Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

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Exceed - Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

University of Missouri Extension Regional Economic and Entrepreneurial Development

University of Missouri Extension's Exceed program focuses on regional economic and entrepreneurial development. Exceed assists decision-makers with data-driven regional economic development strategies and industry studies. We routinely partner with businesses, communities, regions, governments, and nonprofits to enhance economic and entrepreneurial opportunities. Learn more by visiting our website: https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/exceed-community-economic-and-entrepreneurial-development

06/16/2026

According to the 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture, 116,617 farms nationwide sold products through direct sales channels. Among border states, Missouri leads in the number of farms (3,215) selling direct-to-consumer, with sales reported in 106 of 114 counties.

Missouri is home to more than 150 farmers markets. Roughly 2/3 of Missouri counties have at least one farmers market, with St. Louis (12), Jackson (9), and Green (8 ) having the highest concentrations.

About 1/3 of Missourians have made local food purchases from a venue other than a farmers market (e.g., on-farm sales, community supported agriculture).

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

06/03/2026

Across all U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) job growth in the first quarter of 2026 remained flat. The median MSA experienced no change in employment in Q1 2026 compared to one year ago. Merced, CA (3.3%) topped all MSAs in job growth with the Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ (-4.6%) MSA experiencing the greatest loss.

Missouri’s MSAs, except for St. Louis, experienced job growth with Columbia (1.86%) and Joplin (1.66%) leading the way, ranking 17 and 19, respectively among all U.S. MSAs. Despite the state’s MSAs experiencing growth, Missouri experienced a loss (-0.29%) ranking 40th among states.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

05/19/2026

From 2020–25, net migration increased the average Missouri county population by 2.1%, with nonmetro counties experiencing a greater share of in-migrants compared to metro counties.

A 2025 Northwest Missouri survey finds that area ties and health care access are top location considerations for all respondents. However, newcomers placed greater importance on amenities such as broadband access than did longtime residents.

This recent survey, and a similar one in 2020, show that newcomers are more likely to participate in some civic activities, like serving in leadership roles, that can make them a valuable community resource.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

05/13/2026

Missouri (77.2%) has a higher percentage of veterans in the civilian workforce compared to its border states (76.7%), falling just below the national average (77.5%).

Veteran labor force participation is lower than the general population primarily due to a higher prevalence of service-connected disabilities, earlier retirement ages supported by military pensions, and challenges translating military skills to civilian roles.

While many veterans find high-earning jobs, roughly one in three non-working veterans report disabilities, reducing overall participation.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

05/06/2026

County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, a resource from the University of Wisconsin, compiles data on a wide range of healthcare indicators across the United States, including access to mental health services. One of its most useful measures is the ratio of mental health care providers to residents at the state and county levels.

In Missouri, access to mental health care varies significantly by location. Shannon County has the most limited access, with just one provider for every 7,280 residents. In contrast, St. Louis City has far greater availability, with one provider for every 150 residents.

Compared to national averages in the United States, Missouri lags slightly behind. The state has approximately one mental health care provider for every 360 residents, while the national average is closer to one provider per 290 residents.

To view the data please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

04/28/2026

Missouri was the nation’s 18th largest state in 2025, with a population of 6.27 million. Between 2024 and 2025, the Show-Me State added more than 27,000 residents, representing an annual growth rate of 0.4%.

Population shifts occur from natural change (the difference between births and deaths) and from domestic and international migration. From 2020 to 2025, Missouri’s population increased by 115,000, or 1.9%.

Missouri experienced a natural decrease in population over those years, as deaths exceeded births by more than 12,000. Offsetting that natural change was migration into the state, as 70,000 international migrants and 57,000 domestic migrants moved to Missouri.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

04/22/2026

The United States Energy Information Administration offers insights into how electric power is generated, how this generation differs between states, and the consumption of energy by different industries among other things.

In January 2026, Missouri generated 60% of its electricity using coal, second only to Kentucky (65%) among neighboring states. Missouri (11%) also used significantly less natural gas than the national average (38%), and less hydroelectric (1% and 7%, respectively).

Missouri’s use of nuclear and wind power closely mirrors national averages. Illinois (48%) and Tennessee (43%) lead on nuclear power generation. On wind, Oklahoma stands out with half of its portfolio attributable to this source.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

04/15/2026

The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank has released a new set of data visualization tools, known as the LMI Data Books, that highlight demographic, housing, and employment trends among low- to moderate-income populations. These tools make it easy to compare data across the seven states in the KC Fed’s district.

In Missouri and among neighboring district states, housing cost burdens vary for lower-income households earning $35,000 to $50,000. Missouri has the lowest share, spending more than 30% of their income on housing, at 30.5%. Nebraska has the highest share (37.6%).

A decade earlier, the situation in Missouri looked quite different. Only one in four lower-income households spent more than 30% of their income on housing.

To view the data, please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

04/08/2026

On average, metropolitan (86%) Missouri counties have higher prime-age (ages 25 to 54) labor force participation than nonmetropolitan (78%) counties.

Between 2015 and 2024, Missouri’s prime-age workforce decreased by over 38,000 workers, a roughly 2% decline. Some industries, like agriculture, are more affected by this trend than others with over a third of the labor force over the age of 55.

Counties in the western half of Missouri and along the Missouri and Mississippi River corridors generally see the highest participation rates. Late-career workers represented 38% of Missouri’s workforce in 2024, up from 29% in 2015.

Find the latest Missouri Economy Indicators brief on the Exceed website. Link in the comments below.

04/02/2026

Missouri 211 call data from United Way, analyzed by the Health Communication Research Laboratory and the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, shows monthly information on housing, utilities, food, transportation, health care, and disaster relief referrals for assistance. The data are available across multiple geographies, including counties, ZIP codes, legislative districts, and school districts.

For example, an analysis of Missouri 211 calls over the past year found that Missouri Senate District 28, covering much of west-central Missouri, had the highest proportion of calls related to housing and shelter needs (41%), the majority of which were requests for rental assistance. This was slightly lower than the state average of 42%.

Missouri 211 data offer a real-time view of how events like natural disasters and economic shifts affect local communities and were recently featured in a St. Louis Federal Reserve analysis. Still, the data has important limitations: reporting differences across states may understate need, and 211 calls do not capture people who seek services directly.

To view the data please visit the link in the comments below. For additional information contact Alan Spell or Luke Dietterle of Exceed.

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1100 University Avenue
Columbia, MO
65211

Website

https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/exceed-community-economic-and-entrepreneurial-development

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