Missouri Department of Economic Development

Missouri has many assets for companies like yours looking to expand or locate in the Show-Me State. From a business climate that encourages growth to a highly skilled workforce and exceptional transportation and infrastructure system, Missouri offers a variety of unique business advantages. Read on to learn more about why you should do business in Missouri. If you are considering a relocation to our state, contact the Missouri Partnership. If you are a Missouri business looking for ways to expand contact the Department of Economic Development.

Missouri’s business environment is proven to help businesses grow and succeed in the Show-Me State:

• 1st in corporate facilities and expansions in the West North Central region
• Top 15 fastest growing state for tech jobs fouryears in a row
• 2013 Gold Shovel award-top state for attracting investment projects
• Three 2014 Corporate Investment and Community Impact Awards

Missouri has a nationally recognized, low-cost and pro-business environment:

• Best State Economic Development Agency
• Best state for Banking
• 3rd Most Diverse Economy
• 4th Lowest Diesel Taxes
• 5th Lowest State Gas Taxes
• 13th Lowest Commercial Energy Costs
• 8th Lowest Property Tax Index
• 3rd Best Corporate Income Tax Index
• 9th Most Pro-Business State
• 8th Lowest Business Tax Burden
• 12th Lowest Unemployment Insurance Tax Index
• 11th Lowest Cost of Doing Business
• 17th Best Overall Tax Climate
• AAA bond rating for more than 50 years

Missouri has a robust transportation and infrastructure system:

• 7th largest highway system – 33,884 miles
• Top 10 state for inland waterway mileage – 1,000 miles
• Top 10 state for U.S. railroad mileage – 4,019 miles
• 130 public airports, including two international airports
• 13th best overall infrastructure
• Within 600 miles from 51% of U.S. households
• Within 600 miles from 52% of U.S. manufacturers

Missouri has a large, highly-skilled workforce:

• 2.78 million Missouri workers, more than the entire population of 19 other states
• 46 Certified Work Ready Communities, including the nation’s first Certified Work Ready Community
• 41,951 workers from 406 companies trained through Missouri Works Training during FY2014

Growing business at home and abroad

• Missouri ranks one of the top performing states in national export program
• Missouri’s three Foreign Trade Zones in Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City help connect Missouri businesses to international markets.

Missouri Internet Connectivity

Home to some of the fastest internet speeds in the world, Missouri makes it easier to tap into global markets and serve clients around the world. In fact, Missouri’s most concentrated industry is Internet Search Providers, Search Portals, and Data Processing, providing the high tech infrastructure that allows companies to grow and succeed in a competitive economy.

Accolades

• Missouri has the 2nd fastest average internet download speed in the U.S., with an average speed of 36.7 Mbps
• Missouri has the 14th fastest average internet upload speed in the U.S., with an average speed of 10.5 Mbps
• Of major metropolitan areas, Kansas City has the fastest download speed in the U.S. (7th fastest city in the world), with average download speed of 66.7 Mbps
• Of major metropolitan areas, Kansas City has the fastest upload speed in the U.S. (5th fastest city in the world), with average download speed of 66.7 Mbps
• Eight Missouri cities rank in the top 100 with fastest average internet download speeds: Grandview (10) at 111.48 Mbps, Tipton (25) at 66.94 Mbps, Kansas City (26) at 66.71 Mbps, Belton (35) at 61.93 Mbps, Pacific (65) at 54.73 Mbps, Marshall (68) at 54.51 Mbps, Pevely (75) at 54.03 Mbps, O’Fallon (96)at 52.62 Mpbs.
• Five Missouri cities rank in the top 100 with fastest average internet upload speeds: Grandview (4) at 108.47 Mbps, Marshall (10) at 65.15 Mbps, Tipton (11) at 64.37 Mbps, Kansas City (14) at 56.95 Mbps, and Belton (21) at 49.09 Mbps.

Major internet service providers