Economic Development

This department works to diversify Branson's economic base by recruiting new businesses to the Branson area, compiling demographic data about Branson, and being of assistance to local businesses in helping them expand.

Ever mindful of economic growth, city leaders and the economic development department continually work to expand the tax base through the creation of new jobs and capital investment.

Tourism is Major Industry

The city of Branson (population 7,435; 7.8 million visitors annually and growing) is located in southwest Missouri, 35 miles south of Springfield within the heart of the Ozark Mountains. Branson, located in Taney County, serves as the job, service and shopping center for a two county area with over 75,000 year round residents. Branson is surrounded by three prize winning fishing lakes. The city has an incorporated boundary of over 19 square miles. This city has become the focus of international attention as both a major development area and an entertainment and tourism Mecca. The reasons are numerous and range from the scenic natural beauty of the area to the star studded theaters along Highway 76 with their line-up of major recording artists as well as other family oriented entertainment offerings

Situated within a day’s drive of 30% of the U.S. population, Branson and the Tri-Lakes Area (Taney and Stone counties) serve up to 70,000 visitors daily who pump almost 2- billion dollars into the local economy.  Branson has 53 theaters with 59,757 theater seats, 207 lodging facilities with 18,808 rooms and 458 restaurants that can seat 38,813.

Branson’s first convention center opened in August 2007 The Branson Convention Center provides a powerful incentive for associations, groups and companies to visit Branson.  www.bransonconvention.com

Shows
Those 53 theaters host more than 100 shows throughout the day – breakfast shows, matinees and evening performances round out a full day of great entertainment.  Country, pop, swing, rock n’ roll, gospel, classical and Broadway-style music and productions join comedy and magic shows to provide visitors a wide array of entertainment choices. 

Shopping
Branson’s newest shopping attraction, Branson Landing, opened in 2006.  This $420 million, 95-acre development along Lake Taneycomo blends over 100 retail shops with dining, luxury lodging, river walk, town square, marinas, and nightlife into a dynamic, waterfront setting.

Branson is also home to three outlet shopping malls (with more than 200 retailers), as well as Engler Block, the Grand Village and other unique shopping areas.  Shoppers can find contemporary clothing, Ozarks crafts, gift items, housewares, designer shoes, luggage and a myriad of other treasures throughout the year. 

Historic Downtown Branson is also a shopper and diner’s delight.  An old-fashioned 5 & 10, several boutiques and specialty stores combined with other quaint eateries make the downtown area truly special.  

Lake activities
The Branson/Lakes Area is home to three scenic lakes offering fishing, boating, parasailing, jet skiing, scuba diving and swimming.  While the lakes all offer great fishing for novice and professional anglers, each has its specialty. Table Rock Lake offers world-class bass fishing.  Lake Taneycomo, with its cold waters, offers superb trout fishing.  Bull Shoals Lake is also an angler’s paradise especially for tournament bass fishing.

While Branson is small in population, it has all the accoutrements of a large community...and then some! Combined with robust economy, well-funded schools and lovely residential areas, you’ll find a community that cares about its neighbors. Although we can go on and on about this remarkable place, you really need to visit the area and see it for yourself.

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Universities

Branson Colleges
	College of the Ozarks
	Ozark Technical Community College (satellite facility)
Springfield Colleges & Universities
	Missouri State University
	Drury University
	Evangel University
	Ozark Technical Community College
	Webster University (satellite facility)
	Baptist Bible College
	Central Bible College

Major employers
The economy in Branson is booming, and there are an increasing number of employment opportunities in all sectors of the job market.  Since tourism is the mainstay of the area’s economy, most of the largest employers are in tourist-related industries.   

Herschend Family Entertainment - theme parks, retail and other attractions - 2,300
Skaggs Community Health Center - health care - 804
Tanger Factory Outlet - retail - 550
Branson R-IV Public Schools - education - 465
College of the Ozarks - education - 258
City of Branson - municipal government - 252
Wal-Mart - retail - 250
Country Mart - grocery chain - 240
Factory Merchants Mall - retail - 200
White River Electric Cooperative - utility - 135  

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Transportation

Branson’s strategic location in the center of the United States provides for efficient access to customers and suppliers across the United States.

U.S. Highway 65, a major north-south, 4-lane highway, runs through our city providing a corridor from Minnesota to Louisiana.  Southwest Missouri’s primary east-west thoroughfare, Interstate 44, intersects with Highway 65 in Springfield, 35 miles north of Branson.

The Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF) is approximately 43 miles from Branson and serves all of southwest Missouri with 70 daily flights connecting to eight international airports.  www.sgf-branson-airport.com.  

The Taney County Airport, a general aviation airport, is located in the center of the Branson attraction area. www.taneycountyairport.com.

The Branson area’s first commercial airport opens in the spring of 2009. Located south of Branson and east of Highway 65, the airport will have a 7,140- foot runway to accommodate commercial jets, and Branson Airport officials are in discussions with several airlines about serving the Branson area.

Utilities

Electric
The Branson area is serviced by two electric utility providers: (1) city - franchised, investor-owned Empire District Electric Company (www.empiredistrict.com); (2) a cooperative - White River Valley Electric Cooperative (www.whiteriver.org).

Natural Gas
Southern Missouri Natural Gas has been granted approval by the city of Branson to begin the process of providing natural gas to the Branson region. Southern Missouri Natural Gas is pursuing the necessary requirements with the Missouri Public Service Commission to bring natural gas to the city of Branson. Southern Missouri already provides natural gas to 8,000 customers in south central Missouri.

Water and sewer
The city of Branson owns and operates the water and sewer utilities within the city limits.  With two water treatment plants and two wastewater treatment plants, the city has the capacity to keep pace with the growth of the city for years to come.

Telecommunications
Branson is serviced by local telephone provider Centurytel (www.centurytel.com) and several other wireless service alternatives.

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Growth and Vitality

Ever mindful of economic growth, city leaders and the economic development department continued their efforts in expanding the tax base through the creation of new jobs and capital investment.  In 2006, the city’s economic development department assisted in the location of 24 new companies and the expansion and retention of 13 existing businesses that created new capital investment in excess of $215 million. These companies created and retained more than 3,000 employment opportunities in Branson during 2006.  Some of the projects generated by or substantially assisted through the city’s economic development efforts included:

Titanic: the Legend Continues, a museum attraction with over 400 priceless artifacts and historic treasures from the ill-fated cruise liner.

The 2,000 seat Sight and Sound Theater that features elaborate productions based on Biblical stories.

Branson Hills Plaza that brought the first Home Depot, Target, Kohl’s, Wal-Mart Supercenter and TJ Maxx stores to Branson

Branson Commerce Park, the city’s first industrial park that includes light industrial, retail and residential on 400 acres.

Branson Convention Center and Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel that features a 220,000 square foot convention center with a 47,000 square foot exhibition hall and adjacent 293 room hotel.

The value of new construction in the city for 2006 set an all-time record.  Since the opening of the $420 million Branson Landing along the lakefront in 2005, a domino effect has occurred as developers, investors and businesses now want to be a part of the increased national attention and capture the additional visitors that the waterfront project has generated.  This kind of growth and enhanced economic activity benefits the community by providing greater business opportunities, more employment prospects for residents, a higher standard of living for citizens, and even more reasons for people to visit Branson.

2007 Branson Tri-Lakes Real Estate Statistics (Tri-Lakes includes Taney and Stone counties including Branson)
Residential  
Residential closings: 1,774 – up 16%
Residential listings: 2,536 – up 34%
Condo closings in Taney County: 102 – down 1%

Office
Downtown occupancy rate: 85% - up 29%
Highway 76 occupancy rate: 89% - up 4%
Off-Highway 76 occupancy rate: 76% up 1%
Total occupancy rate: 81% - up 4%
Average tenant rate: $12.69/sq ft – up 1%

Hospitality
Room rates and occupancy ratio (RevPAR): $37.86 – up 9%
Hotel room revenue: $210.8 million – up 13%
Room rate: $75.90 – up 9%
Occupancy rate: 49.9 – flat

Retail
Retail square feet on Highway 76: 282,405 – up 4%
Retail square feet off Highway 76: 815,141 – up 9%
Total square feet: 1,097,546 – up 8%
Total occupied square feet: 963,751 – flat

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Taxes

Corporate Income Taxes
The tax rate for corporations is 6.25% applied to Missouri taxable income. In addition, Missouri allows 50% of federal income tax payments to be deducted before computing taxable income. Using the deduction, a corporation with a taxable income of $1 million would have a Missouri effective tax rate of only 5.2%.

For corporations conducting business both inside and outside Missouri, only income earned in Missouri is taxed. Two allocation options are offered for calculating this income: 1) a single-factor formula based on sales, or 2) a three-factor formula based on property, payroll, and sales. Missouri is the only state that permits companies to choose the formula that results in the lesser corporate income tax liability. In addition, Missouri has not adopted unitary tax assessment in computing corporate income tax liability.

Certain tax credits may apply. For more information about the incentives offered by the state of Missouri, visit the Missouri Department of Economic Development at www.ded.mo.gov

Sales Taxes
The city of Branson has a general sales tax on retail sales plus a tourism tax on tourism related businesses like hotels, attractions and restaurants. Two of Branson’s major shopping centers, Branson Landing and Branson Hills, have special improvement district sales taxes. Click here for a complete sales tax chart.

 

Property Taxes
Commercial and industrial real property is assessed at 32% of fair market value.
Residential property is assessed at 19% of fair market value.
Taney County tax levies per hundred dollars on total assessed valuation.
Taney County	0.00
Branson R-4 Schools	3.45
Taney Co. Health	.1404
Taney Co. Handicapped	.0907
City of Branson	.4902
State of Missouri	.0300
Total	4.2013
Residential example:  $200,000 home x 19% = $38,000 assessed value, divided by 100 = $380 x 4.2013 (total mill levy) = $1,596.49 total property tax within the city of Branson.