Joplin is located in the southwest corner of Missouri along Historic Route 66 on I-44 and MO Highway 71, Joplin is an ideal place to work, live and play. With all of the amenities of a large city and the down-home comfort of a small town, Joplin is the perfect combination of great service and friendly smiles. As the fourth largest metro area in the state of Missouri, Joplin has a nighttime population of 50,150. However, each day our population swells to 250,000 as people come to Joplin to work, access entertainment, eat and shop.
The cost of living in Joplin is highly competitive. In fact, the American Chamber of Commerce Research Association Cost of Living Index repeatedly places Joplin's cost of living at nearly twelve percent below the national average, assuring Joplin's role as a community with the lowest cost of living metropolitan area in Missouri and on of the lowest cost metro areas in the country.
When potential new businesses look at our area they see a market area population of nearly 500,000, with more than $2 billion in retail sales. Those factors, along with low taxes and a rapidly growing population have helped spur unprecedented retail and restaurant growth in past five years. Other companies take notice of our diverse economic base that includes medical, retail, transportation and manufacturing opportunities and they see a cooperative community ready to join in partnership for mutual growth.
The City of Joplin seeks out and supports this growth through an Enterprise Zone that allows for 100% abatement on new construction. It also grants extensive tax credits for new employment. The City also has revenue bond capacity and often makes grants to projects fitting specific targeted business sectors. The State of Missouri also offers a number of incentives that are appealing to new employers coming into the area, including the new Quality Jobs act which was, in large part, written by Joplin's state legislators and the Joplin Chamber.
This generally pro-business attitude in the general population is reflected on the City Council. The majority of Council members are business people and that 'business majority' has existed for more than twenty years. Our county government is also pro-business.
Joplin has a rich selection of fun things to do and see including great museums, beautiful parks, family friendly activities and amazing artists events. Joplin plays host to many great events throughout the year including; Boomtown Days which is a festival of music, food and fun for the family, Joplin Memorial Run featuring a 5k Run and ½ Marathon in memory of those that lost their life in the May 22nd tornado, Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center Water Festival where you learn about Conservation efforts and see the cardboard boat races, the JoMoPro is one of the top BMX competitions in the country, PhotoSpiva is the country’s longest running photography competition and the Joplin Holiday Experience features a full week of holiday activities for the entire family.
For all the events happening in our community and around the region, please see the Convention & Visitor Bureau website.
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