Built to Scale: How Missouri’s Workforce, Innovation Hubs, and Infrastructure Power Serious Growth

• August 28, 2025

With robust infrastructure, affordable and skilled talent, and rising innovation hubs across the state, Missouri offers the environment businesses need to move fast, expand confidently, and thrive for the long haul. Whether you’re a newly established business ready to accelerate or a global company eyeing new markets, Missouri is built to scale.

A Logistics and Distribution Powerhouse

Missouri’s central location isn’t just convenient, it’s strategic for scaling operations. With access to half of the U.S. population within a day’s drive, businesses benefit from faster shipping, lower transportation costs, and the ability to serve both coasts with ease.

Key logistics assets include:

• An extensive interstate highway network
  
• Major rail hubs (served by all Class I railroads)
  
• The second and third-largest rail centers in the U.S. (St. Louis and Kansas City)
  
• Inland ports on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers
  
• International airports in St. Louis and Kansas City
  
• Top-performing Foreign Trade Zones, including Kansas City’s, which ranks among the nation’s busiest
  

Success stories: 

Chick-fil-A Supply Selects Missouri For New Distribution Center

URBN Opens $60 Million Fulfillment Center In Missouri For Rental Brand Nuuly

Chick-fil-A Supply, a subsidiary of Chick-fil-A, Inc., selected Maryland Heights, Missouri for a new market distribution center to serve more than 40 Chick-fil-A® restaurants in the region.

Nuuly, the sustainable clothing rental service powered by URBN, chose Kansas City, Missouri, for its new distribution facility, drawn by the state’s logistics advantages and commitment to supporting innovative, waste-reducing retail models.

A Skilled, Reliable, and Affordable Workforce

Scaling requires talent, and Missouri delivers. The state’s labor force is known for being hardworking, loyal, and increasingly tech-savvy. What sets Missouri apart is the balance of skill and affordability, offering companies an edge in workforce costs without sacrificing quality.

• Custom training programs like Missouri One Start help companies ramp up hiring and tailor talent development to their needs.
  
• Over 50 colleges and universities produce job-ready graduates.
  

Success story: 

Carlisle Construction Materials Opens New Production and Manufacturing Facility in Southern Missouri

Carlisle Construction Materials selected Sikeston, Missouri to expand its manufacturing operations, creating over 100 new jobs. The company cited access to a qualified workforce and strong state-level support as key drivers.

Emerging Innovation Hubs Across the State

Scaling isn’t just about physical space, it’s also about ecosystem support. Missouri’s innovation hubs are rapidly gaining national attention for their startup accelerators, university partnerships, and collaborative business environments.

• St. Louis is home to innovation districts like Cortex and 39 North, along with biotech incubators and research institutions.
  
• Kansas City boasts a thriving tech scene, supported by hubs like the Keystone Innovation District and organizations like Digital Sandbox KC.
  
• Springfield and Columbia are growing centers of entrepreneurship, supported by entities like efactory (Missouri State University) and the Missouri Innovation Center.

Startup highlight: 

EquipmentShare Expands in Missouri, Creates Over 150 new jobs in Moberly

EquipmentShare, founded in Columbia, Missouri, scaled from a local tech startup to a national construction equipment solutions provider, raising over $1 billion in funding. Missouri’s combination of affordability, talent, and supportive business climate helped it grow fast and stay rooted in support.

A Business Climate That Encourages Growth

Beyond logistics and talent, Missouri offers a pro-business, low-cost environment that makes scaling smoother and more sustainable.

• Low corporate income tax
  
• Affordable commercial real estate
  
• Accessible local and state economic development support
  

From site selection and permitting to training incentives and R&D support, Missouri has a long track record of helping growing companies succeed.

Success story: 

Accenture Federal Services Celebrates Missouri Expansion

Accenture Federal Services opened a new Advanced Technology Center in St. Louis, creating hundreds of high-paying tech jobs. The company’s expansion was supported by customized talent strategies and state partnerships.

Whether you’re expanding your footprint, doubling your headcount, or preparing to serve a national or global market, Missouri provides the foundation to scale with speed, confidence, and control. 

Contact our team today to learn more about expanding into Missouri.