Economics

Branson has enjoyed vigorous economic growth, even during tough economic times. In the first quarter of 2008, Missouri had the 5th lowest cost of living in the United States, according to Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. The rankings are based on the costs of groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, health care and miscellaneous.

In fact, Branson’s economy has enjoyed steady growth for many years with the past three years seeing the value of new construction surpassing $100 million each year. The city’s 1.5 percent sales tax revenue has grown steadily for more than a decade.

That revenue enables the city to build state-of-the-art streets and water and wastewater systems. It provides added value for residents including the $12 million RecPlex, a recreation/sports complex and water park, and the development of a 100-mile network of hiking and biking trails.

Tourism continues to be the primary industry, but several entities cooperate to ensure a well-rounded business base including the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community and Economic Development Advisory Council.

The city of Branson’s Economic Development department answers many queries from potential investors. And the Branson Commerce Park, now under construction, is a 200-acre master-planned mixed-use park for light industry, warehouse, showrooms, retail and 600 affordably priced homes for the workforce.

Visitors return each year to see what’s new. Recent projects include:

• Branson Landing, the $450-million downtown lakefront lifestyle center with shops, restaurants, condos, a public plaza, Fountains of Fire and a two-mile boardwalk.
• The ship-shaped “World’s Largest Titanic Museum Attraction,” a half-scale replica towering 100 feet high with more than 400 artifacts.
• The $75 million Sight & Sound Theater features Christian Broadway musicals.
• Herschend Family Entertainment added the $8 million Grand Exposition of family-friendly rides at Silver Dollar City.
• The largest new retail project is Branson Hills Plaza with stores including Target, Home Depot, a Wal-Mart Supercenter and many more.
• Nearby is the 1,200-acre master-planned Branson Hills community anchored by the Tribute Golf Club dedicated to golfing legend Payne Stewart.
• Near the RecPlex and Branson schools, the community offers condominiums to custom homes.
• And certain to boost the area economy is the $155 million Branson Airport set to open in May. The first privately financed and operated airport in the United States provides full commercial service.

Even as other cities saw new development diminish in 2008, confidence in Branson’s future enabled several substantial projects including a $1.9 million infill of the new Veterans Administration Clinic in Branson. The clinic will serve the needs of veterans from a broad, under-served region of Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas.

Another large investment was the $4 million expansion of the Branson Heart Center and the $755,000 First Community Bank building.