In the past, economic development programs relied almost exclusively on business recruitment strategies. Practitioners have learned over the last decade to also consider existing business growth and startup businesses as potential targets. The economic landscape is changing rapidly for developers: technology is creating a growing share of the new jobs in the US economy; new government programs like Homeland Security offer new opportunities, while producer and consumer services are creating over 94 percent of the new jobs in America; and a growing number of affluent retirees offers an unparalleled opportunity for nontraditional economic development in Southwest Missouri.
In mid 2005, the Southwest Missouri cities of Joplin, Neosho, Carl Junction, & Webb City contracted with the Taimerica Management Company to conduct a Targeted Industries Study of our area. The report gives leaders in Newton and Jasper Counties a comparison of how these opportunities compare, in terms of market size and growth rates, to new industry targets. The report concludes with profiles of the businesses that are best matched to the location assets of the Joplin and Neosho areas.
The general industry categories identified as the best match to the location assets of Southwest Missouri are:- Distribution Centers/Warehousing
- Manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on food processing and industries that need skilled metalworking trades
- Administrative offices
- R&D and technology functions