• Unemployment rate:  6.8%

• Median Household Income:  $34,247

• Per Capita Income:  $14,486

• Average Household Income:  $40,442

Community Overview:

Pulaski County is located in south-central Missouri and is the home of Fort Leonard Wood, primary training facility of the United States Army.  The area economy is dependent on the military spending. 

Strategic Plan Highlights:  

With the implementation of its strategic plan, Fort Leonard Wood Regional Commerce and Growth Association seeks to achieve a balance in economic and community development. The community plans to:

• Expand and fund the economic development program of the Fort Leonard Wood Regional Commerce and Growth Association;

• Improve/expand the Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field;

• Improve surface transportation; and,

• Improve access to local health care.

Partnerships:

The Fort Leonard Wood Regional Commerce and Growth Association is a partnership of county, local governments, business and education.  Partners include:  Pulaski County, communities of Crocker, Dixon, Richland, St. Robert and Waynesville, Committee of 50 (a business organization), and the Waynesville R-6 School District.  Ex-officio partners include Fort Leonard Wood, University of Missouri-Rolla, U.S. Geological Survey, Meramec Regional Planning Commission and the Lake of the Ozarks Council of Local Governments.

Leveraging

For our health care efforts, contributions from area local hospitals have been used to fund a health care access study.  For surface transportation projects, the Missouri Department of Transportation is investing approximately $15 million to improve Missouri Avenue, main access into Fort Leonard Wood, and develop a West Gate access.  The Military Traffic and Management Command is investing approximately $20 million to develop the on-post portion of the West Gate.  Local transportation districts have been established to fund other local roadway improvements.  The Missouri Department of Transportation is assisting with funding studies for airport improvements and assisting in setting up a regional airport authority.  Local government and private contributions are used to fund the Fort Leonard Wood Regional Commerce and Growth Association. 

Community Involvement:

All member and ex-officio partners participate in monthly Board of Directors meetings of the Fort Leonard Wood Regional Commerce and Growth Association where the status of projects are received.  Notices of these meetings are published and the general public is welcome to attend.  We also send out news releases to the area media after the meetings.  

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