Why companies are looking to America’s Heartland

for their back office needs.

Missouri. The Nation’s Business Support Center.

Now more than ever, when it comes to locating its core business processes,

The Missouri Partnership is a public-private, non-profit corporation with two principal missions: to promote the state’s business advantages nationally and internationally and to assist new employers exploring relocation options. Whether your company is looking to expand to support continued growth or relocating for a competitive edge, the Partnership’s team of seasoned economic development professionals is standing by to help.

www.opportunity.missouripartnership.com

Serving 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers throughout Eastern Missouri, AmerenUE is proud to support the Missouri Partnership in promoting economic development on behalf of Missouri communities.

Corporate America is reassessing the priorities it values most. Cost-savings from low-wage, offshore labor markets are now balanced carefully against quality of customer experi-ence, as well as physical proximity and the need to protect sensitive data from natural and manmade risk. A dedicated workforce remains integral, especially in the back office that is critical to the ability of any company to run smoothly.

This shift in focus is due in large part to multiple risk factors that face the business processes industry, also known as back office support. Threats to data, and to the delivery of support and fulfillment services, can be crip-pling to any company, particularly those with a global customer base. The bottom line? A low-cost and low-risk environment is critical to the everyday operations of any business. Equally important are motivated and skilled workers, process support capabilities, affordable space, and a plethora of financial incentives. Missouri offers all of these — in abundance.

Missouri is an excellent location for firms concerned with risks from natural disasters. The state has a low profile for tornadoes, flooding and other natural disasters. Its underground business parks — carved into the soft limestone that comprises much of the state’s geology — also make for outstanding venues for companies concerned with geological stability and man-made threats, while at the

technology, customer service and call center operations in Missouri was the low cost of doing business — the fourth-lowest nationally, according to CNBC’s annual rankings of the 50 states’ business climates.

Back office facilities are just one of the many beneficiaries of Missouri’s affordability for new investment. In a recent study by the Boyd Company, Inc. — an independent site selection consulting service — the state’s two largest metropolitan areas, St. Louis and Kansas City, both ranked among the 25 markets in the nation for lowest costs of operating headquarters. Current Missouri headquarters include Monsanto, Emerson, and Cerner, a leading player in the fast-growing field of healthcare information tech-nology. Boyd also ranked Rolla, home of the Missouri University of Science and Technology, the fifth-most afford-able data center market in the nation, and Kansas City as one of only nine

“markets to watch” based on cost of skilled labor, taxes, utilities, corporate travel and availability of land.

Missouri’s utility rates are the third-lowest in the nation, an especially important consideration for high-energy users like data and call centers. Gasoline prices are routinely among the lowest in the nation, making the daily commute that much more affordable for a wider pool of poten-tial employees.

The state recently enacted tax reforms and aggressive tax incentives, earning it a place among the most business-

same time providing natural cooling for sensitive equipment, such as the computers and servers that populate a typical data center.

Companies also are looking to Missouri to fulfill their back office operational needs, because they benefit from the broad mix of assets the state has to offer: High educational attainment levels coupled with a strong Mid-western work ethic, world-class research, affordable construction and occupancy costs, and diverse cultural and natural resources.

Missouri is connected to the rest of the world by more than just a trans-portation network of roads, rail, rivers, and airports. More than two million high-speed telecommunications lines crisscross the state, including fiber, cable modem and satellite — more than most other states in the Midwest. Much of the fiber optic capacity is redundant and more is going in every month. According to the Missouri Telecommunications Association, Missouri is home to nearly 1,000 providers and suppliers of telephone, cable and wireless communications.

In short, Missouri has both the technological and human capital infrastructure in place to suit the needs of any back office operation. The best part is, that infrastructure is available at an extremely attrac-tive cost. In fact, one of the main reasons that companies such as AT&T, MasterCard, Savvis, and Convergys established their information

Now more than ever, when it comes to locating its core business processes,

friendly states in the nation, according to the Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation. Missouri also has one of the lowest business tax burdens per worker in the United States, and ranks fifth-lowest for corporate income tax and seventh-lowest for unemplo-ment insurance taxes.

Corporate travelers appreciate the ease of travel to Missouri, and getting around the state is equally trouble-free. Boosted by international airports in St. Louis and Kansas City, as well as a newly expanded airport in Springfield and the nation’s first privately funded airport in Branson, Missouri’s multifaceted transportation network now ranks sixth nationally, according to CNBC. High-speed rail currently being planned will connect Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. Already, $8 billion in federal stimulus funds have been committed to the Chicago Midwest Hub project, which will eventually link eight Midwestern states by high-speed rail.

Busy executives and employees need to be able to travel quickly and easily. That’s why Missouri’s air access to domestic and international markets

— as well as our future high-speed rail connectivity — makes the state an extremely convenient and competi-tive destination for business. Missouri workers from all over the state can hit the ground running. And there are plenty of motivated, skilled workers to go around.

In terms of talent, Missouri has it made, with a labor force exceeding that of 31 other states, including six of its eight neighbors. Missouri workers epitomize the classic Midwestern work ethic and a commitment to quality, characteristics often cited by the state’s employers as their most important business asset.

A robust infrastructure of educa-tional institutions is represented by Missouri’s 128 colleges and universi-ties, which are dispersed across the entire state — not only in major metro areas. Nationally recognized schools like Truman State in Kirksville mirror the quality of post-secondary education in the state’s urban areas, including Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri State University in Springfield, and the University of Missouri’s campuses in Kansas City, Columbia, and St. Louis.

And with a heightened focus by companies on security, risk man-agement, and redundancy in back office functions, many of Missouri’s communities are well-suited to companies evaluating “rural sourcing”

— sending work to service providers in a low-cost area of the United States as an alternative to offshoring — as an option for their business process support operations.

Yet no matter the location they settle in — whether urban, rural, or some-where in between — companies and workers relocating to Missouri choose to stay in Missouri. The state is a major draw for growing businesses,

in large part because their employees can enjoy ample professional op-portunities and an invigorating yet affordable quality of life. From the peaceful lakes and scenic mountains of the Ozarks to the glittering nightlife of the revived Grand Center theater district in St. Louis, from the shiny new Power & Light District of Kansas City to the eclectic downtown streets of Columbia, the state caters to a wide array of interests. Major league sports fans revel in the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, and cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals, Rams and Blues. And with affordable housing costs across the state, Missouri’s residents can choose from a seem-ingly endless variety of lifestyles that suit their many needs.

Whether born in the state or trans-planted here for business, Missouri workers and their families find rich rewards here: good schools, easy access, meaningful work, welcoming communities. And a long list of leisure and entertainment opportuni-ties when the workday is through.

Nothing affects business like business costs. And when Missouri’s costs are examined alongside its benefits, the value to business is immeasurable. Missouri ranks among the nation’s most affordable in key studies.

4th lowest business costs of any state, including the cost of labor (CNBC)5th lowest corporate income tax (Tax Foundation)3rd lowest business energy rates (Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council)4th lowest commercial electricity rates (Energy Informtion Administration)5th lowest cost of living in the U.S. (CNBC)

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for more information: City of Hazelwood, David M. Cox, Economic Development Director314.513.5018 | dmcox@hazelwoodmo.org | www.hazelwoodmo.org

The St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood mixes a variety of back office attrac-tions for major companies, especially call centers and processing giants.

Companies such as Convergys, with an extensive contact center, Home Decorator Collection’s catalog center, and Home Design Alternative’s fullfil-ment center chose this northwestern suburb because of its ample space for growth and its motivated, skilled workforce.

“If you are looking for a high capacity center that can handle a large base of operations and easily get people to and from work with excellent highways and public transportation, Hazelwood is the place,” says the city’s Economic Development Coordinator David Cox.

As the city’s second-largest employer, Convergys has recently expanded its 1,400-person call center. Other notable employers include First Bank, which operates a bank processing center, Coventry Health, with a facility for handling workers compen-sation claims, and a couple of firms specializing in catalog fulfillment. All of them are thriving in Hazelwood

because of the low cost of doing business in this community.

“Whatever you need, we can support it,” Cox says.

Local companies rely on the city’s daytime working population of 40,000 plus the 2 million others who live throughout the St. Louis region. The area is noted for its strong work ethic and diversity, which helps to enhance the available labor pool.

In addition to being home to several flourishing industrial parks, the city of Hazelwood is within close proximity of nationally acclaimed institutions of higher education such as Washington University, St. Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The cadre of top-ranked colleges and universities provides a skilled and trained workforce, ranging from biotech and info-tech graduates up to post-doctoral researchers. The city also prides itself on being a world-class business center, hosting U.S. corporations such as Boeing and IBM, as well as foreign corporations including Aesculap (Germany), GKN Aerospace (UK), bioMerieux (France)

and Matrix Packaging (Canada). Even companies such as Confluence Solar, which specialize in creating energy sources of the future, are finding their niche in Hazelwood.

“Several business park sites with redundant power are available in Hazelwood. Extensive infrastructure readily serves the municipality’s exist-ing back office operations with excess capacity for many more,” Cox says.

Hazelwood offers more than 2 million square feet of available office space spread over several buildings, includ- ing many open cubicle-style floor plans. With the economy entering a recovery, there are plenty of prospec-tive employees to fill incoming jobs.

“Are there enough people in the area to staff a thousand-unit operation? Absolutely,” Cox says. “Hazelwood is open for business.”

Hazelwood serves up top infrastructure, workforce and space

“Are there enough people in the area to staff a thousand-unit operation? Absolutely.”

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Strategically located just 10 minutes northeast of downtown Kansas City, the city of Liberty, Missouri, combines hometown sensibilities and work ethic with expertise and company presences in the animal health science corridor, advanced energy and technology sectors.

As a Money Magazine Top 30 town to live in, Liberty has a diverse business base that includes manufacturing, distribution and bioscience firms.

“With thousands of acres of developable land and excellent access, Liberty is an ideal choice for innovative and growth-oriented businesses,” says Alicia Stephens, executive director of the Partnership for Community Growth and Development.

“Liberty has shovel-ready, greenfield sites. Our processes are fast with personal service, and our community is committed to attracting high-tech jobs with family-supporting wages,” she says.

The City Council offers an aggressive package of incentives to firms look-ing to relocate.

“We are using every economic incen-tive tool we have to attract high-tech, bioscience, ag-science, and life science companies,” says Mayor Greg Canuteson. “We offer 100-percent tax abatements, waivers on roadway development tax credits, and in some

cases free land as part of our incentive packages.”

One company that appreciates Liberty is Ferrellgas, which estab-lished its 300-employee back office in Liberty decades ago because of its excellent amenities, says Ferrellgas spokesman Scott Brockelmeyer.

“Skilled staff was a big part of our deci-sion to be here,” he says. “We have tenured employees that we appreciate very much and who love living here.”

Employers regularly rank Liberty’s workforce higher than regional and national averages for availability, quality, stability and productivity. The labor pool has a median age of 36 years and includes workers from within a 30 to 40 minute drive with access to Interstates 35, 70 and 435. Executives can reach Kansas City International Airport within 15 minutes.

Heartland Meadows is the city’s premier business park, with fiber, utilities and infrastructure. The city is extending utilities to more sites, including shovel-ready locations with infrastructure along South Liberty Parkway, the site of the town’s next business park.

Other amenities include:

•A prime location along the Missouri/Kansas animal health sciences corridor

•Excellent access to and visibility from

I-35 allowing easy driving distance to St. Louis, Topeka, Omaha, and Wichita.

•Proximity to five leading research universities

• Innovative and aggressive incentive programs

•Reliable and affordable utility services

Businesses and residents choose the city because of its quality of life built around a rich and vibrant history, top-notch health care services at Liberty Hospital and stellar primary and secondary education.

Liberty Public School District is ranked in the top 10 nationally in pre-engi-neering, and students consistently score above state and national norms on standardized tests and the ACT. William Jewell College in Liberty is consistently ranked a top liberal arts college nationally.

“Liberty is not just another suburb. It takes great pride in its history, quality of life and character of the community,” Stephens says. “We understand the need for new development to provide support to our families but we have not neglected nor forgotten our core.”

for more information: Partnership for Community Growth & Development, Alicia Stephens, Executive Director 816.883.2503 | astephens@thinklibertymo.com | www.thinklibertymo.com

left to right: William Jewell College, Continental Disc Corporation, and one of many sites available for development

Liberty: technical expertise with a hometown feel

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for more information: City of Farmington, Walter Williams, Economic Development Director573.756.4450 | wwilliams@farmington-mo.gov | farmington-mo.gov

Eastern Missouri is home to Farmington, a unique corporate environment in a rural setting, adjacent to some of the state’s most beautiful parks. With high-tech amenities and abundant back office infrastructure, Farmington is an outstanding choice for core business process operations.

Just one hour from St. Louis, Farmington has evolved into a regional manufacturing and retail community of 16,000 with significant medical and governmental assets. Major employers such as Wal-Mart, Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, and Medicaid billing company Centene Corp. have contributed to a steady growth in population — 36 percent in 20 years. Surrounding counties add an additional 280,000 to that number, making the area very competitive in terms of workforce.

Industries of interest to the city of Farmington include medical equip-ment manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, in addition to back office. Given the city’s redevelopment opportuni-ties, pro-business leadership, and proximity to St. Louis, the population is expected to reach 30,000.

Government employment is vital to the economic health of the region. The local school district is a respon-sive, effective system, and nearby Mineral Area College is an adap-tive partner for business, offering customized training, workshops and

seminars — all geared towards creat-ing a more productive, and thus more valuable, labor force.

“Our biggest advantage is that wages are below national average,” explains Walt Williams, economic development director of Farmington. Indeed the city’s average yearly wage came in a full 45 percent lower than wages in St. Louis.

In terms of back office assets, Farmington has a lot to bring to the table. Ready access to fiber optic makes the region attractive for call centers, while robust city systems and a rural location offer increased water and security for data centers. The city receives the bulk of its power from the Missouri Public Energy Pool, a consortium of more than 30 cities that together purchase energy wholesale. Farmington owns, oper-ates and maintains its own electric distribution network.

Farmington’s transportation infra-structure offers speedy, economical transfer of goods and services to surrounding areas. U.S. 67 connects the city with its northern neighbor, St. Louis, while a southbound four-lane highway scheduled for completion in 2012 will connect to Poplar Bluff, Missouri. A testament to this excellent logistical framework is Smith Motor Freight carriers, located in Farmington. The city also has a regional airport specifically designed

for corporate travel, while St. Louis Lambert International Airport is only 70 minutes by car.

Accessibility to St. Louis is a very big deal, because Farmington falls within the St. Louis combined statistical area (CSA). As the nation’s sixteenth largest market, the St. Louis CSA has a population of almost 3 million people, with easy access to 30 percent of the U.S. population, 70 percent of all North American manufacturers, and 40 percent of all U.S. corporate headquarters.

“City leaders stand ready to work with incoming firms,” Williams says. In col-laboration with the state of Missouri, numerous incentive programs are available including job creation tax credits, a variety of tax abatements, and workforce development as-sistance. The Industrial Development Authority for the City of Farmington offers favorable property pricing to prospective clients.

Add in Farmington’s trio of shovel ready parks with fiber-optic capacity, and it’s easy to see that the city is open for business. “We are as close to ready-to-go as possible,” says Williams.

left to right: ACCENT and Centene Corporation are but a few of Farmington’s back office players

Farmington offers small town sensibilities, with pro-business attitude

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for more information: Northeast Missouri Development Partnership660.263.8811 | info@missourinortheast.com | www.missourinortheast.com

The 14 counties of northeast Missouri offer back office operations the combination of redundant fiber-optic availability, strong work ethic, and a rural atmosphere less than two hours from major transportation and big city culture.

Companies such as confectioner Swiss Colony, which operates a call center in Hannibal, chose the state’s northeastern quadrant because of the tremendous benefits shared services firms are able to tap. They like the redundant fiber offered by AT&T and CenturyLink in Hannibal, Kirksville, Macon, Moberly and Montgomery City, as well as the abundant land and inexpensive electricity rates. In addition, many areas in the region are fully wireless.

But that’s just the beginning of the story. One of the area’s greatest strengths is its skilled, highly moti-vated workforce, says David Gaines, chairman of the Northeast Missouri Development Partnership.

“Our people believe in doing a job right and getting it done on time. This sort of work ethic is what our employers love and what makes the companies here excel,” Gaines says.

Along with a motivated workforce, the region boasts multiple community and four-year colleges that provide a steady pipeline of employees. They include Truman State University in

Kirksville, Hannibal LaGrange College, AT Still University (osteopathic medical school), and Moberly Area Community College, which is particu-larly focused on creating curricula tailored to employers’ specific needs. A bit further afield is the University of Missouri-Columbia, which has extension offices throughout the 14-county region, Lincoln University in Jefferson City and St. Charles Community College.

Employees commute 30 to 40 minutes one way to work for back office operations such as Onshore Technology Services and Chariton Valley Telecom in Macon, as well as headquarters of several firms such as Martinsburg Bank and auto parts manufacturer Orscheln Group in Moberly.

Transportation for the region is excellent with Interstate 70, and four-lane U.S. Highways 36, 61, and 63. Burlington Northern and Norfolk Southern railroads serve the area as well as Mississippi River ports in Hannibal and Brunswick.

And since being centrally located is important to many shared services firms, Northeast Missouri has an advantage by being only a half day’s drive from Chicago, Memphis, Omaha and Little Rock, as well as a full day’s drive from Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Dallas and Oklahoma City. Executives

have easy air access via regional airports in Moberly, Macon, Kirksville and Hannibal. St. Louis’s international airport is a one- to two-hour drive from within the region.

“If you are running a fulfillment opera-tion, we have the infrastructure, the people, and the close proximity to a huge segment of the population for shipping,” Gaines notes.

Low cost and abundant electricity supplies through several local power cooperatives and Ameren’s Calloway Nuclear Plant mean that companies can run even the most robust operations.

The region works closely with the state to provide competitive incen-tive packages, including enhanced enterprise zones in Hannibal, Kirksville, Moberly, Macon, Shelby County and Montgomery City. There also are two federal HUB zones, one each in Macon and Montgomery counties.

“Northeast Missouri is just a great place to live, work and grow for a wide variety of businesses,” Gaines says.

Redundant fiber and low-cost electricity make Northeast Missouri an attractive setting for back office operations

Northeast missouri serves fiber with rural values, strong work ethic

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MoBroadbandNow

A 5-year plan to connect every cluster of 50 or more dwellings as well as schools and hospitals with high-speed broadband internet access.

LEGENDl Carrier Hotels l OSCA Connected ––––– Proposed fiber pathl OSCA - Need to connect

l Public Higher Ed s Network Node–––––– 10 mile buffer

Missouri’s Underground Data Center Sites

Missouri’s four underground sites total over 14 million square feet, offering natural climate control (60º to 70º consistently year-round), enhanced security and reduced vulnerability to natural disasters. Limestone caves are up to three times stronger than concrete.

Subtropolis: 5 million sq ft leasable space

Carefree Industrial Park: 4 million sq ft developed industrial space

Springfield Underground: 2.2 million sq ft of underground space

The Mountain Complex: 3 million sq ft of underground space

NOTE: MAP SHOWS ONLY NEW FIBER TO BE ADDED TO CURRENT SERVICE.

Missouri Local Exchange Carriers

More than 950 companies in Missouri are engaged in telephone, cable and wireless communications as providers, suppliers and contractors.

Source: Missouri Telecommunications Industry Association

n AT&Tn Alma Telephone Con BPS Telephone Con Century Linkn Chariton Valley Tel Corp n Choctaw Telephone Con Citizens Telephone Con Craw-Kan Telephone Con Ellington Telephone Con Fairpoint Communicationsn Farber Telephone Con Fidelity Telephone Con Goodman Telephone Con Granby Telephone Con Grand River Mutual Tel Corp

n Green Hills Telephone Con Holway Telephone Con Iamo Telephone Con KLM Telephone Con Kingdom Telephone Con Lathrop Telephone Con Mark Twain Rural Tel Con McDonald County Tel Con Miller Telephone Con Mo-Kan Dial Incn New Florence Telephone Con New London Telephone Co/TDS Telecomn NE Missouri Rural Tel Con Orchard Farm Tel Co/TDS Telecomn Oregon Farmers Mutual Telephone Con Otelco, Incn Ozark Telephone Con Peace Valley Telephone Con Rockport Telephone Con Seneca Telephone Con Steelville Telephone Exchange, Incn Stoutland Telephone Co/TDS Telecomn Windstream Communications

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The St. Louis region is home to 21 Fortune 1,000 headquarters, a huge information technology workforce, multiple call centers, below-average wages and abundant electricity and fiber optics — all elements that back office operations find attractive.

With companies such as Monsanto, Emerson, and Savvis calling St. Louis home, the region is a destination for corporate headquarters. And large firms such as MasterCard International, Anheuser-Busch-InBev and ThomsonReuters have substan-tial operations in the region.

“What that means to potential em-ployers is a broad range of workforce skills; great access to air, water, rail and roadways; excellent profes-sional and legal services; and an outstanding quality of life that they wouldn’t find in other places,” says Jim Alexander, senior vice president of development for the Regional Chamber and Growth Association.

A key for technology-focused opera-tions is a skilled, talented workforce. Fortunately, St. Louis is home to more than 41,000 highly motivated information technology workers. The region ranks 25 percent higher in IT professionals than the U.S. average, while wages for those workers are at 93 percent of the national average.

“We’ve got lots of people with lots of skills working for less than you would pay on average across the United States. The skills range from help desk to the highest levels imagin-able,” Alexander says. “That’s the real bottom line: We can support those types of companies and make sure they can recruit and retain the best and brightest professionals.”

Many firms locate their call centers in St. Louis because of the afford-able cost of doing business, cost of living, and the skilled worforce. International health services firm Healthways Inc. of Franklin, Tennessee, chose St. Louis because it offered the abundance of registered nurses it needed to staff its call center. Nearly 23,000 St. Louisans work in area call centers and earn a mean wage of $15.00 an hour.

With an overall workforce of 1.3 million, St. Louis wages fall at or just below national averages. Yet the work ethic is high. The area’s 25 colleges and universities, including nationally ranked Washington University and Saint Louis University, have a com-bined enrollment of 100,000 students and provide a pipeline of new gradu-ates to fill employer demand.

Back office operations also appreciate the region’s location in the central time zone, which eases communica-tion cross-country, and competitive

building occupancy costs with a large variety of choices ranging from downtown to suburban and exurban.

Utility costs are low for a major urban center. In fact, St. Louis commercial electric rates are 47 percent below the U.S. average. Fiber optic avail-ability is high, with more than three dozen suppliers and excellent redun-dancy and competitive capability.

As the nation’s 18th largest metro area, quality of life is high only partially because the cost of living is 89.5 percent of the U.S. average. But the area’s cultural offerings are also a draw: the St. Louis Cardinals, Rams and Blues; the world-class Missouri Botanical Garden; the St. Louis Symphony; and a vibrant arts community.

St. Louis’ international airport is centrally located and offers 400 daily flights with nonstop service to 65 metro areas, making transportation easy and affordable.

“St. Louis really has all the bases covered when it comes to the specific needs of shared services operations,” Alexander says.

Back office on the front burner for the st. louis region

for more information: St. Louis RCGA, Jim Alexander, Vice President for Business Recruitment314.513.5018 | jalexander@stlrcga.org | www.stlrcga.org

St. Louis is home to MasterCard’s data center and corporate offices (left); Express Scripts and Monsanto are also headquarted in the region

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The three-county region around Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, is a powerhouse of high-tech personnel, training centers and military disci-pline that forms a strong backbone for back office operations.

The U.S. Army military base is home to 4,000 active duty military person-nel as well as a large number of retired military men and women with technical training. Missouri’s premier engineering and science college, Missouri University of Science and Technology, is close by in Rolla.

“You couldn’t ask for a better trained, more motivated and more highly disciplined workforce all being fed by a pipeline of sharp, talented gradu-ates eager to go to work,” says Wayne Morgan, executive director of the Pulaski County Growth Alliance.

The area has the people in place to get the job done: operations engineers, industrial engineering technicians, computer support specialists and systems analysts.

The region’s industrial and technol-ogy parks provide redundant fiber

for shared services companies that need to operate at high capacity. The Fort Leonard Wood area has Ethernet, both point-to-point and dedicated internet access services; frame relay/T1; DSL; and Multi Protocol Label Switching. There also is a full comple-ment of state and local incentives such as enterprise zones and multiple options for tax abatement and worker training or retraining.

“We are very competitive with other areas of the nation and Missouri is friendly to business,” Morgan says.

Being in the center of the United States also offers an advantage in terms of speedier shipping and easy access for travel. A low cost of living and low cost of doing business add to the mix of reasons companies choose the area. In fact, the city of Rolla was ranked the fifth most affordable data center in the U.S., according to Boyd Company.

Transportation in the region is afford-able, accessible and abundant. And a mild climate makes travel easier still. The area is located between

St. Louis and Springfield, Missouri, along Interstate 44 and is served by BNSF Railroad. Commercial air service is available at Waynesville-St. Robert Forney Field with flights daily to St. Louis and Kansas City.

“The workforce, low operations cost, and available and reliable utilities make the Pulaski County-Fort Leonard Wood region the right choice for business,” Morgan says.

for more information: Fort Leonard Wood RCGA, Benjamin Y. Jones, President & CEO417.533.5627 | benj@heartlandjobs.org | www.heartlandjobs.org

Military, high-tech capacity are key to fort leonard wood region

“You couldn’t ask for a better trained, more motivated and more highly disciplined workforce” 9

for more information: Moberly Area EDC, Corey Mehaffy, President660.263.8811 | cmehaffy@moberly-edc.com | www.moberly-edc.com

Companies needing fiber optics plus ample space are choosing Moberly, Missouri, nestled conveniently between Kansas City and St. Louis.

A dynamic area with a 41,577-strong workforce, Moberly has earned a ster-ling reputation as a fulfillment and call center hub attracting companies such as GE Capital and Scholastic Corp. Low taxes, competitive labor rates, and two large Class A office buildings — the historic O’Keefe Building and the modern office at 1961 Hirst Drive — are part of the reason firms move here.

“The Hirst building offers AT&T-certified fiber optics, a back-up generator to prevent downtime, space that is easily divided into any configuration desired, ample parking, and ease of access just 30 miles north of Interstate 70,” explains Russ Freed, assistant vice president and operations manager for leasing agent Orscheln Property Management Co.

“We can offer anything that a com-pany would need,” Orscheln’s General Manager John Van Cleve says.

Hirst, which has been renovated with a new rubber roof, has 42,000 square feet already configured with 6 by 6-foot cubicles. The space is easily redesigned for smaller cubicles or any other requirement. Orscheln provides, at no charge, a degreed interior designer who creates sample designs

to fit companies’ specific needs. The space could easily accommodate 500 employees, who would have ready access via four-lane U.S. Highway 63.

“This is flexible, ample space that can grow as its tenants expand,” Van Cleve says.

The O’Keefe Building in downtown Moberly also is fiber-optic equipped, and has four floors plus a basement that can be configured as desired. A former grocer’s warehouse from the early 1900s, it has been home to Chase Manhattan Leasing, GE Capital Leasing, Copelco Leasing, and Stark Brothers Fulfillment Service. Built of brick and concrete, the building is secure and elevator accessible by programmable card key. A total of 22,000 square feet is open along with ample parking.

“This is a modern, fully renovated building that’s built like a tank and ready for move-in,” Freed says.

Because Moberly has been home to a large number of call centers, there is a trained, highly motivated workforce available that commutes from up to 60 miles away.

“Our employers love our workforce because they have low turnover and workers who take pride in what they do,” says Moberly’s economic development director, Corey Mehaffy.

For those needing training, Moberly Area Community College (MACC) offers highly flexible curricula that can be tailored to the specific needs of a firm, including degreed programs. Moberly Area Technical Center works closely with MACC and provides worker training in a variety of areas ranging from welding to software and beyond. To help compa-nies provide skill upgrades, the new Moberly Area Employers Training Consortium brings in trainers from across the region and nation to teach skills locally, saving the expense of sending workers away for training. When travel is necessary, Moberly Regional Airport and international airports in St. Louis and Kansas City serve well.

A robust assortment of local and state hiring, relocation and tax incentives rounds out Moberly’s offerings, mak-ing it a competitive location for new and expanding firms.

Attractive sites in the Moberly area (left to right): two views of 1961 Hirst Drive; two views of the historic O’Keefe Building

Abundant space, fiber optics make moberly a prime call center destination

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Executives with Xceligent Inc. had a bevy of sites to choose from for their new commercial real estate information support center. But when they reviewed the range of assets in Central Missouri, it was clear that’s where they wanted to be.

Xceligent and its partner LoopNet of San Francisco chose Sedalia, Missouri for the national rollout of its services to the top 100 markets in the United States.

“We were excited to be part of the governor’s initiative to bring business to the rural communities of Missouri,” says Doug Curry, Xceligent’s CEO. “I’m excited about the contribution that this office is bringing to not only our company but also to the local economy.”

Xceligent is far from the only back office firm to choose the region for its headquarters or processing functions. Proformance Calling, a college admissions call center, selected neighboring Warrensburg to locate its 20 employees. And the region also is home to a division of plant-sciences giant Monsanto, and the headquarters to nuclear submarine battery-maker EnerSys Power Products, as well as bioenergy producers Pro Energy Service and Show Me Energy Co-op.

“We have so many great things to offer information technology

companies, headquarters, and call centers, including incentives and a tremendously skilled and motivated workforce,” says Tracy Brantner, presi-dent of Central Missouri Economic Development Alliance.

The alliance is composed of Lafayette, Saline, Johnson, Pettis and Henry counties — all working collegially to provide an excellent environment for start-up or expanding companies.

One of the key attractions is its highly educated and motivated workforce, including the 7,500 military and civilian personnel associated with Whiteman Air Force Base, which is home to the nation’s fleet of B-2 Stealth aircraft.

“Whiteman and nearby Kansas City are assets to our region because we have a lot of highly-skilled, well-educated people who work in nearby Kansas City and live in our counties,” Brantner explains.

Educational institutions that support the region include: University of Central Missouri and its respected School of Technology, State Fair Community College, Wentworth Military Academy and College, and Missouri Valley Community College, and the University of Missouri’s Kansas City campus.

Transportation is easy region-wide with Interstate 70 and U.S. highways

50 and 65, both of which are primar-ily four-lane. The region is home to multiple business parks, many of which are eligible for state and local tax credits from enhanced enterprise zones.

Residents appreciate the cultural diversity of the region such as the symphony, theater and other events at nearby University of Central Missouri. Within a quick drive, the full range of culture, entertainment, restaurants and sports are available throughout the Kansas City area.

“We are also very close to the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, and Henry County is the front door for the Truman Lakes area,” Brantner says. “We have fishing, hunting, boating and any kind of outdoor recreation you want.

“People love living and working in Central Missouri and that shows in our excellent productivity and employee longevity,” Brantner says.

for more information: Central Missouri Economic Development Alliance, Tracy Brantner800.431.0675 | info@choosecentralmo.com | www.choosecentralmo.com

Central missouri attracts national support center, technology firms

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for more information: Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, Rob O’Brian, CEcD, President417.624.4150 | robrian@joplincc.com | www.joplincc.com

When AT&T was looking for a location to build its business-to-business customer service center three years ago, executives were clear they wanted a motivated, professional workforce that would handle corpo-rate customer calls with excellence. In the end, they chose Joplin for the 650-employee operation.

In the same vein, the 400-employee Aegis Communications and 700-worker NCO Group picked Joplin for their third-party back office operations, handling billing and website customer service calls for corporate clients.

“We know from these companies that have corporate operations around the country that the offices here rank first or second within their companies for effectiveness, customer satisfac-tion and overall performance. The quality of the people in this area have a large hand in that,” says Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Joplin is very open to back office operations. An independent study of the area four years ago showed that back office was a strong business segment because of the effectiveness of the workforce, competitive wages, utility capacity and infrastructure.

The area’s workforce in data entry and computer support operations equals

about 12,000 workers. Another 10,000 people work in customer service jobs or in positions that have compatible, transferrable skills.

In addition, the local workforce investment board has an excellent relationship with Joplin and helps to provide worker training for new or expanding employers. Higher education institutions in the area provide a steady pipeline of new graduates. These include Missouri Southern State University, Pittsburg State University and two community colleges that offer customized train-ing programs.

Since the cost of doing business in Joplin is about 20 percent below the national average, the region is highly competitive in labor, space and utility costs. AT&T and Empire District Electric Co. are the primary fiber optic providers to downtown Joplin and several business and office parks, most with redundant fiber. Crossroads Business Park, which is

owned by Joplin’s industrial develop-ment authority, is opening 40 acres that front Interstate 44 as a new office development.

“The time has been taken to make sure the infrastructure is in place, including fiber, before the first site has been sold,” O’Brian says. “Joplin is simply an unparalleled location for business.”

“The offices here rank first or second ... for effectiveness, customer satisfaction and overall performance”

Call centers choose joplin for strong, educated workforce, infrastructure

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Meet some of the community’smost powerful building blocks.

You see the tools of our trade everywhere. But there’s more that you don’t see. Our knowledge of the community. Resources that only we can offer, as the region’s largest utility. Partnership with state and local leaders. And a trackrecord of bringing industry here for the common good. Find out how Ameren’s Economic Development team canhelp your company connect with the business advantagesin the Midwest. Visit ameren.com or call 1-800-981-9409.

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For more information on doing business in Missouri, visit our website at www.opportunity.missouripartnership.com or call 314.725.0949.