The Columbia / Jefferson City Region
The Columbia/Jefferson City Region sits in central Missouri. Anchored by the University of Missouri in Columbia and the State Capital in Jefferson City, this is a region of growth, innovation and cooperation.
- Livability’s Best Places To Live in the U.S., 2025
A uniquely skilled and educated population combined with a strong Midwestern work ethic is the formula for a highly productive workforce. Key employment sectors – health innovation, information technology, financial and professional services, advanced manufacturing, agtech, and more – are broadly represented throughout the region.
The University of Missouri’s flagship campus (MU) in Columbia and its science and technology campus (Missouri S&T) in Rolla provide a steady stream of talent for businesses in all sectors, including agtech, energy, and IT.
Major Cities
- Columbia (Pop: 129,330)
- Jefferson City (42,552)
- Rolla (20,423)
- Fort Leonard Wood (15,959)
- Lebanon (15,429)
- Fulton (12,473)
- Mexico (11,507)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023
Key Employers
- 3M (Columbia)
- Cargill (California)
- Central Bancompany (Jefferson City)
- Dollar General Distribution Center (Fulton)
- Durham Company (Lebanon)
- Copeland (Lebanon)
- Emery Sapp & Sons (Columbia)
- EquipmentShare (Columbia)
- Hitachi ABB (Jefferson City)
- Hubbell Power Systems (Centralia)
- Imperial (Bourbon)
- Independent Stave (Lebanon)
- The Kraft Heinz Company (Columbia)
- Quaker Window Products (Freeburg)
- Scholastic, Inc. (Jefferson City)
- Shelter Insurance (Columbia)
- State of Missouri (Jefferson City)
- True Manufacturing (Mexico)
- Veterans United Home Loans (Columbia)
- Unilever (Jefferson City)
- Walmart Distribution Center (St. James)
- White River Marine Group (Lebanon)
![WorkforceData[2]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/WorkforceData2.png)
Sites and Buildings
![Buildings[2]](/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Buildings2.png)
Related News
Powering Animal Health Innovation: Missouri’s Global Impact
Missouri’s animal health industry is a global leader in veterinary pharmaceuticals, diagnosti ... Read More
Missouri’s Researchers Are Turning Off-Season Crops Into Next-Gen Biofuels
Missouri researchers are pioneering next-generation biofuels using plants that don’t compete ... Read More
Glasgow, Missouri: Small Town, Big Opportunity for Manufacturers
With over $2 million in new manufacturing investments in recent months, Glasgow, Missouri is sh ... Read More