Love's Brings 59 Jobs to Ozark Town

STRAFFORD, Mo. -- Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores is set to open its sixth Missouri location this week, bringing with it an employment boost to this Ozark community.

The new Love's site will open its doors just off Interstate 44 in Strafford on Thursday. The new truck stop will boast 59 new jobs -- and local officials and residents are hoping that is just the beginning, according to a report on KSPR.com.

One decades-long resident, Carl Keiser, recently converted his dairy operation into an industrial park; although there are no tenants yet, Keiser estimates the location could accommodate between 30 and 40 businesses. But the chamber of commerce is hoping the opening of the new Love's site will be the shot in the arm the industrial park needs.

"Location, location, location -- we've got it. I-44, Route 66, the railroad and we're only a minute to 65 and a minute to Springfield," Alice Delcour, president of the chamber of commerce, told the news outlet.

The newest truck stop, which is situated at a spot that is already a hub for truckers, will feature 90 parking spots and all the amenities found at other Love's locations. "We do expect this to be a high traffic area, great for us and great for the community as well," said Kyla Turned, with Love's corporate office in Oklahoma City.

Love's will also bring economic help to the local schools. It will present a $2,000 check to the Strafford school system at the official ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday. In attendance will be state Sen. Jay Wasson and Greene County Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock; U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt is expected to send a representative, the news outlet added.