Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council

Things are in full swing this summer at the Lake of the Ozarks and everyone is gearing up for some great memories to be made.  At Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council we are proud of all the lake area has to offer those who work, live and visit here.  We are expecting even more people to be here this year to live the lake life, and we thought we would share with you a variety of things to do at the Lake of the Ozarks this summer. photo credit: Fun Lake MO 4 th of July. Of course, Independence Day is coming up and it is well known that the fireworks displays in the Lake of the Ozarks area are OUTSTANDING!   There are a lot to choose from, if you would like to see a full list of options, you can go to the links below and start making weekend plans! Fun Lake MO   - https://bit.ly/3h5ptac LakeExpo - https://bit.ly/3dsfr0v photo credit: Fun Lake MO Bagnell Dam & Strip. But the fun doesn’t stop with the 4 th of July, the lake area offe...

It is easy to look at the upcoming 3-day weekend as the official kickoff to summer.  But when you look at the way Memorial Day began and has evolved, the holiday brings a much deeper meaning and symbolism than many realize.  In the United States, the concept of Memorial Day began with Decoration Day, which was about honoring those veterans who died in the Civil War.  Over 620,000 soldiers were lost in that war and the tradition of decorating their graves began before the war ended.  One of the earliest examples of this type of commemoration occurred on May 1, 1865 when regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops and over 1,000 recently freed people gathered at the site of a mass grave of Union soldiers to dedicate a new, proper burial for them.  In May of 1868, it was decreed by General John A Logan that May 30 should be a day to decorate their graves and honor the sacrifice of all those who fought and died in the Civil War. After the First World War, which took 8.5 m...

Named after the dragon-like shape of the lake, the Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals car show has been a favorite here locally for over 30 years. It is a huge event at the Lake of the Ozarks that boosts our local economy and brings people in from near and far to experience the fun and beauty of the Ozarks. It can draw around 1,000 participants and 10,000 spectators to the Bagnell Dam Strip for a weekend of some of the coolest cars, trucks, and motorcycles (of all makes and models) you have ever seen! It has the atmosphere of a block party with the street closed to regular traffic and the Strip full of show vehicles only. With numerous dining and shopping options available on site, you can spend the whole day and never have to leave. If that sounds like a blast to you, and you would like to be a spectator, here is a quick run down of what is happening. Schedule. Saturday, 6AM - Street is closed to regular traffic - Registered Show Vehicles ONLY Saturday, 8AM - Show hours start, S...

While Missouri is home to 10 Fortune 500 companies and just as many of America's largest private companies as designated by Forbes, the state is equally dedicated to the growth of smaller businesses as well. Missouri is all about economic and business growth. The state has maintained a solid business environment over the years and that stability helps companies that are new to the state plan for growth even before relocating business to Missouri . Let's take a look at a few of the advantages to doing business in the "Show-Me" State. Missouri Labor Force  Missouri has one of the most valuable workforces you will find anywhere across the country. Based on high school graduation rates, Missouri has a better educated workforce than most other states. This means our workers have the basic competencies to support advanced manufacturing and logistics. Missouri is home to nationally ranked Washington University in St. Louis, and nearly 140 other degree-granting instituti...

A National Public Television series airing in 90% of the Country!  CHICAGO: "Family Travel with Colleen Kelly,” a popular National Public Television series, will feature the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, highlighting the outdoor adventure, water activities, shopping, dining and attractions that make the area a great family vacation destination. The Lake of the Ozarks episode will be part of the show's season two lineup. The show's host, Colleen Kelly, and the crew will spend time throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area July 15-17, shooting segments at Ha Ha Tonka State Park, Bridal Cave and Thunder Mountain Park and Captain Ron’s Bar and Grill. They also will go fishing, have some fun on the lake with Iguana Watersports, take a flight over the lake with Airlake Aviation, go on an excursion on the Tom Sawyer Paddlewheeler at Bagnell Dam and shop at Blair’s Landing on Main Street. Kelly says the Lake of the Ozarks was an obvious choice for the show and that s...

The business climate at the Lake of the Ozarks is dynamic and growing.  The Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council is here to share information and resources to help you and your business thrive here at the Lake.  In March, we started a series of blogs about great organizations that are helping to promote business growth in the Lake Area.  In addition to the Tri-County Lodging Association that we talked about before, the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitors Bureau (LOCVB) plays a huge part in our growth! Convention & Visitors Bureau The Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau (LOCVB) was first called the Lake of the Ozarks Improvement Association in 1932.  Over the years, the name was changed to the Lake of the Ozarks Association, and shortened by many as simply, Lake Association.  In the early 1980’s, the official name was changed to Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau. The LOCVB is supp...

The Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council is dedicated to providing resources and information for businesses considering moving to the Lake of the Ozarks area. There are a wide range of resources available to help either establish a new business in the state of Missouri, or to make relocating your business easier. Here are some resources that can help (gathered from http://www.business.mo.gov/resources.asp ) Raising Money or Capital for Your Business The Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provide comprehensive business counseling, including assistance in finding the right type of funding for your situation. The Missouri SBDC can help prepare you to seek either debt or equity financing to fund your business strategies. They can also help you develop strategies to fund growth without seeking external funding sources. The Missouri Catalog of State Assistance Programs provides detailed information about state grants, loans and assistance pr...

The Lake of the Ozarks has a dynamic and growing business climate.  The Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council would like to share some information in a series of Blogs about some great organizations that are helping to promote business growth in our Lake Area.  These organizations are committed to educating potential new business owners and businesses thinking of relocating to the Lake of the Ozarks about the tremendous potential the lake offers.   The first organization we would like to feature is the Tri-County Lodging Association (TCLA). Tri-County Lodging Association The Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association was formed when a large group of accommodation facility owners were concerned that they didn’t have enough funding to adequately advertise and promote The Lake of the Ozarks. After receiving the proper legislative authority and establishing the Business Districts in each of the Counties, the accommodation facilit...

There is no better place in the country for quality of life than the Lake of the Ozarks If you are considering moving your business to the Lake of the Ozarks area , you will find that we may have the best quality of life of anywhere in the country.  With our tremendous range of recreational activities, low cost of living, award winning schools, and fantastic shopping and restaurants, we offer all the advantages of more urban areas while being on the shores of a lake with more shoreline than the state of California. Recreational activities abound at the Lake! We offer a wide range of recreational activities throughout the area.  We are home to more than 13 golf courses all within an easy drive with courses that will challenge all skill levels.  Our lake offers unparalleled boating opportunities for boats of all sizes, from Kayaking to PWC's to Pontoons, to Cruisers.  Marinas and waterfront restaurants are plentiful and there are several national level bo...

Assessing the Workforce at the Lake of the Ozarks The Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council (LOREDC) commissioned a Workforce Assessment to obtain a measure of the Quality of Labor in Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties. The purpose of assessing the workforce is to provide employers with labor information necessary to make better-informed decisions for private investment that minimizes risks for hiring, retaining, and developing the workforce. Further, to support quality economic growth, this data provides local officials information to promote a better understanding on the competitive realities in today’s workforce market, to develop the strategies for improving the skills, quality and availability of its workforce, and to enable the Lake of the Ozarks counties and its employers to better compete at all market levels.   Some Highlights of the Assessment RESPONSES A total of 28 business firms completed the online Workforce Assessment. This repr...