Industrial and Community Development

"Build it and they will come" could be an appropriate slogan for the Chillicothe Area Industrial Park owned by FEC Development, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Farmers' Electric Cooperative. The 175-acre park** is now fully developed with infrastructure and is filling up with employers who have chosen to either locate or expand their businesses in Chillicothe.

The park, situated in southeast Chillicothe near where U.S. Highways 65 and 36 intersect, now has nine (9) industries in addition to several government offices. Since purchasing 175 acres of undeveloped land in 1988, FEC Development has attracted businesses and industries to the CAIP that have created over 400 new jobs for area residents. Government offices include the Social Security Administration office and the USDA Service Center. Businesses include:

  • Associated Packaging Technologies
  • Cloverleaf/Farmers Produce Cold Storage
  • DeLaval Manufacturing
  • G&S Services
  • IBC North America / Clean Tide Mfg.
  • Helena Chemical Warehouse Distribution
  • Midwest Quality Glove and Gear Warehouse Distribution
  • Vance Brothers
  • WireCo

Find more Demographics here...

Total development cost, including the purchase of land, was just over $6 million to date, with money coming from FEC, the City of Chillicothe, Livingston County, the State of Missouri, and the federal government. The total electric load today is equal to 1/3 of FEC's firm system load in 1994. Today, there are approximately 38 acres remaining. The eight (8) industries comprise a total of 872,500 square feet under roof and 500 employees when working at full strength. Approximately 100 trucks per day go in and out of the park.

Cloverleaf/Farmers Produce Cold Storage began a building expansion in November, 2009, to make it Chillicothe's largest industrial plant or factory. The plant is adding 50,000 square feet at the north end of its existing building. When completed, the plant will consist of 313,000 square feet.

The present cold storage plant began operation in July of 1999 as Bond Cold Storage. As of 2010, the plant employed 67 full-time employees, plus seasonal part-time employees. Bond Cold Storage was sold to Cloverleaf/Farmers Product in April, 2005. There are 35 trucks in and out of the FEC Industrial Park to the plant each day through the week. On average, they move 1.5 million pounds of frozen products per day.

WireCo (formerly Wire Rope) was energized in February, 1995, and consists of 283,000 square feet and is located in the industrial park.

Unique Items Made in the Park Include:

  • Asphalt and Emulsion
  • Suction Cup Inserts for Milking Machines
  • Plastic Trays for Frozen Dinners
  • High Carbon Wire
  • Apparel for Many College Campuses, Cruise Lines, Country Clubs
  • An Area to Get Instant Frost Bite (20 Degrees Below Zero)
  • Patented Gloves for Astronauts

Farmers Electric Cooperative formed FEC Development to find ways to improve the economy of the cooperative's service territory. Any spec buildings have industrial capacity utilities and rail access. The land sells for $10,000 per acre. Contact Terry Rumery, economic developer for the City of Chillicothe at 660-646-1900.

Presently available: 11-acre industrial site.

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Terry Rumery Economic Developer 660-646-1900