Economic Development at Lake of the Ozarks: Healthcare, Education, Cost of Living, Housing, Low Crime & Clean Air/Water
There are 6 essential attributes that develop a high quality of life in
our communities: recreation, healthcare, education, cost of living,
housing, and low crime/clean air and water. Last month, we talked about all the recreational opportunities here at The Lake and now we'll touch on the other 5 attributes. You will learn why the Lake
of the Ozarks region is a relaxing friendly place to live, work and
play!
Lake Regional Health System provides comprehensive health care services to Lake Area residents and visitors. The 116-bed hospital is a state designated Level III trauma center. It is accredited by The Joint Commission and is a past recipient of the Missouri Quality Award. Cardiac care services include open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterization and cardiac rehab.
Lake Regional Cancer Center offers patients chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments in a comfortable atmosphere close to home. Lake Regional Health System also operates primary care, urgent care, specialty and rehab therapy clinics, retail pharmacies and home health services throughout the Lake Area.
Four high schools are conveniently located in the Lake Area, and the graduating senior classes have ACT scores that are consistently above the state and national averages. Two out of three graduates advance on to college.
The area has two technical career centers, a four-year liberal arts college extension campus and a satellite community college. These educational institutions work closely with community businesses to provide needed training for the area's work force.
The Lake of the Ozarks Region has a great competitive advantage in cost of living. In 2014 (2nd qtr), the state of Missouri had the 11th lowest cost of living index in the Untied States at 92.7. A further breaking down shows Missouri ranking in the United States as follows: Utilities 3rd lowest; Transportation cost (gasoline) 7th lowest; Health Care 16th lowest; Housing and Grocery 18th lowest. The composite index for the Lake of the Ozarks Region is below the Missouri State average.
The Lake of the Ozarks Region offers an endless variety of housing options. There are numerous apartment complexes, condo developments and houses both on and off the lakefront. Housing is priced to match all income levels, and development of new housing in all categories continues at a brisk pace. The Lake of the Ozarks Region is experiencing a population explosion at a rate of more than 30%, and developers are starting new projects every month.
The region is very fortunate to have excellent police forces in the counties and cities in our area, with low crime levels. Living in central Missouri, we are also fortunate to have very clean air and water for our residents.
The Lake of the Ozarks is a diverse area that has an excellent business environment and outstanding "quality of life" attributes. However, it needed a cohesive and cooperative effort to sell these advantages to potential business and industry. As a result, a number of local agencies, organizations and businesses have joined together to enhance the efforts of economic development opportunities at the Lake of the Ozarks through the creation of the Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council (LOREDC). Started 11 year ago as an informal exchange of information between communities throughout the tri-county region, LOREDC has now evolved into a structured committee with the purpose to retain and attract business to the Lake with the understanding that what is good for one community is good for the entire region. LOREDC is the liaison to the Lake of the Ozarks community. For more information about the organization, visit our website www.LOREDC.com or contact Tim Jacobsen at 573-348-1599.
Healthcare
Lake Regional Health System provides comprehensive health care services to Lake Area residents and visitors. The 116-bed hospital is a state designated Level III trauma center. It is accredited by The Joint Commission and is a past recipient of the Missouri Quality Award. Cardiac care services include open-heart surgery, cardiac catheterization and cardiac rehab.
Lake Regional Cancer Center offers patients chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments in a comfortable atmosphere close to home. Lake Regional Health System also operates primary care, urgent care, specialty and rehab therapy clinics, retail pharmacies and home health services throughout the Lake Area.
Education
Four high schools are conveniently located in the Lake Area, and the graduating senior classes have ACT scores that are consistently above the state and national averages. Two out of three graduates advance on to college.
The area has two technical career centers, a four-year liberal arts college extension campus and a satellite community college. These educational institutions work closely with community businesses to provide needed training for the area's work force.
Cost of Living
The Lake of the Ozarks Region has a great competitive advantage in cost of living. In 2014 (2nd qtr), the state of Missouri had the 11th lowest cost of living index in the Untied States at 92.7. A further breaking down shows Missouri ranking in the United States as follows: Utilities 3rd lowest; Transportation cost (gasoline) 7th lowest; Health Care 16th lowest; Housing and Grocery 18th lowest. The composite index for the Lake of the Ozarks Region is below the Missouri State average.
Housing
The Lake of the Ozarks Region offers an endless variety of housing options. There are numerous apartment complexes, condo developments and houses both on and off the lakefront. Housing is priced to match all income levels, and development of new housing in all categories continues at a brisk pace. The Lake of the Ozarks Region is experiencing a population explosion at a rate of more than 30%, and developers are starting new projects every month.
Low Crime/Clean Air, Water
The region is very fortunate to have excellent police forces in the counties and cities in our area, with low crime levels. Living in central Missouri, we are also fortunate to have very clean air and water for our residents.
Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council
The Lake of the Ozarks is a diverse area that has an excellent business environment and outstanding "quality of life" attributes. However, it needed a cohesive and cooperative effort to sell these advantages to potential business and industry. As a result, a number of local agencies, organizations and businesses have joined together to enhance the efforts of economic development opportunities at the Lake of the Ozarks through the creation of the Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council (LOREDC). Started 11 year ago as an informal exchange of information between communities throughout the tri-county region, LOREDC has now evolved into a structured committee with the purpose to retain and attract business to the Lake with the understanding that what is good for one community is good for the entire region. LOREDC is the liaison to the Lake of the Ozarks community. For more information about the organization, visit our website www.LOREDC.com or contact Tim Jacobsen at 573-348-1599.
Please subscribe to our blog and enjoy!
1000 City Parkway
Osage Beach, MO 65065
573-569-7420
Comments
Post a Comment