Ingrams August 2023

SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS

Darren Farnan GENERAL MANAGER, UNITED FIBER Missouri, from what I’ve experienced,

is very friendly from a regulatory standpoint, especially on the broad band front. The state broadband office has been fantastic to work with and make sure it gets out to more rural markets. Missouri invests in compa nies like ours that are dedicated to rural areas long-term. So, I think they have done a very good job facilitating that growth.

chiefs DYNASTY

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Jody Carlson VP-ENGINEERING/BUSINESS DEVELOP MENT, MISSOURI AMERICAN WATER I would say, as one who is invested in infrastructure in the state of Missouri, we want to bring businesses here. There are significantly lower costs in Missouri when you look at the rest of the nation. We have people here that have a good work ethic, as well. The employment rate is good, and we are

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Come for the Quality of Life; Stick Around for the Football From the business climate to the quality of life, from work-force dynamics to top-tier educational and health-care institutions, Missouri has a lot going for it. But it doesn’t stop there: Twice since early 2020, we’ve cheered on the world champions of football, the Kansas City Chiefs. Since 1963, this team transplanted from Texas has inspired Missourians—in Kansas City, across the state and around the world—with on-field achievements in the National Football League. In recent years, that has taken on the outlines of a virtual dynasty, as the Chiefs have become the first team in NFL history to host the AFC championship game five years in a row. In two of those, they fell short of the Super Bowl; the three others produced a 2-1 record against the NFC champion. The Show-Me State has rallied around Kansas City’s team since 2016, when an Owner Who Shall Remain Nameless opted for money over fan loyalty and high-tailed it out of St. Louis, relocating the Rams to Los Angeles. We’re not a bitter lot by nature, but that stunt certainly left a sour aftertaste, given the support that St. Louis had shown for their team over the years. That stunt has made the Chiefs Missouri’s team, something quickly apparent as each season approaches and fans flock by the thousands to St. Joseph, where the team has its preseason training camp at Missouri Western State University. Fan enthusiasm there sets the tone for the coming season’s on-field action and, in the view of many, the world’s best tailgating venue: Arrowhead Stadium.

all looking for employees across the country. Even in north west Missouri, I will say we’ve got a lot of employees here, and we are able to pull them from the rural areas and bring them into the urban areas.

Mike Poore CEO, MOSAIC LIFE CARE

What’s not to like? It’s the heart of the Midwest, and the people here are hard working. We employ 4,100 caregivers in my organization and in many instances, those caregivers’ whole family works for our organization. … The cost of living here is incredibly low; I was honestly surprised when compared to other parts of the country. And we’ve

got the Chiefs. I tell people who want to relocate here to just jump in. Dive in and get involved in the community—there are so many opportunities and great things happening here.

Sam Fiorello PRESIDENT/CEO, CORTEX INNOVATION CENTER, ST. LOUIS (FORMER COO, DANFORTH CENTER) Over the next 35 years, we have to cre ate as much food as we’ve produced in the past 8,000 years of agriculture, with fewer inputs, less water, and fertile soil. It’s a daunting task, and the only way to get there is to excel in plant research that translates into innovat

ing plants, products, services, and technologies. It’s as simple as that. We have to get there, and the way to get there is with places like the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center (in St. Louis) and the Animal-Health Corridor that starts in Columbia.

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DestinationMissouri.com

Missouri’s Business Media

2023