Southeast Missouri leaders promote SEMO Industrial Park to national site selectors

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (KBSI) — Southeast Missouri Regional Economic Development Inc. spent the first quarter of 2026 promoting Southeast Missouri and the SEMO Industrial Park to national site selectors and corporate consultants as part of an ongoing effort to attract industrial investment to the region.

SEMO REDI representatives attended conferences and recruitment missions in Atlanta, Columbus, Indianapolis and Arlington, Texas, meeting with consultants and firms involved in corporate site selection, incentives, infrastructure planning and industrial recruitment.

The organization said many industrial projects begin long before companies publicly announce plans for expansions or relocations, making relationships with site selectors and corporate advisors critical to future recruitment efforts.

At the center of the outreach efforts was the SEMO Industrial Park in Scott City, located near Cape Girardeau along the Interstate 55 corridor between St. Louis and Memphis. The industrial park includes about 380 acres, with roughly 360 acres available for development.

According to SEMO REDI, the site is Missouri Certified and is advancing through the nationally recognized REDI Sites certification process, which focuses on industrial site readiness.

SEMO REDI promoted the park’s transportation access, available acreage, utility infrastructure, tax incentives and workforce training programs during meetings with consultants and industry leaders. The organization also highlighted Southeast Missouri Regional Airport’s direct flights to Chicago and Dallas as competitive advantages for corporate accessibility and logistics.

Lucas Presson, SEMO REDI’s director of business growth and innovation, attended the 2026 Site Selectors Guild Spring Conference in Atlanta and the Southern Economic Development Council American South Site Selection Summit in Arlington, Texas. SEMO REDI CEO Shad Burner also participated in a Missouri Partnership outreach mission to Columbus and Indianapolis.

Conference discussions focused on workforce availability, infrastructure coordination, energy capacity, logistics access and speed-to-market — all factors influencing industrial recruitment nationwide.

SEMO REDI said the outreach efforts are intended to keep Southeast Missouri visible in national site selection discussions and position the region for future industrial investment and job growth.