Yeah, but the real cost, IMO, is the cost of the "residents". I think one could convince 1-10 great people to take a working vacation in Hawaii for a while for $x. I'd expect 10x for St. Louis. (NYC, Seattle, or SF would have local people, so it would be a different thing...more part-time, but they could continue going to day job)

SF to Hawaii flights are $300 r/t. If it were in a place like Boulder or Utah, you might be able to get local companies/VCs to sponsor it, though.

An issue with small midwestern towns is that there is not usually temporary housing available, unless it's a college town.