Targeted Sectors
Our metalworking cluster not only deals with basic metalworking processes it is also comprised of a myriad of metalworking sectors with a specialized workforce for equipment refurbishment. In the year 2017, our 10-county labor shed posted over $339 million in metalworking industry demand of which a little over $147 million or 43.41% was met by existing regional businesses, leaving a potential $192 million worth of demand up for grab by existing businesses through expansion or for new businesses around the region that are considering moving into West Plains.
Plastics Processing is a growing targeted industry in West Plains’ labor shed. In the year 2017, the industry cluster posted a strong demand of over $66 million of which only 1.5% was met by existing plastics processing companies. This leaves a potential business opportunity of over $65 million in this targeted sector. It is worth noting that a few sub-sectors such as resin manufacturing, tire manufacturing, rubber products manufacturing for mechanical use -each posted a 2017 annual demand over $3 million and 100% of the demand were met by importing from out of the region.
Our region features a cluster of agricultural and meat production and processing businesses. West Plains hosts one of the largest sale barns in the State of Missouri. This has spark a large number of related industries to call this area home. Human food, animal feed and spices extracts all can be found in the area. Particularly, during our very strong hunting season game processing is big business.
West Plains’ woodworking cluster features several existing industry sectors and a skilled workforce. The combined woodworking posted a 2017 total demand of over $114 million of which 30% was met by imports from outside the region. A sub-sector of the cluster- Wood Preservation had a total demand over $4 million in 2017 of which only 37% was met by regional business which leaves a potential $2.5 million business opportunity in this targeted sector.
West Plains’ labor shed has a tremendous healthcare workforce with a large portion of it specialized at Adult Healthcare Services. The industry posted a 2017 total demand of over $526 million of which only 46.7% or $246 million was met within region, leaving a potential 53.2% or $280 million worth of business opportunity in this targeted industry sector.

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