Public Funding: Northeast Missouri school districts warn they could lose millions in 2027-28 if state aid falls short; Hannibal’s projected loss is $1.47 million, amid a statewide funding gap of about $270 million. Local Commerce: Jefferson City’s Food Truck Frenzy expects a customer boost when a state multi-agency lab opens nearby. A state study says Missouri may not need more cannabis business licenses, though ownership concentration remains a concern. Investment & Industry: Amazon is considering a second data-center campus in Montgomery County as state leaders promote consumer protections. Missouri’s energy strategy puts nuclear power at its center. Business Growth: A longtime family-run company based in St. Louis reports strong annual growth and no layoffs in its 75-year history. Intramotev plans to launch autonomous freight rail service in Missouri. Workforce: Child-care shortages are putting added pressure on families and employers.
AGP Executive Report
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Housing Costs: Missouri home values rose 26.7% in five years, reaching about $272,000, while buyers need nearly $35,000 more in annual income to afford a typical home. Women-Owned Businesses: Four women-owned shops on one Brookside block are teaming up for Women-Owned Weekend, spotlighting local entrepreneurship. Freight & Investment: Missouri-based Intramotev plans to launch autonomous freight rail service, with a $16 million federal grant supporting the technology. Industry & Energy: A state study says Missouri doesn’t need more marijuana business licenses, though ownership concentration remains a concern. Meanwhile, the state’s energy strategy puts nuclear power at its center, as leaders promote safeguards for data-center customers. Workforce: Missouri businesses face a child-care shortage that can make it harder for families to work and employers to fill jobs.
Cannabis Market: A Missouri study says current licenses are meeting demand, so the state need not authorize more. But researchers couldn’t determine whether a small number of owners controls a large share of the market; regulators say future reviews will examine ownership. Industrial Investment: Chillicothe will hold a public hearing on Chapter 100 bonds for a proposed fertilizer production and blending facility, including new equipment and offices. Data Centers: Missouri leaders are highlighting consumer protections as data center investment grows, while Greater St. Louis Inc.’s CEO warns cities against turning projects away. Kansas City Startups: Techstars is pushing a local startup to sharpen its long-term vision as the accelerator builds its focus on AI and robotics. Child Care and Work: A new local program aims to lower child-care costs for families, a pressure point for employers seeking to retain workers.
Data Center Investment: Amazon is considering a second Montgomery County campus with 15 buildings across 890 acres, adding to its $10 billion project already under construction. Google has announced a separate $15 billion data center investment in the region. Retail: Cosentino’s has opened Chop More!, a discount grocery format in Kansas City that uses cost-plus pricing and employs about 60 people. Workforce: Stone and Taney counties need an estimated 1,435 more infant and toddler child care slots, while 91% of surveyed employers reported child care-related workforce disruptions. Energy: Missouri’s new energy strategy puts nuclear power at the center of efforts to improve reliability and support economic growth; Ameren Missouri’s long-term plan includes 1,200 megawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2040. Emerging Aviation: Perryville Regional Airport hosted the first known use of Missouri’s only electric-aircraft charging station, a potential boost for the region’s role in electric aviation.
Household Costs: NECAC received nearly $55,000 from Ameren for eligible Missouri customers with outstanding utility bills, offering relief as the funding is expected to go quickly. Workforce: Stone and Taney counties need an estimated 1,435 more infant and toddler child-care slots. In a regional survey, 91% of responding employers reported child-care-related workforce disruptions in the past year. Data Centers: Missouri’s large-load tariffs require data centers and other major electricity users to cover the costs of serving them, aiming to shield other ratepayers as demand grows. Development: Republic approved a preliminary plan for a nearly 35-acre commercial park near Highway MM and the James River Expressway, with four proposed lots. Business Climate: The Springfield Area Chamber opposes Amendment 6, warning it could create uncertainty for employers and complicate changes to voter-approved laws. Manufacturing: St. Louis-based Gund Co. has grown to nearly $400 million in annual sales and 1,300 employees without layoffs in its 75-year history.
Rural Outlook: A regional index that includes Missouri fell to 42.5 in October, below the growth-neutral mark for the fifth time in six months. Bankers cited higher diesel and fertilizer costs, while farm equipment sales remained weak. Columbia Growth: At its annual meeting, REDI leaders called for a shared strategy to attract quality jobs and pointed to record summer traffic at Columbia Regional Airport. I-70 expansion and Mizzou’s research facilities were also highlighted. Child Care and Jobs: Missouri’s Child Care Works program shares costs among the state, employers and families, helping parents afford care and businesses retain workers. Employers have joined the initiative. Small Business: Kyle Householder has opened an IT services shop in Warsaw, offering businesses network, security and technology support. Campus Development: Mizzou is still weighing proposals for a hotel, entertainment district and student housing near campus; no decisions have been made. St. Louis Business: Stifel says its Champions Tour event generates an estimated $10 million in annual economic impact for north St. Louis County and the region.
Freight Innovation: Intramotev plans to launch an autonomous freight rail service in Missouri, a new development for the state’s logistics sector. Rural Economy: Creighton’s October Rural Mainstreet Index remained below growth-neutral, with Missouri recording the region’s lowest score. Bankers cited higher farm input costs, trade tensions and weak equipment sales. Banking: Southern Missouri Bancorp reported first-quarter net income of $19.1 million, up 22% year over year, as loans grew 1.5% to $4.5 billion. Local Business: Milan Sale Barn is changing hands and will reopen as Green Hills Stockyards, with its first auction under the new name set for Nov. 2. Manufacturing: Golden Business Forms in Golden City upgraded its printing equipment, doubling plate production speed and moving to chemical-free processing.
Freight Innovation: Columbia Terminal Railroad will test two Intramotev autonomous railcars on its 21-mile line, backed by a $16.2 million federal grant for the technology and track upgrades. The project aims to help local businesses reach the freight network at lower cost. Clean-Energy Investment: Missouri regulators approved Ameren Missouri plans for three battery storage sites totaling 545 megawatts, two solar projects totaling 400 megawatts and a new switching station. Banking: Southern Missouri Bancorp reported $19 million in fiscal first-quarter profit, or $1.73 per share, beating analyst estimates. Springfield-based Great Southern Bancorp also reported third-quarter earnings of $1.27 per share, affected by a noncash accounting adjustment. Workforce and Innovation: Missouri State University launched an Innovation Institute to connect students with real-world challenges, building ties between education and employers.
Water Infrastructure: Missouri awarded the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District $9.1 million for sewer upgrades, including a $1.5 million grant. The project is expected to finish in 2029 and save ratepayers an estimated $4.9 million in loan costs. Workforce: Missouri’s higher education and workforce agency unveiled a plan to expand training and education opportunities, while a Springfield workshop for small businesses is set for Nov. 12. Business Expansion: Wagner Logistics plans warehouse operations in Liberty, adding activity to the region’s logistics sector. Missouri Market: A new study says 93% of Missouri cannabis consumers buy from the regulated market. Company Watch: St. Louis-based ESCO Technologies will report fourth-quarter results on Nov. 19.
Missouri Jobs: Payroll employment fell 0.4% in September, tying Missouri with Wisconsin for the steepest state decline. Kansas City Business: Diamond Properties acquired a 187,600-square-foot industrial facility, while downtown St. Louis welcomed Missouri’s first Hyatt Centric hotel. Infrastructure: Columbia’s COLT Railroad secured a $16.2 million federal grant for modernization. Small Business: Missouri SBDC and APEX Accelerator will host a free Springfield workshop Nov. 12 on business planning and funding, with resources for veterans, military families and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Hospitality: Hyatt Centric has opened in downtown St. Louis, bringing three dining concepts to the city. Corporate Moves: Perimeter Solutions plans to shift its headquarters to Charlotte after a $685 million acquisition, a potential loss for Missouri’s corporate footprint. Business Outlook: Columbia-based EquipmentShare raised its 2026 financial outlook, citing strong performance and customer demand. Infrastructure: Columbia’s COLT Railroad won a $16.2 million federal grant for modernization. Cannabis Market: A state study found Missouri’s legal marijuana market meets consumer demand, but lacked data to assess whether ownership is concentrated among a few companies. Market Rules: Crypto.com and Novig are suing Missouri over its crackdown on sports-event contracts, challenging the state’s rules for prediction markets.
Joplin Budget: City leaders approved a nearly $183 million budget, but a proposed 12% pay increase for employees faces further votes after dividing the council. Energy Costs: Ameren is adding $10 million to assistance programs in Missouri and Illinois; eligible small businesses and nonprofits could receive up to $1,000. Downtown St. Louis: The Hyatt Centric has opened a 140-room hotel, as downtown bookings rise nearly 6% from last year. Rail Investment: Columbia’s COLT Railroad won a $16.2 million federal grant for modernization. Market Watch: Missouri employment fell in September, while the state’s land-based casinos reported more than $1.5 billion in winnings during the first nine months of 2026. Sports Contracts: Crypto.com and Novig are suing Missouri to block the state’s crackdown on sports-event contracts, setting up a legal fight over the emerging market.
Sports Market Dispute: Crypto.com and Novig sued Missouri over the state’s effort to regulate sports event contracts as gambling, setting up a fight over licensing and taxes for prediction-market firms. Rail Investment: Columbia won $16.2 million in federal funding toward a $20.8 million COLT Railroad upgrade, including track work and a phased test of autonomous railcars. Downtown Development: Hyatt Centric opened its first Missouri hotel in a renovated 1910 St. Louis building, adding 142 rooms near major attractions and convention venues. Business and Revenue: Columbia-based EquipmentShare raised its 2026 financial outlook, citing strong performance and customer demand. Missouri casinos reported more than $1.5 billion in winnings during the first nine months of the year, while state employment fell in September.
Prediction Markets: Crypto.com and Novig sued Missouri after the state ordered sports contract platforms to stop operating without gambling licenses. The companies argue federal regulators have sole authority; Missouri requires licensing, a 10% wagering tax and a minimum age of 21. Local Business: Columbia-based Midway USA generates about $500 million in annual sales and ranks among Boone County’s biggest employers. Data Center Investment: A proposed $3 billion St. Louis tech hub is drawing backlash over the data center at its center, highlighting tensions around large-scale development. Jobs and Agriculture: Missouri employment fell in September, while Gov. Mike Kehoe expanded transportation-cost relief for farmers and truckers.
Sports-Betting Fight: Crypto.com and Novig are suing Missouri over the state’s efforts to make sports event-contract platforms stop operating or obtain gambling licenses. The cases could test how federal financial rules and state betting laws apply. Data Centers: Bernstein says only 35% of planned U.S. data center projects look credible, citing grid, permitting and equipment hurdles. The slowdown adds context to Missouri’s debate over possible construction restrictions, but no state action is reported. Columbia Business: MidwayUSA founder Larry Potterfield says the company generates more than $500 million in annual sales and employs about 350 people, making it a major Boone County employer. Rail Investment: Columbia received a $16.2 million federal grant to modernize the COLT Railroad, funding an upgrade to local freight infrastructure. Consumer Protection: Missouri’s attorney general has sued Temu, alleging consumer deception and improper data collection.
Cannabis Market: Missouri’s first state-funded study found legal sales account for 93% of cannabis purchases, with sales spread across the state. Consumers spend an average of $161 a month, and price, convenience and potency shape buying choices. St. Louis Investment: A proposed $3 billion tech hub could bring major development, but its planned data center is drawing local opposition. Business Expansion: Wagner Logistics plans to expand in Liberty, creating 79 jobs. Transportation: Columbia’s COLT Railroad received a $16.2 million federal grant for modernization. Local Business: Independence’s Fun House Pizza and Pub closed after nearly 58 years, leaving its employees out of work.
Jobs & Investment: Missouri employment fell in September, while Wagner Logistics plans to add 79 jobs as it expands in Liberty. Tech & Infrastructure: A proposed $3 billion St. Louis tech hub is drawing backlash over its planned data center; separately, Columbia’s COLT Railroad won $16.2 million in federal funding for modernization. Agriculture: Missouri, Illinois and Iowa’s pork industries generate billions in economic activity, while drought is weighing on Missouri grain and livestock production. Business & Regulation: Missouri’s attorney general is suing Temu over alleged consumer deception and data practices, escalating scrutiny of the online marketplace. Tourism & Gaming: Missouri casinos reported more than $1.5 billion in winnings in the first nine months of 2026.
Recycling Investment: Republic Services has broken ground on a Bridgeton facility that will sort up to 45 tons of recyclables an hour. It’s expected to support 200 construction jobs and employ about 60 people when it opens in 2028. Agriculture: Missouri’s pork industry contributes nearly $2.2 billion to the state economy, with 3.3 million hogs making Missouri the nation’s seventh-largest producer. St. Louis Development: A proposed $3.1 billion tech district anchored by a large data center could bring more than 1,000 temporary construction jobs and 200 permanent positions, but the project faces public backlash and legal challenges. Transportation: Columbia’s COLT Railroad received a $16.2 million federal grant to modernize its 21-mile line, serving manufacturers, farmers and building-material suppliers. Economic Pulse: Missouri employment fell in September, while the state’s land-based casinos reported more than $1.5 billion in winnings over the first nine months of 2026.
Consumer Protection: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sued Temu, alleging the shopping platform misled customers and collected personal data without consent. The state is seeking penalties and an order to stop the alleged practices. Household Costs: Ameren is adding $10 million to assistance programs for customers in Missouri and Illinois, helping families, small businesses and nonprofits manage energy bills. Gaming Revenue: Missouri’s land-based casinos won more than $1.5 billion in the first nine months of 2026, underscoring the sector’s scale in the state economy. Jobs: Missouri employment fell in September, pointing to a softer labor market. Agriculture: Drought has trimmed Missouri grain harvests and hurt livestock production, while the governor expanded transportation-cost relief for farmers and truckers.**
Business Expansion: Squires Tax Planning has opened an Osage Beach office, adding in-person tax and exit-planning services for Lake of the Ozarks business owners and investors. Freight Investment: Columbia secured $16.2 million in federal funding to modernize its 21-mile COLT railroad, including a planned test of autonomous railcars. Recycling Jobs: Republic Services broke ground on a Bridgeton recycling center expected to open in 2028. The project could create up to 200 construction jobs and serve Greater St. Louis. Farm and Trucking Costs: Gov. Mike Kehoe expanded an order allowing dyed diesel on Missouri roads, aiming to ease fuel costs for farmers and truckers. Joplin Business: Vapor Maven is among companies facing a state investigation into kratom-derived products. The inquiry does not establish wrongdoing by the business. Logistics Growth: Wagner Logistics plans to expand in Liberty under a manufacturing contract, creating 79 jobs.
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