Over 26% of children in Taney County now live in poverty according to the Taney County Health Department.
Branson area schools have over 65% of their students in need of free and reduced meals.
Hollister area schools have over 75% of their students in need of free and reduced meals.
Taney County poverty rate is 16.5% compared to the Missouri poverty rate of 14.5%
In Taney County it takes 89 hours of a minimum wage work week to afford a 2 bedroom apartment at fair market rent.
The living wage in Taney County is $8.11 per hour.
There are over 1200 working poor living in Branson area motels, including 200-300 children.
The number one quality companies look for in their employees is character.