Network with community leaders from 10-county region on June 3

Join us for the inaugural meeting of the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership (SREP), 8 a.m.-1 p.m., June 3, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield.

This meeting provides a unique opportunity to network with community leaders from around the 10-county region as well as those interested in economic development.

Sessions and presenters:

• Partnership Update, Shari Lockhart, Springfield Regional Economic Partnership Chair
  
  
• Incentivizing Business Growth, Mary Lilly Smith, City of Springfield
  
  
• Securing Water for Our Future, Gail Melgren, Tri-State Water Resource Coalition
  
  
• Science of Small Business Incubation, Maureen Collins-Williams, University of Northern Iowa
  
  
• Regional Business Attraction, Jeff Seifried, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• Existing Business Support, Rob Dixon, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Sponsor is Connell Insurance, Inc. Deadline to register is May 27. View the full agenda.

Springfield Regional Economic Partnership (SREP) is the lead economic development agency for a 10-county area made up of communities and chambers committed to bringing new jobs and investment to the region.

Confidence in economy rises with added jobs and expansion announcements

Businesses and manufacturers continue to regain confidence, a good indication that our economy is recovering and will continue strengthening over the coming months.

This month we've had more job growth and expansion:

• Gold Mountain Communications announces expansion, 140 new jobs,adds $540,000 to new capital investment to the area.
  
  
• Mother's Brewing Co. opens in Springfield, creating 10 new jobs and contributing to downtown redevelopment efforts.

Read more.

Ozarks Food Harvest receives 2011 Small Business Award

The Chamber announced Ozarks Food Harvest, Inc., as its 2011 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award recipient on May 4 during its annual awards luncheon, which took place during Springfield's Small Business Week.

The award, presented by the Chamber’s Small Business Council, is determined by written applications scored by an independent panel of judges.  

Ozarks Food Harvest, Inc., (OFH) a food bank in southwest Missouri, serves more than 300 hunger-relief organizations across 28 counties. With 29 employees, president and CEO is  Bart Brown. Full story.