This is an interesing report on economic development opportunities and challenges in Missouri. There is a great quote about how the state needs to become better than the sum of its parts, rather than less than the some of its parts. I think the concept also applies to cities like Kansas City.
There is also an interesting graphic showing the migration of high tech jobs and salaries from various Missouri cities to Austin.
http://www.ded.state.mo.us/pdfs/blueprint2.pdf