MID-AMERICA’S PLACE OF STRENGTH IN THE US ECONOMY

In 2016, the Mid-America region was responsible for 18.8% of the US GDP. Located in the middle of the , the region is the perfect place for national and international compa- nies to operate due to the ease of logistics and transportation in and out of the region. The region boasts a comparably afford- able cost of living and operation as well as a skilled labor force. Advantages of the Mid-America Region include strong industry clusters in automotive and food industries. BIG FOOD ON THE TABLE DRIVING HARD BUSINESS The Mid-America EDC region The automotive cluster of the produces 40% of the nation’s Mid-America EDC region has MANY OF THE WELL-KNOWN, food supply. There are more more than 3,300 establish- HOUSEHOLD NAMES, OF than 6,800 food processing ments, employing over 440,000 FORTUNE 1000 COMPANIES and manufacturing people. This is 52% of the total HAVE HEADQUARTERS IN THE establishments in the region. employed in the cluster in the REGION INCLUDING: United States. AAR Corp. Abbott Laboratories Allstate Insurance Archer Daniels Midland Co. INSURING AMERICA Berkshire Hathaway The insurance services cluster WE MEAN BUSINESS Best Buy of the Mid-America EDC has There are 300 Fortune 1000 Boeing over 8,000 establishments, company headquarters in the Caterpillar employing more than 385,000 Mid-America EDC 12-state Con Agra Foods people, 26% of total number region. The most common employed in the cluster in the industries concentrated in the United States. Fortune 1000 companies are Deere & Company the food products, automobile Discover Financial Services parts and suppliers and the Dow Chemical insurance industry. Eli Lilly & Co. Ferrellgas Partners OUTSTANDING FOR LOGISTICS AND General Mills Co. General Motors Co. TRANSPORTATION Goodyear Tire & Rubber Harley Davidson The region boasts strong connectivity. In the center of the J M Smucker Co. country, the region is well-poised for companies that have Johnson Controls, Inc. business on both US coasts as well as overseas. Kellogg Co. Kohlʼs There are more than The region is home to all of Kraft Foods 11,700 miles of primary the Class I railroads and Land OʼLakes Interstate highways in the several short line railroads. Lansing Trade Group region that provide connec- Macyʼs tions to the east and west McDonaldʼs Corp. coast, gulf coast, Mexico Motorola Solutions Inc. and Canada. There are approximately 80 Nationwide Mutual Insurance commercial ports in the Owens Corning region and large maritime Polaris Industries Transportation and logistics ports on the Great Lakes, Proctor & Gamble Co. is a common, significant Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio Rockwell Automation strength and asset of the Rivers. Waterways and com- Seaboard Corporation region. Business Facilities mercial ports are found on Sears magazine noted that the Lake Michigan, Lake Superi- Snap-On Tools region hosts the 3rd largest or, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings intermodal port in the world. Mississippi River, Missouri The region is also home to River, Illinois River, and Ohio Target Corp. the largest freshwater port in River. Toro Co. the world, the busiest border Union Pacific Railroad crossings in North America, is United Continental Holdings a center link of the NAFTA US Bancorp corridor, and the 2nd largest USG Corp. FedEX air hub worldwide. Westar Energy YRC Worldwide

UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT R&D The region is home to internationally recognized THE RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES HOUSE SEVERAL RESEARCH universities and colleges as well as national labs INSTITUTES AND INITIATIVES; and centers for innovation and research. SOME OF THE AREAS OF FOCUS ARE:

Bio-economy DO THE RESEARCH Metabolic biology SPARK IMAGINATION The region is home to 21 of the Environmental Health and Safety There are about 820 public and top 101 research universities in the United States (according to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology private universities and colleges in the Mid-America EDC region. the Council of State Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing Governments Midwest. Twelve Genomics and Bioinformatics (12) of the 60 members of the Archeology Association of American Advanced Algal and Plant Universities are located in the Mid-America EDC region Phenotyping CREATE NEW The region is home to 40 American research universities Bioenergy national laboratories. Four perform more than half of Autism, Intellectual and worth noting are the Ames all basic research in the Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Laboratory, Argonne National United States. Water sciences Laboratory, the Glenn Nanoscience Research Center, and the Sanford Underground Molecular engineering Research Facility. These labs Molecular pediatric services are centered on some of the Cardiovascular research common assets and strengths Cancer and other chronic diseases of the region – energy, aerospace and engineering. Supercomputing – advanced computational research Eye research POSITIONED WELL FOR NEW ENERGY Fusion technology PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION Engine research Nearly 15 billion gallons of ethanol are produced in the United Dairy research States per year. 78% of the US ethanol is produced in the Environmental remote sensing Mid-America EDC states region. Wind energy The “Blue” Economy - The region may be a leader, or position Skin diseases itself, as a leader in water technology in the US and North Ameica. The lakes and rivers of the Mid-America region are important from a transportation and logistics standpoint. The Global Council is a unique asset, as water technology is a key industry drive for many states in the Midwest.

AFFORDABLE COSTS OF OPERATION When a national site consultant was recently asked why one of his clients relocated operations from the West Coast to the Mid-America EDC region, he responded “skill sets and corresponding cost of talent. The location offered a lower cost profile than the west coast and the reliability of the talent/labor was great.”

Educational attainment for high school graduation and college attainment exceed the national average Five of the top most livable states are in the region Both household incomes and home ownership rates are above the national average, and this is an indication of health of a community and quality of life. Additionally, median value of homes are significantly below the US rate.

Mid-America EDC members are dedicated economic development professionals who share best practices to make you more valuable to your organization. Mid-America EDC is the best resource for making contact with site selectors, advancing regional economic development programs, and accessing thought leadership. Learn more at MidAmericaEDC.org