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“America’s Hometown” Offers Businesses the Benefits of a Large City with a Rural Lifestyle

  • November 19, 2019


When most people think about Hannibal, Missouri, their minds conjure images of a young Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn exploring the banks of the mighty Mississippi in one of Mark Twain’s novels. But did you know the city is a hub of business and culture in Northeast Missouri?

Located about 100 miles north of St. Louis and nicknamed “America’s Hometown,” the city is home to many major companies in the food solutions and advanced manufacturing industries. In fact, General Mills has one of its largest facilities in Hannibal. And advanced manufacturers such as Spartan Light Metal and BASF take full advantage of the large labor force in the region.

“The Hannibal Area is a world-class business location—home to global companies like General Mills and BASF; and the heart of northeast Missouri,” said Corey Mehaffy, Executive Director of Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council (HREDC). “Our dynamic companies, well-educated and highly-skilled workforce, award winning school systems and cultural amenities make “America’s Hometown” a desirable place to live.”

The Hannibal region offers employers access to more than 80,000 workers armed with high-tech and in-demand skills for today’s business needs. Area colleges, such as Hannibal-LaGrange University, are churning out fresh talent in many of the area’s key industries. But it’s not just the area’s universities that are top notch, Hannibal area school districts are rated “accredited with distinction in performance” by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Additionally, several regional educational facilities offer customized training programs to ensure a steady source of qualified workers for years to come.

“The HREDC Region offers employers access to over 80,000 workers armed with the high-tech skills for today’s business demands,” said Mehaffy. “Hannibal is a key labor magnet in Northeast Missouri with sixty-two percent of the employed workers in Hannibal coming from outside the boundaries of the community.”

The area also offers new and expanding businesses access to infrastructure typically found in larger cities. Hannibal offers significant transportation infrastructure by road, rail, river and air. Two major highways, 4-lane U.S. Highway 61 and Interstate 72 intersect in Hannibal, and the region is within a one-day drive of most major U.S. markets. The Hannibal Regional Airport accommodates executive jet travel and is within 30 minutes of the Quincy Regional Airport offering commercial air service. BNSF and Norfolk Southern offer rail service to serve the local business community and provide access to the intermodal services in St. Louis and Kansas City. Additionally, the Mississippi River forms Hannibal’s eastern border and offers barge shipping opportunities as well as almost unlimited process water capabilities.

“Located at the crossroads of the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and the Avenue of the Saints linking Minneapolis/St. Paul to St. Louis combined with rail, river and air assets, the Hannibal region is well positioned to service domestic and global markets,” said Mehaffy.

Hannibal understands that the ability to attract and retain quality employees is critical to any employer. Offering an unparalleled quality of life, Hannibal does not disappoint. Whether your passion is history, the arts, or the great outdoors, residents are able to keep busy with hundreds of options. The Hannibal area is home to more 30 parks and unique outdoor activities and is rich with local art culture. Not to mention all of the Tom Sawyer memorabilia, festivals, and sites even the most ardent Mark Twain fans could ask for.

All in all, Hannibal and its surrounding region offers businesses access to the level of talent and infrastructure normally relegated to major cities, while never losing the hometown charm that made the river city famous. We invite you to come and check out the city for yourself and learn more about why “America’s Hometown” might be the best place to grow your business.

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