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I'm currently going to college in Chattanooga learning the trade of advanced manufacturing, and I wish to plant my roots in either Southeast/South Central Missouri or Northeast/North Central Arkansas after I save up some money. I'm also planning to eventually start my own computer repair store once I have enough money. What are some towns (preferably smaller towns) I should consider checking out that have advanced manufacturing jobs in the area? Also which state is a better state to start a business (if it makes any difference)?
What attracts you to this area?
Missouri towns might be West Plains, Sikeston, and Poplar Bluff for the larger places. Cape Girardeau is almost 40k population --a college town but too large? There are dozens of smaller towns (Charleston, New Madrid, Mountain View, Willow Springs). Rolla has about 20k and is a college town but a bit farther north. Small towns with some sort of anchor industry, like a college or a prison, might have a more stable economy to support a new business.
Arkansas has Jonesboro and several other towns that would be options. Probably about the same potential as what is on the Missouri side in that specified area.
Tennessee is getting too crowded and pricey. I've heard not too many people move to this area and that there's a good bit of things to do outdoors.
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Originally Posted by SunGrins
Missouri towns might be West Plains, Sikeston, and Poplar Bluff for the larger places. There are dozens of smaller towns (Charleston, New Madrid, Mountain View, Willow Springs).
I've been looking at houses for sale around Scott City and Dexter along with West Plains in Missouri, and Piggott, Corning, Pocahontas, and Walnut Ridge along with some other places nearby in Arkansas. I'm just a little curious, of all these towns (or at the least the ones you've been too), what place do you think is the nicest?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SunGrins
Cape Girardeau is almost 40k population --a college town but too large?
That shouldn't be a problem as long as traffic isn't bad and nobody is getting mugged downtown. I only said preferably smaller towns since they tend to not have much traffic or crime.
I'd say Jonesboro would have more opportunity than anywhere else in the region, but you give up better topography than west of Poplar Bluff or around Cape Girardeau. Most of the area around Jonesboro is tabletop flat.
Cape Girardeau is nice, but manufacturing isn't the region's strong suit. There is a large Procter & Gamble plant here as well as some other smaller manufacturers, but there certainly are not any new manufacturers setting up shop here.
I'd say Jonesboro would have more opportunity than anywhere else in the region, but you give up better topography than west of Poplar Bluff or around Cape Girardeau. Most of the area around Jonesboro is tabletop flat.
Cape Girardeau is nice, but manufacturing isn't the region's strong suit. There is a large Procter & Gamble plant here as well as some other smaller manufacturers, but there certainly are not any new manufacturers setting up shop here.
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Originally Posted by kyle19125
OP, look in Jonesboro which holds the best value and is large enough to offer varying amenities other than a Walmart on the outskirts of town.
I lived in Salem MO acouple years, prettty nice but small. Nearby Rolla didn't have much appeal. Reynolds and Shannon counties are really back country, no towns over a couple hundred.
What size town or small town would you prefer? 5-10k, 25k, 50-75k? Different people mean want different things when they say small town.
If you want small near St. Louis, look into Troy, Warrenton, Washington, Union, Sullivan and DeSoto and see what of anything is happening there
In central Arkansas, Conway and maybe Arkdelphia and Pine Bluff.
Last edited by NW Crow; 04-05-2023 at 07:43 PM..
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