Local Economic Development Contacts
Contact Us Phone: +1.314.725.0949
Toll Free: +1.877.725.0949
Fax: +1.314.725.0743
120 South Central Avenue, Suite 1150 Saint Louis, MO 63105
12200 NW Ambassador Drive, Suite 234 Kansas City, MO 64163
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Missouri's Ozark Region
The seven county Ozark region is well-rounded. In addition to a dynamic economy, it’s home to still-pristine Ozark forests and streams, the internationally acclaimed mecca of live entertainment, Branson, and the Springfield Cardinals. Top industries in this area include Transportation/Logistics, Warehousing/Distribution and Manufacturing. The popular Bass Pro Shops and O’Reilly Auto Parts chains started in the Ozark Region.
Recent Investment Projects
December 2011- Dealer Uplink LLC, a Springfield company that develops changeable QR barcodes that help car dealers sell vehicles announced that it is planning to add 30 jobs over the next three years in Springfield.
November 2011- John Deere Reman, a remanufacturer of John Deere parts, announced it will invest $14 million to build a 275,000 square-foot storage facility in Springfield, adding 55 new jobs.
October 2011- Paul Mueller Co. announced that it would add up to 289 jobs to its Springfield operations to meet a backlog of demand for its products. In addition to the jobs announcement, Mueller said it will also make a capital investment of $600,000 in new equipment for the Springfield plant.
September 2011- Undercover Inc., a southwest Missouri company that makes truck bed covers and accessories, announced a $5.3 million expansion in Rogersville, adding 70,000 square feet and 30 employees.
Mid-Am Metal Forming, Inc’s announced it will expand, creating 20 jobs and $560,000 in private investment, in Rogersville.
July 2011- HealthMEDX, an Ozark-based health care software provider, announced plans to fill 65 jobs over the next five years, creating a capital investment of about $1 million.
June 2011- Architectural Components Group Inc., a wood wall and ceiling manufacturer, announced plans to expand and create 70 new jobs over the next five years.
American Products LLC, a sheet metal company that makes custom enclosures, announced plans to create 59 jobs in Strafford, with the promise of 36 more jobs being added over the next five years.
PROFormance Powertrain Products, a company that refurbishes the engines of used cars, announced plans to add 131 jobs to their Springfield plant over the next three to four years.
May 2011- Gold Mountain Communications, an inbound/outbound call center and service agency, announced plans to add 140 new jobs to the company’s existing 180 employees. The company is also adding $540,000 in new capital investment and leasing additional space adjacent to their current location in Springfield.
November 2010- T-Mobile announced it would add 300 jobs to its call center in Springfield.
Workforce
| Area |
Population 2010 |
Population Projection 2030 |
Civilian Labor Force |
Employment |
Unemployment |
Unemployment Rate |
| Christian County |
79,065 |
131,066 |
41,378 |
38,381 |
2,997 |
7.20% |
| Dallas County |
16,649 |
22,172 |
7,322 |
6,649 |
673 |
9.20% |
| Greene County |
269,500 |
329,825 |
142,243 |
131,622 |
10,621 |
8% |
| Polk County |
30,551 |
40,139 |
14,540 |
13,132 |
1,408 |
9.70% |
| Stone County |
31,290 |
40,346 |
16,667 |
15,318 |
1,349 |
8.10% |
| Taney County |
48,900 |
68,041 |
29,418 |
26,908 |
2,510 |
8.50% |
| Webster County |
36,977 |
53,282 |
17,081 |
15,620 |
1,461 |
8.60% |
| Ozark Region Summary |
512,932 |
684,871 |
268,649 |
247,630 |
21,019 |
7.80% |
Median Wages:
The regional average wage was $605 per week in the 1st Quarter of 2011.
Transportation Access
Major roads in the region include I-44, US-60, US-65, and US-160. I-44 provides access to St. Louis, Springfield, and Oklahoma City.
US-60 links Virginia to Arizona, with major junctions at Richmond, Lexington, Louisville, and Phoenix. US-65 runs from Minnesota to Louisiana. US-160 begins in Missouri and terminates in Arizona.
Two regional airports serve the region, in Branson and Springfield.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe provides Class I rail service.
Major Cities
Springfield (Pop: 159,498)
Nixa (19,022)
Branson (10,520)
Bolivar (10,325)
Education
Higher Education Institutions:
College of the Ozarks: (Point Lookout) 4-year, private
Drury University: (Springfield) 4-year, private
Evangel University: (Springfield) 4-year, private
Missouri State University: (Springfield) 4-year, public
Ozarks Technical Community College: (Springfield) 2-year, public
Southwest Baptist University: (Boliver) 4-year, private
Educational Attainment:
| |
High School Diploma |
Associate's Degree |
Bachelor's Degree |
Graduate Degree |
Total |
| Christian County, MO |
17,710 |
4,154 |
9,101 |
3,570 |
34,535 |
| Dallas County, MO |
5,121 |
516 |
912 |
463 |
7,012 |
| Greene County, MO |
54,041 |
10,999 |
32,908 |
17,289 |
115,237 |
| Polk County, MO |
7,997 |
960 |
2,287 |
1,173 |
12,417 |
| Stone County, MO |
9,793 |
1,157 |
2,797 |
1,412 |
15,159 |
| Taney County, MO |
13,215 |
2,265 |
4,075 |
2,030 |
21,585 |
| Webster County, MO |
9,946 |
1,332 |
2,118 |
1,119 |
14,515 |
| Ozark Region |
117,823 |
21,383 |
54,198 |
27,056 |
220,460 |
| Source: ESRI. Population 25+, 2010. |
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Quality of Life
The Ozark region is very well-rounded, with a healthy economy, a low cost of living, numerous state-of-the-art health care facilities, and one of a kind entertainment and recreational options.
Hospitals in the region include Cox Medical Center (Springfield), Citizens Memorial Hospital (Bolivar), and Skaggs Regional Medical Center (Branson).
Recreation is king in Branson, with three beautiful lakes, breathtaking scenery framed by the Ozark Mountains, and world-class entertainment options. With 50 live performance theaters, Branson is known as the "Live Music Show Capital of the World." Other attractions in the area include Silver Dollar City amuseument park and White Water water park.
Springfield is home to the world’s only ride thru cave, Fantastic Caverns, the Springfield Cardinals Double A baseball team, as well as the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, the site of an important civil war battle.
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