Warrenton in Warren County and Troy in Lincoln County are the region’s major economic centers. Major manufacturers in the ECMODEV region produce furniture and motor vehicle equipment. Large non-manufacturing industries include construction, trucking, wholesale trade, retail trade, health services, educational services, social services and local government.

The ECMODEV region is more closely tied economically to the St. Louis MSA than to the other areas. An economic boom in Lincoln and Warren counties (both now in the St. Louis MSA) has continued its growth. A very large automobile assembly plant in St. Charles County has created several ‘satellite’ industries in the region. The areas along I-70 and U.S. 61 are corridors for development and expansion (the Northeast Missouri Workforce Investment Board’s Strategic Plan).

Industry within the region has continued to grow with the population as well as the region’s payroll. A comparison of the region’s employment and wage statistics is shown to evaluate growth in the region between first quarter of 1995 and the first quarter of 2000.