Kim Gerlt of Missouri Partnership shares how Missouri is positioning itself as a strategic landing zone for major business investments.
We discuss her work overseeing business recruitment and building capacity while promoting the state’s strengths in infrastructure, water access, workforce training, and collaboration.
The conversation dives into the state’s recent wins: an $800 million meat processing facility from American Foods Group, a $1 billion Google data center, and Meta’s $800 million investment in Kansas City. Kim explains how Missouri’s central location allows companies to reach 50% of the U.S. within one day’s drive, making it an attractive site for food production and logistics.
She talks about the “Raise the Bar” initiative: a comprehensive effort that includes hands-on training, mock site visits, and site evaluations to ensure Missouri’s communities are prepared for site selection projects. The state’s focus on readying both mega (1,000+ acre) and premier (200+ acre) sites has led to strong interest from global investors, even before formal marketing begins.
Other highlights include Missouri One Start’s role in workforce readiness and the development of NGA West in St. Louis, which positions Missouri as a tech-forward hub in geospatial intelligence. Kim closes with a heartfelt reflection on why she’s committed to growing opportunity in her home state.