Quality of life is a highly subjective factor that plays an important role in business site selection. Companies dependent upon the recruitment of talented professionals and highly skilled technical workers know that an attractive and affordable living environment encourages resident relocations and can lessen the need for relocation bonuses. 

Businesses with frequent visitors (showrooms, corporate meetings, etc.) understand the importance of a good selection of nearby restaurants, catering services and meeting and hotel space. Developers and owner-occupants know that an attractive community can help ensure market stability and growth of property values. Many prospective investors examine cost and quality of life carefully. This often includes assessments of housing, schools, safety and lifestyle amenities. 

While specifics vary, one consistent feature across the FLW Region is the affordable cost of living. Although it is generally lower as one moves westward through the Region, living arrangements are relatively inexpensive throughout the Region. The largest living cost is housing, and in the FLW Region housing costs are low compared to those found elsewhere. 

Because of the tremendous influx of the military installation’s civilian and service-related personnel, the housing stock has expanded almost exponentially in the past several years. Phelps and especially Pulaski Counties are still playing catch-up to accommodate the housing demand generated from the base realignment and closure (BRAC) announcement of the late 1990's. With recent decisions to increase installation missions and add more than 1,800 jobs, demand will continue to grow. Housing prices have climbed appreciably, and they appear to remain on an upward trajectory, making residential investment in the area a good value. 

Though not as pronounced as housing costs, the aggregate cost of living (including housing, shopping, transportation, and so on) is also low by national standards. Based on previously completed studies and the comments of local officials and employers, much of the Region has suffered from an insufficient supply of affordable housing. This problem remains in Phelps County, but it is being addressed. By contrast, Laclede County has an abundance of affordable housing, but there are limitations on the higher end.

Source: Sperling Best Places

The FLW Region can rightly claim a quality public school system to go along with its reputation as a higher education hub. An examination of public high schools in the Region reveals programs exceeding state norms in many categories. With few exceptions, these schools outperform the state in Math, Communications, ACT scores and graduation rates.

The same holds true when FLW Region schools are compared to those in competing communities along Missouri’s interstates. In the Region, Rolla Senior High School shines most brightly, but all appear to be achieving success. Note that these comments may not, in all cases, reflect overall public educational achievement, merely that of the counties’ major high schools.  

* Percent of students meeting or exceeding Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) standards 

Sources: Great Schools.net and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The FLW Region faces a battle against crime as many rurual areas do. Property crimes in the Region, whether based on Lebanon or Rolla data, show rates above the national average. 

Lebanon’s violent crime rate is above the national average and most comparison locales. Rolla’s is considerably lower than the national average and in the midrange of comparison locales. As stated by local authorities, much of the Region’s crime can be attributed directly or indirectly to the methamphetamine drug crisis facing much of the country. This issue touches many facets of business operation in the community, ranging from employee safety to pilferage, to employee productivity and the prevalence of mandatory employee drug screening.

The City of Lebanon and Laclede County have formed an anti-meth task force to establish effective, multi-approach programs to combat the problem and related crime rates. The other counties will use this as a pilot program to help them implement effective programs.

Source: Sperling Best Places

Culture, recreation, entertainment and restaurants are all quality of life factors. An examination of them in the FLW Region reveals no uniform picture. To the east, UMR has spawned a cultural and entertainment community that continues to grow, including arts and theatre. University-based recreational amenities and sports - with added support from local government - are present, and the area has a sufficient supply of restaurants for a community its size. 

Companies located at the Tech Park at FLW have access to certain recreational and entertainment amenities on the military installation itself, as well as outside its gate.  As one moves westward into Laclede County, some lifestyle amenities, as well as suitable lodging, are harder to come by, with those in Phelps County less accessible.

This is a challenge for companies drawn to a variety of lifestyle amenities, including those reliant upon employee relocations from outside the area - cited as a problem by employers throughout the Region. However, this is an aspect that improves every year as more regional and national retail, entertainment and hospitality providers expand into the region. 

Both St. Louis and Springfield can be quickly reached by Interstate and provide the full range of amenities associated with large metropolitan areas. 

One quality of life that is consistent throughout the Region is the spectacular wooded countryside, especially the Mark Twain National Forest and the many trails and waterways, which hold tremendous appeal to outdoor enthusiasts.    

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