world this year. Our welcome mat is out and ready!” said Branson Mayor Karen Best.But there’s more to the region than Branson’s world-class attractions. The Taney County Partnership, a public/private partnership that supports the region’s economic development, focuses on the surrounding cities of Branson, Hollister, Forsyth, Rockaway Beach, Kirbyville, Merriam Woods, Bull Creek and Taneyville. With a labor shed of more than 250,000 highly skilled workers, award-winning health care, top ranked universities and seven accredited school districts, the region boasts both and exceptional quality of life and opportunities for business growth. LM I S S OU RI : M A K I NG . G R O W I NG . MO V I NG . 75S P R IN G F IE L D P R O F IL Eby S AVAN NAH K I N GSPRINGFIELD: ROOM TO GROWPhoto courtesy of Missouri Partnershiphe third largest city in the Show-Me State, Springfield is a tried-and-true location for companies looking to locate in the Show Me State. Springfield’s central location, stable tax climate, affordable cost of doing business, robust talent pipeline and community leadership make the city a top choice. Springfield also boasts housing costs that are 25 percent lower than the national average, an average commute of 20 minutes and an 8.5 percent growth in workforce over the last four years. In 2017, the city saw substantial investments and job creation from a variety of industries. One Call Care Management, a Jacksonville-based worker’s compensation care management service, chose Springfield for its latest expansion. The company created 100 new full-time jobs and is operating out of a 65,000-sq.-ft. building formerly occupied by UnitedHealthcare. The company noted the region’s central location and established health care industry made Springfield an attractive location, as did finding a move-in ready facility and a talented workforce. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce noted that one of the region’s top priorities is to enhance the area’s available real estate to be able to respond to companies’ needs as they grow. “Having speculative space available to accelerate a company’s speed to market is important to us,” says Rachel Snow, marketing coordinator of economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “Thus, we’re focused and committed to partnering with area developers to bring speculative buildings ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 square feet, with the ability for expansion to our market.” Snow notes that the people from outside the region are often surprised to learn about a particularly unique business park in Springfield built out of a former limestone quarry and mine. Springfield Underground is a subterranean business complex located more than 100 feet below ground. The complex is composed of roughly 5 million square feet of manufacturing, warehouse distribution and data center space. Some of Springfield Underground’s partners include Kraft Heinz, Springfield Grocers, Hiland Dairy, Hammons Products and Jarden Plastics. In addition to having rail access, more than 300 trucks enter the complex daily. TNext >