Do You Know Missouri’s Joplin Region?

• November 07, 2016

When you ask most people to think of Joplin, Missouri, many think of the devastating tornado that ravaged the region just over five years ago, and the images of the businesses and lives destroyed that were shown on national news outlets. But how does this region look today?

Would you believe me if a told you it was one of the fastest growing regions in Missouri, with many large businesses and corporations setting up shop there?

Missouri’s Joplin region sits in the state’s southwest corner and is known for its skilled labor force, easy transportation access, competitive operating costs and a local government that is pro-business. Industry strengths in the region include logistics and distribution, advanced manufacturing, food solutions, professional services, alternative energy, and information technology.

Distribution centers, administrative office operations, commercial machinery repair and custom computer programming are all prime business sectors that are seeing tremendous growth; while national companies such as La-Z-Boy, Butterball, and Jack Henry & Associates all have footprints in the Joplin region, which was recently named among the top 15 cities to watch in the United States.

Other companies that recently chose to expand in Missouri’s Joplin region include EaglePicher Technologies, LLC, a leading producer of batteries and energy devices, which broke ground on the company’s new 100,000 square-foot facility at its headquarters in Joplin. EaglePicher also recently opened a new 100,000 sq. ft. Lithium Ion Center of Excellence in the region. When combined the two expansions brought more than 200 jobs to the region.

Owens Corning, a global manufacturer of insulation, roofing and fiberglass composites also chose the Joplin region as a prime target for expansion when they moved into a 303,000 square-foot facility, investing nearly $90 million and bringing more than 100 jobs to the area. Most recently HS Baking, an advanced manufacturer of baked goods, selected Joplin, Missouri as the site for its new flagship bakery, bringing in more than 60 jobs in the food production industry.

In addition to the Joplin region’s prime business environment it also boasts an outstanding talent-building pipeline for business in the region to take advantage of. Each of the seven counties in the region are ACT Certified Work Ready Communities (CWRC) with Jasper County having the distinction of being the first CWRC in the nation.

Additionally, the Joplin Region is served by a variety of higher education institutions that are focused on everything from vocational training to postgraduate options, along with numerous community colleges providing programs in areas that are in high demand by employers.

Check out more of what Missouri’s Joplin region has to offer and get in touch to learn why Missouri is the best place for you to do business.