In addition to being located in the beautiful Ozark Region and its’ numerous recreational activities, Southwest Missouri is in the geographic heart of North America, providing a truly central distribution point with convenient transportation access to the United States, Mexico, and Canada.  Southwest Missouri is approximately 200 miles southwest of the center of population of the U.S. and near the exact geographic center of North America.

Interstate 44 is part of an Interstate corridor running from coast to coast. Four-lane U.S. 71 (designated I-49 corridor) is part of an Interstate and Federal highway corridor running from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans or, on the Southwest leg, to Monterrey, Mexico. A network of state and federal highways, along with I-44 and U.S. 71, provide easy and convenient truck access to markets in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma as well as the entire Midwest and North America as a whole. Over 50 trucking companies are located in Southwest Missouri. The region is also amply served by two Class I rail carriers, the Kansas City Southern and Burlington-Northern, which interconnects with the RailAmerica short-line. Commercial air service is provided to the Joplin Regional Airport by Great Lakes Airlines with daily flights to Kansas City. The Springfield Regional Airport, Northwest Arkansas Airport, and Tulsa International are within a 60-90 minute drive.

Southwest Missouri boasts a highly qualified and able workforce. The Southwest Missouri Labor Basin has an Available Labor Pool of over 110,000 people.  Numerous education facilities provide opportunities for quality, customized training. Wages are very favorable, particularly given the historically strong Midwest work ethic of area residents. Wage rates are typically twelve (12) to fifteen (15) percent lower that the national average. While Southwest Missouri has a few unions, these are generally with companies that have been in the community since the 1930’s and 1940’s. More recently, unionization activity has been minimal and not well received by employees. Since 1990, there have been only 13 union votes in the metro area. Of those, unions have won 2.

Southwest Missouri has land sites and buildings readily available to fit your needs. Utility and transportation costs are low. Local property taxes, both real and personal, are among the lowest in the U.S. and corporate taxes are modest. Numerous and various local and state tax incentives are available as well, including Quality Jobs, Enhanced Enterprise Zones, Industrial Revenue Bonds, Training, Tax Abatements, Tax Credit Programs, Site Costs, Low-Interest Loans, Recruitment, and Infrastructure Grants. These are typical incentives. Additional incentives may be available. All incentives are based on project specifics, including the projected employment, average wage rates and benefits, capital investment, and quality of the company.

According to the ACCRA 2007 Annual Average Data Report, Southwest Missouri (Joplin MSA) has the lowest cost of living of any MSA in the entire United States in 2007 at 81.0.

All of the communities represented by the Southwest Missouri Development Alliance have pro-business and pro-economic development environments that are reflected in their city governments.

Southwest Missouri is telecommunications ready, with more than half a dozen major fiber optic backbones, providing access to high-speed (up to OC-192) digital lines, redundant capabilities, and Sonet availability. All major interstate carriers have points of presence in Joplin. More than $25 million has been spent in the last 3 years on switch and equipment upgrades.

The Empire District Electric Company has its own generating capacity, which includes a brand new $200 Million power plant that went on-line in 2001.  Rates are among the lowest 15% of investor-owned utilities nationally. Reliable, abundant, and moderately priced natural gas, water, and sewer is readily available. 

As you can see, Southwest Missouri, with its central location in U.S. and North American markets, excellent transportation access, large labor market and strong workforce, low operating costs, and technology, has everything any manufacturer/distributor needs to be successful and continue their growth.

In the retail sector, Southwest Missouri has a Market Area Population of over 500,000 and had over $3 Billion in retail sales last year, $2 billion in Joplin alone. Southwest Missouri is one of the fastest growing regions in Missouri with people coming in from Northeast Oklahoma and Southeast Kansas to do their shopping here. Taxes that are among the lowest in the U.S., electricity is inexpensive, and wages are competitive, which make for extremely low overhead costs for any retailer. A trained and able workforce is available now.