Relocation to South Missouri (Springfield, Nixa: jobs, homes, universities)

[dottie]

This is a private message I submitted to someone on this forum. As I don't seem to have a reply (possibly an oversight on my end) I was wondering if anyone else might have some feedback:

Just wondering what the employment opportunities would be down that way. We live in Marceline, MO, Boyhood home of Walt Disney, Whoopeeee! We have lived here, well my husband since birth, myself since we married in 1982. I work for Herff Jones Inc. which produce yearbooks for the past 22 years, my husband works at the cities waste water plant, he is the sole operator there. Our son is in the US Airforce and we know he will not relocate to Marceline. Our daughter who is 18 just graduated from HS and is looking for a job. She would love to attend school, but is very much a home body. I think the only way we will get her to go to school is to relocate to be close enough for her to commute and live at home. I think we may be ready for a change ourselves. I myself do not want to spend another 22 years in Herff Jones. We are in our early 40's and still have a lot of work in us. I am looking toward Ozark, MO or possibly Nixa. Any comments would be great appreciated. Any links for employment opportunities?
Dottie

[Vee]

Dottie,
I think you will find this area to your liking. Ozark, Nixa, Republic are all cities within themselves with many services and attractions and they are all within easy commuting distance of Springfield. The most recent good news on the job-front in Springfield is that T-Mobile is in the process of filling 700 jobs. In addition to calling centers, the Springfield/Branson area nearly always has openings in the service industry. As for colleges, there are several colleges within Springfield and the surrounding area. Ozarks Technical College is an excellent and generally low-cost alternative to a four-year institution. Many students complete their general education requirements at OTC and then transfer to one of the four-year universities if they wish to continue. Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State) is a four-year university with a wide variety of degree programs. Drury University is a four-year liberal arts colleges that offers bachelor and post-graduate degrees. Evangel University also offers bachelor and post-graduate degrees and is affiliated with the Assemblies of God Church. Central Bible College is also located within the Springfield City limits and Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar MO) is approximately 30 miles north of Springfield on hiway 13.

I hope this information is helpful to you and your family. Good luck!

Vee

[dottie]

Thanks Vee for the speedy response. Any info is helpful.

[wezey]

You might consider Mtn Home, AR. I know they were recently looking for a wastewater employee. It is about 11,000 people and almost on the MO/AR border. The area [cut] has a state university campus, so far the homes are relatively reasonable as are the taxes and utilities.

[MO~orphan]

You might check with your local city council and ask to see one of their copies of The Missouri Municipal Review. Every incorporated city receives these publications. If your husband wishes to stay in the same line of work, there will be ads in the MMR publication for employment. This may give you a little broader area to search in for making a move, too.