Food Processing Business Cluster

St. Joseph Feeds Rest Of The Country​

primed and ready hub for
the Food Processing industry

Our central location will give you an unmatched advantage due to our strength in food production labor. Here is our comparison to the national average: 

  • 29 times more employed in Flour Milling
  • 5 times more employed in Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
  • 6 times more employed in Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing

 

St. Joseph

Top Food Processing Employers

St. Joseph

​ Centered in the Agricultural Research Triangle - Providing Support to Food Processors

St. Joseph is situated in the Midwest’s Agricultural Research Triangle where companies, universities, researchers, and farmers team together to test and discover the most efficient and effective ways that bioscience can benefit the country. Within this triangle, at least five major universities offer special programs for those in the agricultural sciences field.

The St. Joseph metropolitan area, located in both Missouri and Kansas, has 24.74% of its workforce in manufacturing, the 18th-highest rate in the study conducted by SmartAsset.

387% Growth in Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing

  • 9 times more employed in Flour Milling​
  • 5 times more employed in Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing​
  • 6 times more employed in Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing​
  • 387% Growth in Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing

Workforce Training Designed for You​

The St. Joseph Workforce Development Alliance works with education partners to coordinate training and educational assets to meet the workforce needs of industry.

Workforce Data

 Industry5Y Growth
Soft Drink Manufacturing644%
Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing387%
Bottled Water Manufacturing133%
Fluid Milk Manufacturing100%
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing78%
All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing55%
Ice Manufacturing53%
Meat Processed from Carcasses41%
Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing40%
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing24%
Breweries23%
Fruit and Vegetable Canning22%
Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing22%
Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing12%
Flour Milling6%
Distilleries6%

 

Compared to the a USA average region of the same size, St. Joseph has…

10X more employed in Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing

9X more employed in Flour Milling

8X more employed in Fats and Oils Refining and Blending

6X more employed in Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing

5X more employed in Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering

5X more employed in Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing

4X more employed in Meat Processed from Carcasses

4X more employed in Other Animal Food Manufacturing

3X more employed in Ice Manufacturing

3X more employed in Dry Pasta, Dough, and Flour Mixes Manufacturing from Purchased Flour

3X more employed in Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing

3X more employed in All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing

3X more employed in Wet Corn Milling

2X more employed in Bottled Water Manufacturing

2 X more employed in Distilleries

Above the average in Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing

Above the average in Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing

IndustryWages
Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing $54,917
Meat Processed from Carcasses$54,496
Ice Manufacturing$41,158
Bottled Water Manufacturing$48,833
Distilleries$50,039
Commercial Bakeries$45,290
Breweries$30,565
Retail Bakeries$27,525
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing$46,297
Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate$28,943
Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing$44,507
Wineries$21,053
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing$53,001

Labor Availability

This map shows that 17,489 people travel to the St. Joseph area daily for work, proving that a good employer can draw labor from a wide radius. Additionally, this map shows that 15,907 people drive from St. Joseph’s region to work in other locations. This creates a potential workforce as the vast majority of these 15,907 workers will consider working in the St. Joseph area, as more jobs are created.

Transportation Infrastructure

St. Joseph is a crossroads for two major thoroughfares, Interstate 29 and U.S. Highway 36. The city is served by two interstate highways, one proposed interstate, and four U.S. Routes. 

Major Airport

St. Joseph is just 35 minutes from Kansas City International Airport (KCI). KCI is a full service, international airport served by every major U.S. passenger and all-cargo carriers. More than 400 flights from 11 major carriers arrive and depart daily from KCI, and airfares are among the lowest in the nation.

Rail

Rail service provided by Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway provides direct access to all parts of North America

St. Joseph Regional Port Authority

The Missouri River, part of the nation’s inland waterway system, is St. Joseph’s gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. Our public river port facility gives area businesses the affordable option of transporting via river barge. The port is located at Missouri River mile 448. The port facility also has a Union Pacific rail spur. It is operated by Transport 360, which is built to accommodate everything from small business to major corporations.

Featured real estate

Click here to view Eastowne Business Park and other real estate options.

Incentives Options to Suit Your Needs*

Economic Development Programs Related to New Job Creation and Capital Investment:

  • Buchanan County Economic Development Fund

  • St. Joseph Industrial Foundation

  • Chapter 100 Bond Program

  • Missouri State Incentives

  • Tax Increment Financing

  • Chapter 353 Tax Abatement

  • Improvement Districts

  • BUILD Program infrastructure

  • Economic Development riders for Electricity/Water

Redevelopment Related Programs:

  • Tax Increment Financing

  • Chapter 353 Tax Abatement

  • Improvement Districts

*Eligibility criteria apply

Our Recent Momentum: