Missouri Celebrates 200 Years

Happy birthday Missouri!

From the banks of the mighty Mississippi to the rolling hills of the Ozark mountains, Missourians across the state are gathering together today to celebrate our state’s history, and are looking toward our future.

From its earliest days, Missouri has drawn on those who looked beyond the bounds. From the expeditions of Lewis and Clark to the modern space program, Missouri has always been home to innovative thinkers and doers.

That innovative spirit persists throughout many of Missouri’s top industries including advanced manufacturing, agtech, energy solutions, financial and professional services, food processing and more. Companies such as fintech innovator Square, aerospace and defense leader Boeing, and automotive manufacturers Ford and GM call Missouri home. Missouri hosts the headquarters for global healthcare technology company Cerner Corporation and Bayer Crop Science’s Global Seeds and Traits.

Missouri’s spirit has been integral in attracting new businesses to the state. And it has paid off. In 2019, Missouri was the top choice for FDI into the U.S., and is home to 600+ international companies.

Missouri is home to some of the most innovative and highly skilled talent in the country. Missouri’s talent pool is 3 million deep. The state is known for its strong Midwestern work ethic, competitive labor market and diverse industry base. And, with training programs like Missouri One Start, and Apprenticeship Missouri (one of the most successful apprenticeship programs in the country), Missouri works hard to keep more talent upskilled so that more companies can move forward.

Missouri’s talent pipeline is fed by a strong network of educational institutions across the state – ranging from public four-year universities (including University of Missouri and Missouri State University) to dozens of independent colleges and specialized/technical colleges, and more than 150 proprietary and private career schools.

And Missouri’s skilled talent extends beyond its professional workforce as well. The state is home to numerous championship-winning sports teams including the 2-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, 2-time World Series champion Kansas City Royals, 11-time World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, and the 2019 Stanley Cup champions, the St. Louis Blues. In fact, with so many title-winning teams, Missouri has become known as the State of Champions.

Missourians are proud of our state. And we want the rest of the world to know it.

Happy 200th birthday Missouri! Here’s to 200 more!!!

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