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Why Missouri

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Missouri's advantages for business

  • Missouri has low energy costs. In 2010 Missouri had the eighth lowest average commercial energy costs and the 10th lowest industrial energy costs in the U.S. (EIA).
  • Missouri has an excellent regulatory and tax climate for business. In 2010 Missouri's regulatory environment was ranked seventh best in the nation by Forbes. Missouri has the fifth lowest corporate income tax rate and the 16th best tax climate overall in the U.S. (Tax Foundation).
  • Missouri's workforce of more than 3 million exceeds the entire populations of 20 other states, including neighboring Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas and Nebraska.
  • Missouri is one of only eight states to receive the highest bond rating by all three rating agencies — Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poors and Moody’s Investor Service — in 2011.
  • Located near the geographic center of the country, Missouri has eight surrounding states (tied for the most) and is a one- or two-day drive from most U.S. markets.
  • Eleven Missouri companies were included in 2011's Fortune 500: Express Scripts, Emerson Electric, Monsanto, Reinsurance Group of America, Ameren, Charter Communications, Peabody Energy, Smurfit-Stone Container, O'Reilly Automotive, Graybar Electric and Centene.
  • Missouri is the headquarters for 12 of America's Largest Private Companies, according to Forbes: Enterprise, DeBruce Grain, Graybar Electric, Hallmark Cards, Bass Pro Shops, Apex Oil, Edward Jones, McCarthy Holdings, Schnuck Markets, AMC Entertainment, JE Dunn Construction Group and World Wide Technology.
  • Missouri's transportation advantages include:
  • The 119 hospitals across the state include the top-ranked Barnes Jewish Hospital.
  • Missouri has the fourth-most diversified economy in the U.S., with a GDP of more than $244 billion (BEA) and exports totaling more than $12.9 billion (WiserTRADE).
  • Missouri has 106 enhanced enterprise zones located throughout the state.
  • Missouri has 132 post-secondary degree-granting institutions.

From Missouri Partnership.

State workforce data

With more than 3 million highly educated workers, Missouri has a growing, diverse population. Missouri’s number of skilled employees exceeds the entire populations of 19 states, including Kansas, Arkansas and Nebraska. 

Learn more from Missouri Partnership.

Missouri snapshot

  • Gross state product (2007): $229.5 billion
  • Population (2010): 5,988,927
  • Population change (2000-2010): 7.0 percent   
  • Per capita income (2007): $33,984
  • Median household income (2009): $45,149
  • Private nonfarm establishments (2008): 152,440
  • Private nonfarm employment (2008): 2,472,902
  • Corporate tax rate: 6.25 percent
  • Personal income tax rate: 1.5-5.5 percent on income $9,000 and less; 6 percent on income exceeding $9,000

More state facts