Business Advocacy
Announcing Chamber leadership for 2021
Announcing Chamber leadership for 2021 The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the new members of its Board of Directors for 2021. These seven board members will serve three-year terms on the board, having been nominated by the Directors Nominating Committee earlier this fall and submitted to the general membership for approval.…
Read MoreReflecting on a lifetime of education leadership
Reflecting on a lifetime of education leadership Anyone who knows Dr. Carol Taylor knows that one of her favorite mantras, especially lately, has been this: “Blessed are the flexible.” One look back at Taylor’s career in education shows she has taken that advice to heart in her own career, as she discussed during the second…
Read MoreCommunity Leadership Visit: A Moment for Reflection
Community Leadership Visit: A Moment for Reflection The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has been taking business and civic leaders to peer communities across the country each year since 1994. We call it the Community Leadership Visit. The idea is to learn what other communities are doing and bring their best practices back to Springfield,…
Read MoreAn update on federal COVID relief efforts
An update on federal COVID relief efforts On September 16, Chamber members received an update from Jack Howard, senior vice president of the Congressional and Public Affairs Division at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He provided insight into opportunities and potential roadblocks to progress to federal coronavirus relief. According to Howard, the current priority for…
Read MoreIntroducing our Education Resource Center for Employers
Introducing our Education Resource Center for Employers As school districts around the region have started the process of reopening their doors to students for the 2020-2021 school year – in a variety of forms – both parents and employers have a wide range of questions. What resources are available to help support virtual learning? Which…
Read MoreMake your voice heard on policy issues
Make your voice heard on policy issues Do you have a legislative issue that impacts your business or industry? The Chamber’s Public Affairs team wants to hear about it. The Chamber is looking ahead to 2021 and gathering feedback for the development of next year’s legislative agenda, which will identify the issues most important to Chamber…
Read MoreA new look for the Chamber’s State of the State event
A new look for the Chamber’s State of the State event When Governor Mike Parson visited Springfield on July 29 to deliver the keynote message at the Chamber’s third annual State of the State, the event – like so many others right now – looked and felt different than originally planned. The event at Juanita…
Read MorePlacemaking in a pandemic
Placemaking in a pandemic Before the pandemic hit our area, The Network for Young Professionals was just starting to get heavily involved in Forward SGF, the City of Springfield’s comprehensive plan for the next 20 years. YPs attended the workshops in January to ensure their voice was represented when looking to the future of our…
Read MorePositioning employers for good faith compliance
Positioning employers for good faith compliance City and business experts provided insight into the new masking ordinance, the current public health data for our region, and best practices for businesses and organizations during a call with Chamber members on July 15. On July 13, Springfield City Council voted to continue certain occupancy restrictions and require…
Read MoreHighlighting the path to economic recovery
Highlighting the path to economic recovery State leaders highlighted Missouri’s current economic recovery efforts and potential positive workforce signs for the state during a conference call with Chamber members on June 24. Director of Missouri Dept. of Economic Development (DED) Rob Dixon, Commissioner of Higher Education and Workforce Development (DHEWD) Zora Mulligan, and Deputy Director…
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