For the second straight year, the St. Louis Business Journal has focused on Springfield's community and economic development program, the region's workforce and population growth, center city revitalization, business success stories and this market's overall impact on the state's economy.

Below are links to articles about Springfield featured in this special section of the St. Louis Business Journal:

Springfield by the numbers
Metro area's population passes 400,000; job growth comes in at 2.4 percent; cost of living stays low

Stenger, Kroenke team on James River Commons development
Developers are expecting to break ground later this year on a 60-acre retail development at the corner of the James River Freeway and Campbell Avenue.

McGowan|Walsh sees promise in revitalization
Developer has $25 million plan for historic redevelopment of Heer's Tower

$67 million Missouri State arena under construction
The board room in Missouri State University's administration and information services office is littered with colorful artists' renderings and intricate schematics of the school's new JQH Arena, a massive $67 million basketball facility under construction on the west side of campus.

Development accelerates throughout center of city
More than $183 million in projects are planned or under way

Hotel scuffle illustrates new interest in downtown
Hammons planning $40 million facility across from city parcel

An invitation for innovation
With $12 million first phase complete, university's high-tech research center will open soon

Second business park in spotlight
The coalition -- known as the Springfield Partnership for Economic Development -- is now focusing on completion of the 406-acre Partnership Industrial Center West, on which it broke ground in 2000.

$117 million project will expand airport by 50 percent
A new $116.9 million, 225,000-square-foot terminal, slated to open in May 2008, is under construction there.