Things to Do in Columbia, Missouri

Columbia has made a name for itself in parks, leisure and everything in between. The city has a little something – in some cases, a lot – for every recreational appetite.

Hundreds of miles of pedestrian and bike trails. Numerous parks that offer play, fishing, splash pads, disc golf and much more. It’s only getting better, thanks to forward-thinking planners and community members who embrace green space planning.

Philips Park Expansion

The A. Perry Philips Park project is a major expansion site for the park district, according to Megan McConachie, strategic communications manager for the Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau. Located on Highway 63 at the Discovery Parkway exit, the park spans 140-acres and includes a fishing lake and walking trails. A 1.4-mile gravel trail loops around the perimeter of the lake, which is stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

“This is the first major development out there,” McConachie said.

The sports fieldhouse project calls for construction of multiple indoor courts that can be used for basketball, volleyball and other hardcourt sports. Columbia officials believe the development will be a huge asset allowing for the city to become known as a sports tournament destination. The new amenities should be a real tourism boon, McConachie said.

“The south part of Columbia is definitely a growing area, so we want to make sure there are recreational opportunities out that way,” McConachie said.

Included in the expansion is the Southeast Regional Park Tennis Complex, which will tentatively be rolled out in three phases. The complex will feature four tennis courts, four pickleball courts, court lighting, a shelter, a restroom and more than 100 parking spots.

Aesthetic upgrades are also scheduled for the area. They include a bridge over the existing low-water crossing on the trail, landscaping improvements at parking areas, signage and tree plantings at the park.

Cross Country Hot Spot

Across the road at neighboring Gans Creek Recreation Area, big things are underway to build upon the five soccer or multipurpose fields and concession/restroom building there. The 320-acre park is the site of a proposed championship-level cross country track. Work has begun on the course, which is set to include a 500-meter starting chute; irrigated 10-meter-wide grass running surface; 2k and 3k loops for multiple race distances; and a permanent start line structure, finish line structure and checkpoints.

Other key features are a timing tower and an elevated viewing area for spectators, as well as an outdoor shelter and indoor building with restrooms.

“It’s the first of its kind – really a premier facility,” McConachie said, adding that the venue was designed to host major competitive events.

The project was planned with – and partially paid for by – the University of Missouri. The Gans Creek Cross Country Course will be the home course for the university, along with other local high schools and colleges.

The course will host the Missouri State High School Championships starting in 2019. In addition, the course will host the NCAA Southeastern Conference Championship in 2021.

That’s not the only premier spot for tournaments in Columbia. Harmony Bends Championship Disc Golf Course is just a few years old and already has earned quite the reputation in and around town, McConachie said.

Disc Golf Go-To

One major coup is that in May 2020, Harmony Bends will host the Tim Selinske United States Masters Championships, put on by the Professional Disc Golf Association. The event likely will draw several hundred participants and many spectators.

It is expected to be a strong tourism magnet.

“The impact that will hit during the event and then the ripples felt afterwards will leave a lasting effect” on the local economy, McConachie said.

The 18-hole venue, located at Strawn Park, is the imaginative handiwork of renowned disc golf course designer John Houck. It features big hills, wide meandering creeks, and lots of tall trees – everything needed to accommodate a world-class destination course, according to the city’s website.

Others have taken notice, too: Harmony Bends was named the 2017 Disc Golf Course of the Year by www.DGCourseReview.com.

Other locations to squeeze in some disc golf in the city are the Albert-Oakland Disc Golf Courses and Indian Hills Disc Golf Course. Looking for practice or pointers? Join the Columbia Disc Golf Club.

There are clubs, teams, attractions and amenities throughout Columbia to suit virtually every recreational desire. However, in this city, no one can resist a scenic trail.

Columbia Trail System

The Columbia Trail System features numerous trails in a variety of settings, nature sanctuaries, creeks and wooded retreats. There are also different trail surfaces that appeal to runners, walkers, wheelers and bicyclists. Trails are a significant factor in the quality of life for Columbia residents. In a recent citywide citizen survey, about 82 percent of households reported they use
the trail system.

MKT Trail

The MKT Nature and Fitness Trail is perhaps Columbia’s most notable trail. It was ranked number two in the country for “Best Urban Trail” by USA Today in its 2016 “Ten Best Readers’ Choice Awards.” The trail was built on the old MKT railroad bed, starting downtown in Flat Branch Park and weaving through neighborhoods, open prairie spaces and wooded spots. The nearly nine-mile trail features a crushed limestone surface that affords opportunities for walking, jogging, running and bicycling.

It eventually joins up with the statewide Katy Trail, which connects eastern with western Missouri and is the longest rails-to-trails project in the country.

Other Trails

Other major trails include Bear Creek and Hinkson Creek. Recent additions to the trail system in the past 10 years include County House, South Providence, Hominy Creek, Scott’s Branch and Grindstone Creek. These are low-maintenance, concrete trails that provide consistent conditions. County House, South Providence, and Hominy Creek Trails all have alternative gravel side paths that connect residential and business areas to Columbia Trail System.

There’s even an app for that: search the “Go CoMo Trails” app for help finding the trail closest to your current location at any given time. Also noted are restrooms, exercise stations, water fountains, parking lots and bike repair stations.

Parks Aplenty

If you prefer to embark on a park, Columbia has a lot of options to choose from.

Stephens Lake Park is a picturesque retreat, complete with a lake, running trails, amphitheater, indoor pavilion, splash park, swimming beach and gazebo. Located at Broadway and Old Highway 63, this park is bustling year-round. Winter offerings include ice-skating, ice-fishing, sledding, and – to ward off the chill, a nearby warming area, fire pit, and heated restroom. ›

There’s even an online virtual “Tree-Ching.” Trail Walk that was filmed on site. Here, visitors can learn how investing in trees truly pays dividends. For example, a silver maple provides a yearly benefit of about $425 in various savings and property value boosts. Check it out at www.como.gov/parksandrec/tree-ching-trail-walk-stephens-lake-park

Stephens Lake Park is also home to the annual Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival, which American Blues Scene Magazine called “one of the most prominent festivals in the country.”

John Prine is slated to headline this year. The popular fest also has hosted well-known names such as Ryan Adams, Leon Bridges, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile, Buddy Guy, G. Love & Special Sauce and more. About 30 artists take to two stages to perform genres including roots, blues, gospel, country, folk, bluegrass, rock and soul. The lineup consists of international, national, regional and local acts. Food and craft vendors are also on hand.

Cosmo Park

As Columbia’s largest park, the Columbia Cosmopolitan Recreation Area – known as Cosmo Park has endless recreation opportunities. There are multiple softball, baseball, soccer and football/lacrosse fields, along with a golf course and shelters that can be used for various outdoor events. Located where Columbia’s original airstrip stood, Cosmo’s expansive space also includes the Steinberg Playground and a skateboard park, plus access to the Bear Creek Trail, which connects Cosmo with Albert-Oakland Park.

For four-legged fun, be sure to check out the city’s number of dog parks and designated off-leash areas. The Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau offers a list at www.visitcolumbiamo.com. Here, you’ll also find suggestions and information on day trips, farmers’ markets, festivals, public gardens and several local breweries and wineries.

Aquatics Facilities

When looking for poolside chill time, locals head to the Albert-Oakland and Douglass outdoor aquatic centers. Both locations offer water slides, concession stands, shaded areas and more. Other swimming options include the country-club setting at the Lake of the Woods pool, or two indoor aquatic facilities: ARC Water Zone or Hickman Pool.

“Spraygrounds” for younger patrons can be found at Douglass pool as well as at Stephens Lake Park and in downtown Flat Branch Park. There’s also the pirate-themed Little Mates Cove – a children’s water park with slides, sprinklers, water cannons and falls. This aquatic facility is located in Twin Lakes Recreation Area with a dog park, walking trail, reservable picnic shelter playground, and nearby fishing lake.

But if lake life is more your speed, Stephens Lake is about as good as it gets. In addition to the sprayground, the site offers a sand beach, swimming (sans lifeguards) and fishing/nonmotorized boating areas at its 11-acre lake. Best of all? It’s free.

For those who prefer dryer fun, the city wants to connect you with the dozens of outdoor trails of varying lengths at parks of all sizes to suit every need and ability level.

ARC Indoor Fun

On inclement days, there’s no excuse not to get that heart rate up: just visit the ARC Indoor Track, a .15-mile rubber track in Clary-Shy Park. The ARC is a 73,000-square-foot health club facility with the above-mentioned leisure pool, gym, strength training equipment and weights, cardio equipment, group fitness classes, spin studio and more. Birthday party packages are even offered.

Special events here include the adorable Bring Your Own Big Wheel, where kiddos ages two through six are encouraged to bring big wheels, tricycles or other pedal-powered vehicles and cruise the track. Mileage is recorded; would you believe that some riders have pedaled as much as five miles?

Day camps also provide some opportunities for fun at ARC. There are several “School’s Out” one-day and holiday camps, as well as a spring break adventure camp.

Shorter Trails Abound

Nature areas specifically usually feature trails designed to facilitate exploration and enjoyment of the natural, preserved green spaces. Here’s a list of local trail offerings, according to the city’s website:

• 3M Wetland Trail – 1.25 miles, limestone
• Albert-Oakland Trail & Fitness Circuit -1 mile, concrete
• Capen Nature Trail – .2 miles, dirt
• Cosmo Fitness Trail – 1.25 miles, asphalt
• Cosmo Nature Trail – 1.3 miles, dirt
• Cosmo-Bethel Lake Trail – 0.5 mile, concrete
• Fairview Nature Trail – 0.5 mile, dirt
• Forum Wetland Trails – 1.8 miles, limestone
• Garth Wetland Trails – 1.6 miles, limestone
• Grindstone Nature Trails – 5.2 miles, dirt
• Indian Hills Trail – 1 mile, limestone
• Kiwanis Nature Trail – 0.9 mile, limestone and dirt
• Philips Lake Trail – 1.4 miles, limestone
• Rock Quarry Trail – 0.6 miles, limestone
• Stephens Lake Trail – 0.6 miles, concrete
• Stephens Perimeter Trail – 1.7 miles, concrete

Neighborhood Park Trails

Neighborhood parks are typically more modest – about 5-10 acres and situated within walking distance of surrounding neighborhoods. Accompanying trails provide a convenient opportunity for residents to exercise outside but safely near home. Here are some that Columbia offers, according to the city’s website:

• Again Street Park Trail – 0.4 mile, concrete
• Auburn Hills Park Trail – 0.3 mile, limestone
• Cascades Park Trail – .25 mile, concrete and limestone
• Dublin Park Trail – 0.2 mile, limestone
• Eastport Park Trail – .4 mile (park trail only), limestone; 0.6 mile (loop), limestone and sidewalk along the street
• Highpointe Park Trail – 0.4 mile, limestone
• Lange Park Trail – 0.3 mile, limestone and concrete
• Lions-Stephens Park Trail – 0.25 mile, concrete
• Longview Park Trail – 0.5 mile, limestone
• Louisville Park Trail – 0.4 mile, limestone
• Oakwood Hills Park Trail – 0.3 mile, limestone
• Proctor Park Trail – 0.2 mile, dirt
• Rothwell Park Trail – 0.4 mile, limestone and concrete
• Shepard Park Trail – 0.2 mile, limestone
• Smiley Lane Park Trail – .4 mile, limestone and concrete
• Smithton Park Trail – 0.3 mile, limestone
• Valleyview Park Trail – 0.4 mile, limestone and concrete
• Westwinds Park Trail – 0.25 mile, limestone and concrete
• Wilson Park Trail – 0.7 mile, limestone and dirt
• Woodridge Park Trail – 0.4 mile, concrete

Show-Me State Games
One of the most eagerly anticipated summer events is the Show-Me State Games, an olympic-style sports festival with more than 40 sports for all ages and abilities. In addition to the main summer games, Show-Me State Games offers events throughout the year to promote health, fitness, family togetherness and fun.

Show-Me State Games is a non-profit program of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health and is hosted by the University of Missouri. About 32,000 athletes come to Columbia throughout the year to be a part of the games’ events.

The 2019 dates are July 19-21 and 26-28.

Fore!

Love looking for lush links? Columbia offers two affordable 18-hole municipal golf courses: L.A. Nickell in northwest Columbia, and Lake of the Woods in east Columbia. Both courses are open year-round.

L.A. Nickell, built in 1965, is a 70-par course situated on the 533-acre Cosmo Park. Open since 1970, the Lake of the Woods course spans 145 acres and is a par 71 course. It also features a pool.

Both courses feature three sets of tees; gorgeous, mature trees; large zoysia fairways, bentgrass greens; lakes, golf cart paths, tee-to-green watering systems. There’s a driving range at L.A. Nickell, and one is slated to open in 2018 at Lake of the Woods as well.

For a complete list of the park district’s monthly and seasonal programming, as well as rates, visit www.como.gov.

Age Distribution: Columbia (2013-2017 est.)

Male Female
Under 5 years 6.4% 5.5%
5 to 9 years 5.1% 4.3%
10 to 14 years 4.8% 4.5%
15 to 19 years 8.9% 9.8%
20 to 24 years 19.9% 20.2%
25 to 29 years 9.7% 8.5%
30 to 34 years 7.1% 6.7%
35 to 39 years 5.9% 5.1%
40 to 44 years 5.4% 5.2%
45 to 49 years 4.5% 4.5%
50 to 54 years 4.8% 5.3%
55 to 59 years 4.4% 5.1%
60 to 64 years 2.9% 3.3%
65 to 69 years 2.9% 3.3%
70 to 74 years 2.3% 2.5%
75 to 79 years 1.5% 1.6%
80 to 84 years 1.1% 1.7%
85 years & over 0.8% 1.7%

Median age (years) 27.0 28.3

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Age Distribution: Boone County (2017 est.)

Male Female
Under 5 years 6.5% 4.2%
5 to 9 years 3.3% 9.2%
10 to 14 years 6.0% 6.3%
15 to 19 years 5.6% 5.9%
20 to 24 years 4.5% 6.5%
25 to 29 years 7.1% 6.8%
30 to 34 years 4.1% 4.5%
35 to 39 years 9.8% 6.3%
40 to 44 years 10.6% 11.6%
45 to 49 years 7.3% 6.5%
50 to 54 years 9.5% 7.6%
55 to 59 years 8.3% 6.7%
60 to 64 years 4.5% 6.0%
65 to 69 years 6.5% 5.7%
70 to 74 years 3.0% 2.8%
75 to 79 years 1.0% 2.1%
80 to 84 years 1.2% 0.1%
85 years & over 0.8% 1.2%

Median age (years) 42.0 40.1

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Population (2019 est.)

Columbia Boone County

Total 121,717 178,271
Male 56,935 78,950
Female 61,685 83,692

Source: World Population Review

Household Income & Benefits (2016 est.)

Percentage of Households Columbia Boone County
Less than $10,000: 13.4% 10.7%
$10,000 to $14,999: 6.2% 5.5%
$15,000 to $24,999: 10.5% 9.8%
$25,000 to $34,999: 10.1% 10.5%
$35,000 to $49,999: 12.9% 12.5%
$50,000 to $74,999: 15.2% 18.2%
$75,000 to $99,999: 10.5% 11.8%
$100,000 to $149,999: 12.1% 12.4%
$150,000 to $199,999: 4.8% 4.7%
$200,000 or more: 4.4% 3.8%

Median Household Income $45,221 $50,813

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Educational Attainment

Columbia Boone County

High School Grad or Higher94.2%93.5%

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher53.4%45.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Field of Bachelor’s Degree for First Major

ColumbiaBoone County

Science and Engineering40%39%

Science and Engineering
Related Fields10%10%

Business15%16%

Education12%13%

Arts, Humanities and Other23%22%

Source: Town Charts, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

Unemployment Rate

Columbia Metro AreaU.S.

November 20124.0%7.7%

November 20133.8%6.9%

November 20143.4%5.8%

November 20152.7%5.0%

November 20162.6%4.6%

November 20172.2%4.0%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cost of Living Index: Columbia Metro Area

(U.S. Average 100)

Groceries97.4

Housing79.7

Utilities99.7

Transportation93.8

Health101.5

Miscellaneous98.0

Source: Council for Community and Economic Research, Third Quarter 2018 (via Missouri Economic Research and Information Center)

Climate

Monthly Average Temperature

HighLow

January38°F21°F

February44°F25°F

March55°F34°F

April66°F44°F

May75°F53°F

June83°F63°F

July88°F67°F

August87°F65°F

September79°F56°F

October67°F45°F

November54°F35°F

December41°F24°F

Monthly Average Precipitation

January1.9”

February2.3”

March2.9”

April4.5”

May5”

June4.5”

July4.4”

August4.4”

September3.9”

October3.3”

November3.3”

December2.4”

Source: Weather.com

Boone County Contacts

www.showmeboone.com

Boone County Government Center
801 E. Walnut St. | Columbia, MO 65201
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Assessor: (573) 886-4251
Auditor: (573) 886-4275
Collector: (573) 886-4285
Commission: (573) 886-4305
County Clerk: (573) 886-4375
Recorder of Deeds: (573) 886-4345

Resource Management:
Planning: (573) 886-4330
Inspections: (573) 886-4339
Engineering: (573) 886-4480

Treasurer: (573) 886-4365
Voter Registration: (573) 886-4375

Application Form:
https://www.showmeboone.com/clerk/forms.asp

Must be registered to vote by the Fourth Wednesday before an election to be eligible to vote in that election.

Boone County Courthouse
705 E. Walnut St. | Columbia, MO 65201
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Court Administrator: (573) 886-4060
Circuit Clerk: (573) 886-4000
Prosecuting Attorney: (573) 886-4100
Public Administrator: (573) 886-4190

Boone County Fire Protection District
2201 I-70 Dr. NW | Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 447-5000

Boone County Health Department
1005 W. Worley St. | Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 874-7355
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Boone County Public Works
5551 S. Tom Bass Rd. | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 449-8515
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Boone County Sheriff’s Department
2121 County Dr. | Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 875-1111
(573) 442-6131 Non-emergency dispatch
Hours of Operation: 24 Hours
Administrative Support Services: Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m

Department of Revenue/DMV Locations

Columbia License Office
403 Vandiver Dr., Ste. B
Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 474-4700
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Last Saturday of the Month 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Columbia South Office
1101 Grindstone Pkwy., Ste. 103
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 442-2134
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Columbia Contacts

www.como.gov

City Hall
701 E. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-7111

Animal Control
1005 W. Worley St. | Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 449-1888
Open 7 days a week 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, Closed all city of Columbia observed holidays.

Chamber of Commerce
300 S. Providence Rd.
Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 874-1132

Convention and Visitors Bureau
300 S. Providence Rd.
Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 874-2489
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
www.visitcolumbiamo.com

Fire Department
For All Emergencies Dial 911
201 Orr St. | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-7391
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(573) 874-7450
After 5:00 p.m. and weekends

Go COMO
Columbia’s Public Transit
(573) 874-2489
www.gocomotransit.com

Bus service:
Monday through Friday 6:25 a.m. to
7:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, no service

Municipal Court
600 E. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-7230
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Office of Neighborhood Services
701 E. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 817-5050
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Parks & Recreation
1 S. Seventh St. | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-7460
www.como.gov/parksandrec
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Police Department
For All Emergencies Dial 911
600 E. Walnut St. | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-7652
Non-emergency line 311

Public Health and Human Services
1005 W. Worley St. | Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 874-7355
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Utility Customer Service Office
701 E. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 874-7380
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Drive Thru Window: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
www.como.gov/utilities

Utilities (Other than city of Columbia):

Ameren Missouri
(800) 552-7583 | www.ameren.com/missouri

Boone Electric Cooperative
(573) 449-4181 | www.booneelectric.com

Recycling

Advantage Metals Recycling, LLC
(metals/scrap)
705 N. Proctor Dr. | Columbia, MO 65202
(573) 442-1771
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
www.advantagerecycling.com

Libraries

Columbia Public Library
100 W. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65203
(573) 443-3161
www.dbrl.org/columbia-public-library
Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Southern Boone County Public Library
109 N. Main St. | Ashland, MO 65010
(573) 657-7378
www.dbrl.org/southern-boone-county-public-library
Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Sunday, Closed

Cable & Satellite Service Providers:

CenturyLink
(877) 862-9343 Order new service
www.centurylink.com

DIRECTV
(800) 650-2009 | www.directv.com

Mediacom
(844) 385-5773
http://mediacomcable.com

Spectrum
(855) 855-4575 Order new service
www.spectrum.com

Internet & Television Service Providers:

Bluebird Network, LLC
(573) 777-4200
www.bluebirdnetwork.com

CenturyLink
(877) 862-9343 Order new service
www.centurylink.com

Mediacom
(888) 780-4772
www.mediacomcable.com

Quantum Wireless Internet and Television
(573) 256-1166
www.quantumwirelessinternet.com

Roo
(314) 809-1734
www.roostorage.com

Socket
(800) 762-5383 | www.socket.net

Boone Electric Satellite Systems Inc.
(573) 449-4181 | www.BooneElectric.coop

print Media:

MAGAZINE

Columbia Business Times
(573) 499-1830
www.columbiabusinesstimes.com

Newspapers

Columbia Daily Tribune
(573) 815-1600 | www.columbiatribune.com

Columbia Missourian
(573) 882-5720
www.columbiamissourian.com

Transportation:

MO-X / Doc & Norm Direct
(573) 256-1991 | www.moexpress.com
Shuttle service

GO COMO – Columbia Public Transit
(573) 874-2489
www.gocomotransit.com
Public Transportation

Tiger Trolley Tours
(573) 567-0850 | www.tigertrolley.net
Sightseeing service

Who is the Chamber?

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce is the voice of the business community. As a five-star accredited Chamber, the Columbia Chamber is in the top percent of all Chambers in the country. For more than 110 years, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce has been a voluntary, member-supported organization of business, industrial and professional people who are dedicated to developing, promoting and maintaining a sound and healthy economic climate for Columbia. The Chamber is a non-profit organization with about 1,000 members working together to enhance the Columbia business community. It is an unapologetically pro-business group that will always fight to continue improving the business climate in the city and region.

What is our mission?

The mission of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce is to lead our community, drive commerce in our region and advance community and regional collaborations, thereby enhancing the quality of where we live, learn, work and play.

What is our vision?

Through persistent commitment to our mission, we see a future characterized by unprecedented achievements in both public policy and economic vitality. We are dedicated to nurturing and providing leadership to ensure community aspirations become realities.

What are our strategic issues?

• Be the voice of business

• Deliver value to members

• Advance community excellence

• Support sustainable economic development

• Develop organizational sustainability

How is the Chamber funded?

The Chamber is a nonprofit, 501(c)6 organization funded by membership dues, programming and events.

Who are our members?

Members include businesses of all sizes, from one-person shops to large corporations. More than 80 percent of the Chamber’s membership is comprised of businesses with fewer than 25 employees with almost every industry in the state being represented.

How the Chamber Serves You

As the voice of the business community, The Chamber is directed by the needs and desires of the business community. Whether it is addressing legislation at a local, state or federal level, The Chamber is always making sure the business community will not be negatively affected. The Chamber has a consistent presence at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City and at Columbia City Hall. Chamber staff continues to work hard to develop relationships with decision makers with every business and industry to make sure they can be there for each member in their time of need. If there’s a problem, we listen and find solutions or guide you in the right direction to get those solved.

The Chamber is complete with staff that are experts in their fields. Whether it’s needing guidance with communications, marketing, or laws, The Chamber is a safety net and backup for the business community. When problems pop up, there will be a staff person available to jump to help with almost any problem.

In addition to being the voice of the business community, we also take the role of advocating for it seriously. Most of this is done through the legislative realm headed by the Government Affairs Committee. The committee provides leadership, information and advocacy which strives to enhance the economic environment and represent the political interests of the Columbia. One of the key components of The Chamber’s advocacy efforts is developing relationships with organizations and to establish relationships with local, state and federal officials. The Chamber has taken this role seriously and expanded it. One of the newest additions to The Chamber is the Columbia Community Partnership. It is comprised of Boone County, City of Columbia, Boone County Government, Columbia Public Schools, University of Missouri and Moberly Area Community College. Each month, leaders from each of these entities travel to the Missouri Capitol to lobby on behalf of Columbia and Boone County. It is the perfect example of collaboration between multiple public and private entities of several different industries. This gives the Mid-Missouri region one unified voice to talk with legislators. It allows for senators and representatives to understand the entire story. They get several different angles of the same issue about how it can affect the entire community. While doing all of that, it also helps push agenda that Columbia is a business-friendly community and extremely important to the success of the region and state.

The Chamber hosts a variety of programs throughout the year to give members the opportunity to build and solidify relationships. These programs are a time for the business community to get together in one room at one time. This induces conversations and connections that otherwise might not be had. The largest events hosted by The Chamber include four Quarterly Membership Breakfasts, Chamber Classic Golf Tournament, Economic Outlook Conference, Small Business Week, Business Showcase, Civic Appreciation Breakfast, Agricultural Recognition Banquet, Legislative Reception and the Annual Membership Banquet.

Digital communications provide exposure and keep members up-to-date on local businesses and Chamber and community activities. These publications include the weekly Chamber Activities Calendar and the monthly Chamber Business Line Newsletter.

Chamber Divisions and Affiliations

Ambassadors
Purpose: To reinforce The Chamber’s mission in the hope of advancing economic development in Columbia and the surrounding trade area by “helping celebrate what’s important to you. Your Business.”

Columbia Community Partnership
Purpose: To enable our organizations to promote Columbia and Boone County and to advocate with one voice on issues of importance to our region.

Emerging Professionals
in Columbia

Purpose: To engage, develop and celebrate emerging leaders through professional growth opportunities and social interactions.

Women’s Network

Purpose: To connect, empower and engage members through leadership development, educational opportunities and innovative outreach.

Fair Missouri Foundation

Purpose: The Fair Missouri Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation formed exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes. The nine-member Board of Directors for the Fair Missouri Foundation includes, but is not limited to, certain officers and the President of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

 Chamber Committees

Agribusiness & Bioscience Committee

Purpose: To support and stimulate growth of agribusiness and build awareness within The Chamber and surrounding community.

Budget & Finance Committee

Purpose: To assure financial solvency of the Chamber.

Showcase CoMo Committee

Purpose: To provide a networking/sales/marketing opportunity for business professionals.

Chamber Classic Golf Tournament

Purpose: To provide a networking opportunity between business professionals, friends, clients or prospects while enjoying a day on the Links. The money raised goes to support and build Chamber programs.

Emerging Issues Committee

Purpose: To provide a forum to discuss critical issues that are affecting the business community.

Government Affairs Committee

Purpose: To provide leadership, information and advocacy that enhances the economic environment and represents the political interests of the Columbia business community.

Membership Committee

Purpose: To encourage, grow and educate our members on the importance of active involvement with Chamber activities.

Small Business Committee

Purpose: To promote the growth, profitability and recognition of business.

Total Resource Campaign

Purpose: To plan and implement the Total Resource Campaign, the Chamber’s annual fundraising campaign.

Transportation Committee

Purpose: To facilitate discussion and decision-making to improve highway and roadway transportation infrastructure in the Columbia area. w

Columbia: The perfect place for a business person to turn a dream into a reality

Whether they grew up in Columbia or came from another country, whether they were attracted by a business opportunity or first came here to attend college, ambitious entrepreneurs find Columbia to be a perfect place to start a small business. Especially if your small business can fill a niche nobody else is filling.

Columbia has the kind of economy envied by towns large and small, nationally recognized educational institutions; a bustling health care sector; a vibrant and eclectic central commercial district; and a thriving entrepreneurial spirit. All these attributes work together to make Columbia a sought-after location for business.

The real Mexico in a real Midwestern eatery

Luis Ramirez was born in Jalisco Guadalajara, Mexico. His wife, Maria Hernandez, was born in Guanajuato, Mexico but grew up in Texas. But it’s at 1412 Forum Blvd. in Columbia that their restaurant, La Terraza Mexicana Grill, thrives by offering authentic Mexican cuisine, with many things that are very hard to find in other places in town.

“La Terraza is known for our unique take on Mexican street tacos,” Hernandez said. “La Terraza offers a variety in Mexican seafood cuisine. Yet Luis and I continue to explore with different ingredients to bring new entrees to the table.”

Ramirez said that after he moved from Mexico to America 18 years ago, he found work as a dishwasher in a Mexican restaurant in Texas. Maria, who had grown up in that area, was working as a waitress in the same establishment. They fell in love with both the restaurant business and each other.

They were exposed to Columbia when they came to visit Luis’s brother in the city. After they married in 2002, they decided it would be a great place to live and to start a restaurant of their own. Opening along Nifong Boulevard in 2005, that first location was named Taqueria El Rodeo.

After two years they decided to sell the taqueria to a family member and moved back to Texas, where they opened a restaurant named La Palmas. But Hernandez said they “always knew that Columbia would be a great place to do business and raise our three sons.” So when they were offered the opportunity to move back to Columbia and open what would become La Terraza, they jumped at the chance.

“We had learned a lot about the business by then,” Ramirez said. “Restaurants are a high-risk field. But if you really love what you’re doing, you’re going to be successful.”

For more information on La Terraza Mexicana Grill, visit www.ltmexicangrill.com or call (573) 445-9444.

St. Louis natives find perfect atmosphere for business and living

Both Trish Koetting and her husband Hoss which his nickname comes from the fact that many people think he looks like the character Hoss Cartwright on the old TV series Bonanza grew up in St. Louis. But they didn’t meet until they both enrolled in the University of Missouri.

The two then got married, and, like so many Mizzou grads, they decided Columbia was not only a good place to get an education, but a great place to build a life.

The Koettings own and operate Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie at 1010A Club Village Drive in Columbia. Trish describes the place as “a gourmet market and rotisserie that uses fresh ingredients to offer delicious, made-from-scratch meals for dine-in or carry out.” This includes a full-line butcher shop that smokes USDA prime beef and other meats for pick-up or dining in.

Like the Hernandeze’s, the Koetting’s met while working in another restaurant. “Hoss worked at the Boone Tavern for 20 years and Trish worked there for 16 before we started Hoss’s Market in 2002,” Trish Koetting said. The market has since grown from 15 employees to 25 and has expanded its building space. ›

Koetting said Hoss’s slant toward preparing and selling food really has no competitors in the Columbia area. She said it was an easy decision to stay in Columbia and raise their two children.

“It’s always fun to live in a college town. This is a vibrant, young community and a great place to raise your kids. Columbia has all the benefits of living in a big city and also all the advantages of living in a smaller town.”

Koetting said she and Hoss also have found big payoffs from belonging to the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. “You meet a natural group of other business people you can market to. Most people in the chamber are very like-minded and 85 percent own other small businesses. So you learn a lot from networking with other people who are in the same position you’re in.”

For more information about Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie, visit www.hosssmarket.com or call (573) 815-9711.

University grads stay in town, find new career

Like many Columbia residents, Allan Moore says that he “went to the University of Missouri and stayed.”

In fact, so did Tom Shryock, his original partner in Columbia-based Moore & Shryock Real Estate Appraisers.

While attending Mizzou, though, neither had any idea they eventually would spend four-plus decades appraising real estate. Moore, who had grown up in a small country town 200 miles from Columbia and had worked on a farm, majored in agricultural economics. Shryock, six years older, also had grown up in a small Missouri farm town. He played football for Mizzou and studied toward a career in parks and recreation.

By the time Moore graduated in 1977, Shryock had given up the recreation business. The two found themselves working for the same real estate firm in Columbia. In 1984 they left to start Moore & Shryock.

Three other partners now share ownership with Moore Kyle Newland, J.D. Moran and Kevin Reynolds. The firm has grown to 10 employees eight appraisers plus two support staff. Three partners hold the MAI designation. The firm has offices in Columbia and Jefferson City, but “we work pretty much statewide, and occasionally in adjoining states,” Moore said. “Our specialty is the Mid-Missouri market and we appraise all types of property.”

He said the firm’s customers include corporate and government decision-makers, lenders, investors, developers, property owners and Realtors. Its valuations help customers make decisions about mortgage financing, estate planning, buying/selling, condemnation cases, right-of-way and easement acquisitions, tax assessment challenges, divorce settlements and employee relocation.

“Even while I was going to the university, I always wanted to live in Columbia,” Moore said. “I thought it would be a good town to live in and do business in, and that has proven to be true. Over 40 years it has doubled in size. Besides the university here, you have the state capital just 30 miles away, and within about an hour’s drive you have the Lake of the Ozarks and many other great towns.”

For more information about Moore & Shryock, visit www.ms-app.com or call (573) 874-1207.

Building Missouri’s future

MU Health Care’s South Providence Medical Building in Columbia. The Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance building in Columbia. The Special Olympics Training for Life Campus in Jefferson City. The Plaza 803 office-retail building adjacent to Boone County Courthouse. Even the much-discussed Clary-Shy Agricultural Park that will provide a permanent home for the Columbia Farmers Market starting in spring 2019.

One thread runs through all these Mid-Missouri landmarks: They were designed by Simon Oswald Architecture, one of Mid-Missouri’s landmark firms in that field.

“We do a variety of commercial projects – health care, education, civic, corporate, new construction, renovations, you name it,” said SOA’s president and co-owner, Jen Hedrick.

She said the firm traces its roots to 1987, when architect Shelley Simon and interior designer Kathy Walther founded what was then called Simon + Walther Inc. With Walther’s departure in the late ’90s, and Bill Oswald’s increased ownership, the name became Simon Oswald Architecture. Hedrick joined the team in 1995, became an owner in 2005, and became the managing principal when Shelley Simon retired in 2010.

“I was born and raised in Marshall, Missouri and studied architecture at Drury University in Springfield,” Hedrick said. “I actually came to Columbia 25 years ago to work for another architectural firm. I’ve made it my home – a fantastic place to raise my three kids and be part of a thriving community.”

SOA now has eight architects and 11 total employees. It serves Columbia and an area about 60 miles in radius around it.

Hedrick said the Special Olympics Training for Life Campus, which serves Missouri’s 14,000 Special Olympians, is a particular source of pride.

“It is the only facility of its type in the world. It combines a healthy-athlete component. Special Olympics offers dental, hearing, vision and physical health screenings to their athletes. It is focused on the overall well-being of its users on a year-round basis” Hendrick said.

Hedrick said she is delighted to live in Columbia.

“It’s the perfect-sized community. It has many of the more exciting features of a metropolitan area but it’s easy to navigate. We have a fair amount of entertainment – shows, concerts and sports because of the University – plus lots of community activities like the Roots N Blues N BBQ Music Festival, True/False Film Festival and Art in the Park. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the MKT Trail, one of my favorite community assets.”

For more information about Simon Oswald Architecture, visit www.soa-inc.com or call (573) 443-1407.

Resources

Columbia’s business climate remains strong in part because the community offers a variety of resources to both existing and new companies. The nonprofit group Regional Economic Development Inc. works with businesses as they locate, expand and grow in Columbia and Boone County.

For more information, visit www.ColumbiaREDI.com. The University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program offers assistance to businesses at every stage in their development, from the original concept all the way through to maturity. For more information, go to missouribusiness.net.

The REDI Innovation Hub offers business counseling, events and special programs in order to facilitate and maintain what President Stacey Button describes as “an incredible entrepreneurial ecosystem here
in Columbia.” Businesses can apply to join the REDI Innovation Hub at
www.columbiaREDI.com.

Another source of assistance for entrepreneurial start-ups is the Columbia-based Missouri Innovation Center, which offers a wide array of services including mentoring, research and financing. The organization also operates the University
of Missouri Life Science Business Incubator.
For more information, go to missouriinnovation.com.

Nationwide applause

Recent analyses in national publications ranked Columbia as one of the “Best Places to Buy a Forever Home,” one of the “Best Places for Millennials That They Can Actually Afford” and one of the “Best Places for Women to Have a Career.”

In 2018 Forbes ranked Columbia 24th best in its annual list of “The 200 Best Small Places for Business and Careers,” and ranked its educational resources the 9th best of all small cities. Entrepreneur.com rated Columbia 16th best city in America for entrepreneurs. ›
The website wrote, “A small, vibrant city with a booming high-tech sector, ‘the Athens of Missouri’ ranks in the top 10 for small business loans on our list and the top 15 for unemployment rate, high-wage job growth, affordable housing and food spending.”

“We have such a strong variety of businesses we work with,” said REDI’s Button. “Large corporations, small start-ups and everything in between.”

It’s not just small businesses that are growing in Columbia, either. 3M Columbia continues to add product lines and lead manufacturing and supply chain efforts for several 3M products.

In 2018 Kraft Heinz completed a $100+ million expansion at a time when the company was closing other plants around the country. The Columbia facility produces up to one million pounds of Oscar Mayer hot dogs daily.

Dana Light Axle Products recently invested $39 million in an expansion of its Columbia auto parts factory, adding 135 jobs. Aurora Organic Dairy chose Columbia for its $106 million milk processing facility that will begin operations in 2019, creating 150 new jobs. American Outdoor Brands constructed a $55 million national distribution center in Boone County that will create more than
150 jobs.

A 24/7 District

Columbia’s downtown area, known as The District, is one of the area’s key commercial engines. Bounded by the University of Missouri, Columbia College and Stephens College, and encompassing 50 square blocks, The District is home to hundreds of businesses, city and county government buildings, and a diverse array of residential housing.

The District hosts a variety of community events each year, from holiday celebrations to music and film festivals to art expos. More than 20,000 people live within one mile of the area, and more than 23,000 enter The District each day to work. This population density, combined with the nearby student population, creates a truly 24/7 economy in The District.

“The District represents a diverse and active community of shops, bars, restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, studios, galleries, arts and music in Columbia,” said Robert Hohenstein, executive director of the Downtown Community Improvement District (CID), an independent organization that works to keep the downtown vital.

One challenge that faces areas like The District is the need to balance “day” and “night” economies. The District, home to many popular restaurants and bars, boasts a vibrant nightlife. It is home also to many locally owned retail shops that operate during the day. “There isn’t that much time between the closing of bars at 2 a.m. and the arrival of the first customers at our coffee shops,” Hohenstein said. “We make it a priority to make sure The District is fresh, clean and ready to go between the two populations.”

Largest Employers

Company Name | Full Time Employees
University of Missouri | 10592
MU Health Care | 5431
Columbia Public Schools | 1900
Shelter Insurance Companies-Main Office | 1800
Veterans United Home Loans | 1442
Boone Hospital Center | 1406
City of Columbia | 1390
Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital | 1089
State Farm – Columbia Operations Center | 750
Columbia College | 450
Bartlett & West, Inc | 425
MBS Textbook Exchange, LLC | 357
Boone County Government | 353
EAG Laboratories | 350
Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville | 340
MidwayUSA | 330
Dana Corporation | 328
United States Postal Service| 305
Hawthorn Bank | 300
Central Bank of Boone County | 295
College of Veterinary Medicine | 275
Columbia Daily Tribune / Tribune Publishing Co. | 270
University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics | 264
City of Columbia-Water & Light | 253
CenturyLink | 253
Moberly Area Community College (MACC) | 250
Schneider Electric | 245
Missouri Employers Mutual | 245
Atkins Inc. Commercial Cleaning, Turf, Tree and Pest Management | 240
Hy-Vee – Conley | 239
Woodhaven | 238
American Air Filter International | 236
Rusk Rehabilitation Center | 223
MFA Incorporated | 220
Joe Machens Lincoln | 209
Otscon, Inc. | 200

Arts and Events in Columbia, Missouri 2019-20

Columbia unapologetically wears its heart on its sleeve. Emotions are explored and stories are shared at almost every literal turn, thanks to the city’s dynamic and vibrant art scene.

Art is not only appreciated here, but also celebrated. There’s the Unbound Book Festival, the Columbia Experimental Music Festival, the Poetry Out Loud contest, and so much more.

Another beloved – and beautiful – annual tradition is the Traffic Box Art contest.

The creative competition aims to elevate the presence of public art in even the most mundane spaces by sprucing up the streetscape at many intersections. Another advantage is that this beautification project has ended up being a major graffiti deterrent for the traffic boxes, according to Elise Buchheit, program specialist for the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

This year’s contest winner is Battle High School, which designed a wrap that was a collaborative effort by several students. The school is in close proximity to the designated box, so students can walk over from campus as time permits to work on the project.

“An important part of this ongoing project is young people getting involved,” Buchheit said.

Elementary and middle schools have contributed to the ongoing public art project in past years, she added. Including students is key because it mirrors the community and gives young artists unique insight into the field. The city reaps the benefits, too.

“Students offer unique perspectives and artistic viewpoints. It’s really cool for us to have that on display,” Buchheit said. “They can learn the business side of art and take note.”

The selection committee considers both the artistic quality and how well the proposed designs reflect a targeted box’s location. Committee members are also savvy enough to analyze the angles of the art, too. When an image is wrapped around a box, certain vantage points can distort it into something it’s not, Buchheit noted.

For a guided audio tour of Columbia’s public art scene, download the Otocast app. Stay up to date with local art events by signing up to be on the city’s weekly email list for art happenings in town.

One well-received event in town is the newer Unbound Book Festival, which highlights locals’ love for the written word.

Creativity ‘Unbound’

Going on its fourth year, the Unbound festival draws prominent authors to Columbia to celebrate literature of all kinds. Nationally-recognized and bestselling authors from different genres descend on the city to discuss their books, work and lives. It is volunteer-run and free to all who attend the April fest.

“Our efforts build on Columbia’s rich literary traditions, and I hope they add a new element to the cultural fabric of life in our town,” said director Alex George, who owns Skylark Bookshop in town. ›

Q&A is extremely important to the ethos of the event, so at least a third of the time is always dedicated to that and audience interaction, according to George.

“We believe that life should be a conversation, and so every event at Unbound will be wildly interactive,” according to the event website. “There’ll be no boring monologues here. Guest authors will be interviewed by other guest authors.”

Coincidentally enough, in 2018, Columbia was named one of the 20 must-see literary destinations around the world by Expedia Viewfinder.

History Gets a Facelift

If anecdotes and personal insights from days gone by intrigue you, consider also checking out the new Center for Missouri Studies. The center, which has a new facility slated to open in August 2019, is the administrative headquarters of The State Historical Society of Missouri, the premier research center for the study of state and local history.

The new Center for Missouri Studies will be both a physical place and an expanding educational initiative located at Sixth and Elm Streets. The facility will feature a fascinating mix of permanent and rotating exhibits.

The Center for Missouri Studies, fosters ongoing study of the state’s past and encourages connections among scholars in fields like history, geography, folklore, anthropology, journalism and more. This initiative consolidates and extends the State Historical Society of Missouri’s multifaceted efforts to support scholars, publish new works, provide educational programs, and promote greater understanding of The Show-Me State’s history, according to The State Historical Society of Missouri’s website.

Other goings-on in town that promote the arts include the following:

• Columbia Experimental Music Festival: a three-day celebration of adventurous art and music. The 2018 event featured more than two dozen musicians/artists at 10 venues throughout downtown. In addition, the fest included a film screening and visual art installations.
• The North Village Arts District, a bustling artists’ enclave that draws visitor from across the country. The downtown artists’ haven has flourished in recent years and is a must-see for visitors and residents alike.
• The city’s Percent for Art program, which allocates 1 percent of the cost of new construction or renovation over $1 million to be used for site-specific public art. One recent Percent for the Art project is at the Police Precinct/Municipal Service Center North Facility. The second project is the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse, according to city officials. Percent for Art installations can be found at about 30 sites throughout Columbia.
• The annual Poetry Out Loud competition, which encourages an appreciation of poetry throughout history while also giving high schoolers opportunities to practice public speaking.
• The city’s annual commemorative poster, which is based on a community contest that aims to chronicle the changing › essence of the area. The tradition dates back to 1992. The 2018 poster is on sale at the OCA office for $15; prints from prior years are for sale online for $10. It’s the perfect time to start a collection.
• Friday art crawls, which occur on the first Friday night of the month.
• The Art in the Park Festival – a chance to buy local paintings and much, much more. The fest is truly a family-oriented event, complete with several hands-on creative activities for children. Art in the Park takes place June 1-2 this year, which marks the 60th anniversary. It is put on by the Columbia Art League.
• The annual Living Windows Festival in December. Shopkeepers throughout The District allow elaborate live holiday performances to be staged in their front windows for passers-by.
• Film festivals: Columbia was named among the Ten Best Film Festivals you’ve never heard of by Huffington Post for the city’s Citizen Jane and True/False film festivals. Both fests also made it on the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World list for 2015 by www.moviemaker.com.

Museums and Galleries

For a variety of types of art viewing, the city offers a variety of specialty exhibits and collections, including several museums devoted to art, history and other interesting topics. They include the following:

• Artlandish Gallery
• Boone County History & Culture Center
• Columbia Art League Gallery
• Columbia College Art Galleries
• George Caleb Bingham Gallery
• Historic Costume Gallery
• Museum of Anthropology
• Museum of Art & Archeology
• Orr Street Studios
• Sager Braudis Gallery
• Wide breadth of theater
• If upon a stage is where you prefer to view your art, Columbia offers theatrics of varying sizes and styles. Venues include the following:
• Maplewood Barn is the only live outdoor theater in mid-Missouri. During the off-season in fall and winter, it offers old-fashioned radio theater via local radio station 91.3 FM (KBIA), as well as archived episodes.
• The city’s colleges offer an array of dramatic experiences. There’s the Missouri Theatre, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, Jesse Auditorium, also located on the University of Missouri campus, is the largest performance venue in Columbia. It has played host to many well-known names and acts, with more than 200 events there every year.

Vibrant local music scene

With both the Missouri Theatre and Jesse Auditorium, the long-running University Concert Series has the space and means to stage everything from intimate musical acts to large-scale musicals and theater. The series, which is a community mainstay, offers an eclectic mix of art, theater and music.

The historic Blue Note is the go-to venue for live music in the city. This iconic spot offers entertainment on several nights of any given week.

Downtown Columbia Summerfest is a warm-weather treat that thousands look forward to every year, with live concerts at Rose Park. Various national touring artists grace the outdoor stage.

From virtually every perspective and vantage point, the city has art to spare and to share. With public art projects, music venues, art galleries, museums, theaters and more, art is certainly at the heart of Columbia.

Places to Live in Columbia, MO

Columbia is flexing some serious real-estate muscle these days, as evidenced by strength, stability and little turnover. That’s because when new residents and companies settle down in this artsy, progressive college town, they’re usually here to stay.

For one, Columbia consistently garners accolades from national magazines and groups such as the Human Rights Campaign, MSNBC, and the Business Insider for being one of the top cities in the US to live, learn, work, and play. So it’s likely no coincidence the population here jumped from 108,500 in the 2010 census to an estimated 121,700 in 2017.

Its appeal is easy to understand, with desirable amenities like University of Missouri, top-rated public schools, a host of recreational opportunities, a regional airport, and a burgeoning, eclectic art scene. Higher education, research, healthcare, life-sciences and high-tech industries also contribute greatly to the vibrancy of the local economy, according to Columbia’s Regional Economic Development Inc. group.

Public safety continues to be a priority in Columbia. The police department has officers assigned to various neighborhoods in order to facilitate connections with neighbors, visit the local schools and attend events. While also doing their regular police work, the neighborhood policing efforts are about creating partnerships between the police and members of the community, according to the city’s website.

The allure of Columbia is that it manages a cozy, suburban atmosphere being within reach of many metropolitan amenities and resources. The Columbia Parks and Recreation Department event hosts Neighborhood Park Fun Days to encourage increased interaction between neighbors.

Combine these elements, and it’s easy to see why Columbia boasts a robust, competitive real estate market, both residentially and commercially.

“Overall the market remains healthy,” said Realtor Mike Grellner, vice president of Plaza Commercial Realty, which has a 30-year history in town. “Occupancy rates are still very high.”

These high occupancy rates are indicative of the city’s low unemployment rate, which had dropped to 1.8 percent in November 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Downtown draws

As for downtown, the most notable addition is an office tower next to the Boone County Courthouse.

“Columbia has not seen a lot of new office construction lately, so that project is a good sign of the health of that sector,” said local Realtor Jay Lindner, president of Lindner Properties.

Adding non-office uses is a great utilization of that property, Lindner said. Examples of that area Hawthorne Bank on the ground floor, and Pressed, a new, distinctive rooftop bar with high-end drinks and appetizers/desserts. The nighttime venue caps off the multi-story Class A office building, which is the first new office park in a while downtown.

“It’s a healthy indicator to see the skyline growing,” Grellner said. “Something that brings daytime occupants is another plus.”

The downtown area is a major feather in Columbia’s cap. The Community Improvement District is a mixed-use neighborhood with a penchant for blending harmoniously with high-tech and the latest trends in fashion, food and art. Its 50 square blocks include colleges, historic neighborhoods, 300 residences and 600 businesses, non-profit agencies and government entities.

The District is a live/work/play area with a true mix of activities. It consists of several different neighborhoods, each with a distinct character and feel. They include The Strollway, Flat Branch, the North Village Arts District, Government District, West End and Avenue of the Columns. All are walkable, and a coffee shop is never more than a block or two away, according to the CID website. The Flatbranch area, once an abandoned rail yard, in particular has been reenergized with the addition of offices, apartments, restaurants and a newer park at the head of the MKT Trail.

Historical perspective

Another major project underway is The State Historical Society of Missouri’s new multi-level museum. The Center for Missouri Studies will open adjacent to the University of Missouri.

The new facility will house the administrative headquarters, providing access to a large library and manuscript collections, as well as the nation’s best collection of Missouri regional and westward expansion art.

There’s sure to be an abundance of beauty within the walls and beyond.

“There are some great views overlooking campus,” Grellner said.

If culinary art is more your, ahem, taste, then behold several new eateries within the city limits. Recent new additions to the local restaurant and eatery market include MOD Pizza, Tropical Smoothie Café and Fuzzy’s Tacos.

“We’re also starting to see several brands expand with second and third locations, which is always a positive sign,” Lindner said. Those brands include Chipotle, Firehouse Subs and Jersey Mike’s.

This year, several big players, such as TJ Maxx and HomeGoods, are expected to put down stakes here, too.

Other plans include the following:

• Splitting the Gerbes building – a 59,000-square-foot former grocery store at the corner of Providence Road and Nifong Boulevard – into four different spaces to be leased sometime in 2019.
• Continued growth at Cartwright business park by the Columbia Regional Airport.
• Renovations at the former Macy’s building in the Shoppes at Stadium shopping center.
• Additions to the Odle family project at Discovery Parkway and Highway 63 that include more apartments, an office and a new restaurant

In terms of leasing, those trends and costs remain steady.

“We have not seen inflation of leasing rates to date, but we’ve seen rates remain stable,” Grellner said.

Recently, downtown has seen multiple apartment complex projects take shape. Suburban apartment construction continues to boom along the Highway 63 corridor. Recorded population growth of two to three percent has triggered demand for housing, Grellner said.

Another major factor in how the local real estate market fluctuates is enrollment at the University of Missouri – perhaps better known as Mizzou. MU seemed to have started to shrug off an enrollment slump in 2018 when it had a significant surge in freshmen. The 13-percent jump was the largest freshmen increase in a decade. That’s great news not just for the school but also for the city and the real estate market.

“It makes everyone a lot more optimistic, and optimism fuels activity,” Grellner said.

With the city hosting a number of large companies/employers – such as MU Healthcare, Boone Hospital Center, Veterans United Home Loans, Shelter Insurance, MBS Textbook Exchange, Carfax and IBM – that means many home buyers are first-timers, young professionals, newlyweds or young families.

Residential trends riding high

Despite a national downturn in the last six months of 2018 due in part to multiple federal interest rate hikes, the local residential scene hit the ground running in early 2019, according to longtime Realtor Cindy Sheltmire of Re/Max Boone Realty.

“Our market typically starts in January and is strong through the end of summer,” Sheltmire said.

Such impressive market stamina is thanks in part to the university’s presence.

Education is a major source of pride and a real draw here. It’s common for clients to ask for certain schools – even elementary, by name when narrowing down their list of neighborhoods, Sheltmire said.

“The schools are extremely important,” Sheltmire said. “People are singling certain ones out.”

And while folks are seeking out Columbia, the feeling is mutual. The city embraces new residents with “Columbia Welcome” – a greeter program that delivers a basket of goodies and coupons and a warm hello to newcomers. It also includes a handy “Citizen’s Handbook” from the city. This handbook covers everything from the town’s long-term strategic plan to affordable housing initiatives to regional job expansions and park improvement plans.

Columbia wants to continue to be a sound investment for families and companies alike.

Home values climb

In 2018, an average of 189 single-family homes were sold monthly in Boone County, where Columbia is the county seat, according to the Columbia Board of Realtors. Local homes continue to prove to be worthwhile purchases. The price of a single-family residence jumped from $186,000 in late 2013 to $219,000 in late 2018. That’s an increase of nearly 18 percent over five years, according to CBOR.

Interestingly, there’s a noticeable difference when comparing existing homes and new construction. For one, 53 brand new homes were sold in the last quarter of 2018, compared to 385 existing homes during the same time period.

Obviously, stock is much more limited. But price plays a factor, too.

From 2013 to 2018, the average cost of an existing home sold increased from $177,000 to $220,000 – an increase of $43,000, or 24 percent. During that same time frame, the cost of new construction rose from $250,000 to $272,000 – an increase of $22,000, or eight percent.

When it comes to housing styles, Columbia is a mixed bag in all the best ways. The local market features a healthy mix of established homes and new construction; condos for clients who seek a convenient lifestyle; and homes tucked back on land that offers privacy and serenity.

For example, part of the Old Southwest neighborhood’s charm is its proximity to schools, the downtown, the University of Missouri, restaurants, parks and trails. For those seeking newer developments, they can turn to Old Hawthorne, Copperstone, Thornbrook or Steeplechase Estates, to name a few, Sheltmire said.

“People do tend to like new or a house that’s been renovated to look like new,” Sheltmire said.

Another style with strong appeal in Columbia is the classic ranch, especially for people planning to stay put for the long haul or just looking to simplify a bit. A stairless existence all on one level can be extremely appealing, Sheltmire said.

Whatever you choose, Sheltmire offers this advice: be careful when settling on décor. Or, at the very least, be prepared to do some updates before selling.

“Housing trends change faster than fashion trends,” Sheltmire laughed.

One thing that remains the same? Columbia is an enviable community in terms of planning, amenities and much more. Groups and publications across the country continue to take notice.

Niche.com, a city review website, recently named Columbia among the 25 best cities in America in two categories: to reside in, and to raise a family in. It also listed them number 31 of 228 cities with the best public schools in the country. The rankings were based on categories like public schools, job opportunities, cost of living, crime statistics and things to do. Data was compiled from the U.S. Census, U.S. Department of Education, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Center for Disease Control, and other sources.

Other prestigious accolades in recent years include the following:

• Named to The Center for Digital Government’s top ten list for four consecutive years (in its population category). The award recognizes cities that use technology to improve citizen services, enhance transparency, increase security and encourage citizen engagement.
• Earned an All Star rating and a perfect score of 100 points on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index – 2017.
• Among the 20 Best College Towns in American from Business Insider in 2017.
• Ranked one of America’s Most Artistic Towns from Expedia Viewfinder in 2017.
• Named 9th best U.S. city for career opportunities by SmartAsset in 2017.
• Among the top 10 cities in the Silicon Prairie (known as the region in and around Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas) for tech startups in 2017.
• Second best place for working women from CNBC and SmartAsset in 2016.
• Made it into Obrella’s list of Best Commuter Cities in Missouri for having one of the highest rates of carpoolers and mass transit users among the state’s best commuter cities in 2015.