The Tri-State Development Regional Report
news & updates

MARCH 2025 | Issue 28

Upcoming Events

MARCH


19: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Quincy Public Library, 526 Jersey St., Quincy, Illinois 62301


26: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Homebank Community Room (downstairs), 3817 McMasters Avenue, Suite D, Hannibal, Missouri 63401

APRIL


2: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Quincy Public Library, 526 Jersey St., Quincy, Illinois 62301


9: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Homebank Community Room (downstairs), 3817 McMasters Avenue, Suite D, Hannibal, Missouri 63401


16: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Quincy Public Library, 526 Jersey St., Quincy, Illinois 62301


17: Community Workshop, Economic Development Strategies That Transform Communities 10:00am, Homebank Community Room, 3817 McMasters Ave. Hannibal, MO 63401

Register Here

23: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Homebank Community Room (downstairs), 3817 McMasters Avenue, Suite D, Hannibal, Missouri 63401


30: 1 Million Cups, 9:00am

Quincy Public Library, 526 Jersey St., Quincy, Illinois 62301

Want to be part of the conversation?

Join us at 1 Million Cups each week and connect with the entrepreneurs shaping our region’s future.

Women Driving Economic Growth in Our Region

March is Women’s History Month, which provides us with the opportunity to take a moment to recognize the significant role women play in shaping our region’s economy. Across Tri-State industries—healthcare, agriculture, education, manufacturing, entrepreneurship—women aren’t just contributing; they’re driving growth and innovation.


The numbers make it clear. Nationally, as of February 2025, the labor participation rate among women stood at 57.5%. In our region, it’s 55%, and women make up essentially half (49.6%) of the Tri-State Development workforce. Women-led businesses are also on the rise, with 1.3 million employer enterprises nationwide fueling job creation and economic expansion—especially in rural communities.


But let’s not stop at employment stats. Women do far more. A recent analysis by the National Partnership for Women & Families found that women perform two-thirds (65%) of unpaid care work in the U.S., averaging 296 hours a year on caregiving. The economic impact? A staggering $643 billion annually, with each woman contributing about $4,650 in unpaid labor. So, whether they’re raising children, caring for aging family members, or contributing to their community through volunteerism, the work that women are doing, paid or unpaid, keeps the economy moving.


Still, significant challenges remain. Wage gaps persist, and industries with high female participation often see slower wage growth. Fixing this isn’t just about fairness, it’s about economic strength. When women succeed, communities thrive.


So, as we reflect this month, let’s do more than celebrate progress. Let’s commit to building a future where more women have the opportunity to lead, innovate, and shape the economic landscape of our region.


Citation: National Partnership for Women & Families. (n.d.). Americans' unpaid caregiving is worth more than $1 trillion annually—and women are doing two-thirds of the work. Retrieved from https://nationalpartnership.org/americans-unpaid-caregiving-worth-1-trillion-annually-women-two-thirds-work/


TRI-STATE DEVELOPMENT REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Women play a vital role in the workforce across our 42-county Tri-State Development region, driving economic growth, innovation, and community impact. But what do the numbers tell us?


Understanding the trends in women’s workforce participation, and economic contributions helps us shape strategies that support business expansion and regional development. Let’s take a look at the data.


For a deeper dive into the data, including county-level insights, simply click on the image.

To set up the data correctly, let’s clarify these two key metrics:  


Population Data – This reflects the actual number of employees broken down by gender. In our region, you’ll see that the number of women and men in the workforce is relatively even.  


Labor Force Participation Rate – This represents the percentage of the population (typically ages 16 and over) that is either employed or actively seeking work. Unlike population data, which counts the total number of workers, this metric shows the share of people who are available to work and are actually participating in the workforce by gender.

Nationally, the data shows that rural areas often have lower labor force participation rates and wider gender pay gaps compared to more urban counties. This highlights the need for targeted economic development strategies in rural regions.


  • In the tri-state region, men have a significantly higher labor force participation rate (61.47%) compared to women (54.65%). This gap highlights the challenges women face in entering or remaining in the workforce. Some challenges might include caregiving responsibilities, the prevalence of industries such as construction or manufacturing that typically have higher male representation, or traditional and societal norms.


  • Lewis County, Missouri, shows a relatively balanced labor force participation rate between men (56.97%) and women (56.15%), which is unusual compared to other counties where men's participation rates often exceed those of women.


  • In Knox County, Illinois, the labor force participation rate for women is notably higher (54.64%) than for men (53.05%), a rare reversal of the typical trend. This could indicate unique economic or social factors at play, like growth in industries where women are more heavily represented, such as healthcare, education, and service sectors. It could also be an indication of a workforce dynamic with older men retiring while women's participation remains steady or even increases. There are four additional counties in our region where workforce participation rates are higher for women than men, including Brown and Fulton counties in Illinois, Henry County in Iowa, and Randoph County in Missouri.


  • The high labor force participation rate in Mahaska County, Iowa (73.01% for men and 60.57% for women), suggests strong economic opportunities and a favorable environment for workforce engagement.


The lower labor force participation rates among women may be linked to unpaid caregiving responsibilities, which are disproportionately shouldered by women. This could be a significant factor in counties like Knox and Monroe County, Missouri, where women's participation is particularly low.

  • Across the tri-state region, women earn only about 76 cents for every dollar earned by men. This disparity is most pronounced in Shelby County, Missouri and Mercer County, Illinois, where women earn just 69 cents per dollar.


  • Schuyler County, Illinois, has one of the smallest gender pay gaps in the region, with women earning 96 cents per dollar earned by men. This suggests successful local initiatives or cultural factors promoting pay equity.


  • Nationally, women earn an average of 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. However, in rural areas, that average drops to 76 cents—exactly the wage gap we see in our region.


Data for gender wage gap information by Tri-State Development county is available here.


These insights highlight both progress and persistent challenges in our region’s workforce dynamics. While women are participating at high rates, the wage gap remains a concern, reflecting broader rural trends. Understanding these patterns helps us identify opportunities for stronger workforce support, equitable growth, and policies that drive meaningful change.

Community Workshop

April 17, 2025

10:00am - 1:00pm

Homebank Community Room

3817 McMasters Ave

Hannibal, MO 63401

Economic Development Strategies That Transform Communities


Successful communities don’t happen by chance—they are shaped by bold leadership, strategic investments, and innovative collaborations. This workshop explores actionable economic development strategies that drive real impact, from Tax Incremental Financing Districts (TIFs), revolving loan funds, and asset mapping to leveraging data for decision-making. Through case studies, insights, and interactive discussions, participants will gain practical tools to foster economic resilience and growth in their communities.


There is no charge for this workshop, but registration is required.


Register Today! Space is limited.

Grant Funding Opportunities


We heard you!



Through the stakeholder survey, one message came through loud and clear—there’s a strong interest in having Tri-State Development highlight grant opportunities. So, we’re taking action. This is our first step in providing targeted grant information we believe will be most relevant and beneficial to our stakeholders. While we can’t cover every opportunity out there, we’re committed to sharing the ones that align most with the needs of our communities. Your feedback is shaping how we serve the region, and we’re excited to see where this leads!



Current Grant Funding Opportunities

Is there a specific project you'd like to fund? Let us know. We will do our best to identify private foundation opportunities for you.

Please join us in showing gratitude to our sponsors who generously provided support for the 2024 Tri-State Development Summit and for ongoing programming throughout the year.



Please consider becoming a sponsorship partner. Your investments supports not only the Summit but community-focused activities, resources, and tools all year long.


2024 Presenting sponsor:

and supported by:

IMPACT PARTNERS

$1,000


Blessing Health System

Great River Health

Hannibal Regional

Klingner & Associates

Northeast Power

Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell LLP

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

$500


John Wood Community College

Lewis County Industrial Development Authority

Moberly Area Community College

Porchlight Services

Quincy Medical Group

Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials

SUSTAINING PARTNERS

$250


Great River Economic Development Foundation

Michelmann Steel Construction Company

Pike County Chamber & Economic Development Corporation

Pike-Scott Farm Bureau


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Tri-State Development at Culver-Stockton College supports the region by cultivating collaborative relationships, promoting interdisciplinary problem-solving, fostering the expansion of academic-organization-industry initiatives, and developing an environment for collective impact to address the current and emerging economic, and social challenges in the region.

Tri-State Development Culver-Stockton College | culver.edu/tsd

Leslie Sieck, Executive Director lsieck@culver.edu]

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