Economic Development

Springfield region remains bright spot in steady economy In its effort to create growth in the area economy and job market, the Chamber and its economic development arm, the Springfield Business Development Corporation (SBDC), regularly bring in experts to analyze the lay of the land and discuss what the future may hold. At the Economic…

Accelerator program connects startups with funding and guidance The Chamber and Missouri State University have both worked hard to identify gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Chamber—along with its development arm, the Springfield Business Development Corporation—have worked tirelessly with community and business leaders, offering their expertise to help create and fund several programs aimed at…

PIC West groundbreaking signals continued manufacturing strength A July 15 groundbreaking ceremony at Partnership Industrial Center West (PIC West) is a strong indicator of continued positive movement in the manufacturing industry and the overall southwest Missouri economy. JRI Holdings, an industrial cleaning systems manufacturer, is investing $5.6 million to expand its capacity and will move…

Springfield Region website relaunch unveils new regional marketing look The Springfield Region has a remodeled online presence, thanks to a marketing campaign spearheaded by the Chamber’s economic development staff team and a local creative company. To make the greatest impact when marketing the assets of the 10-county region, the Chamber’s economic development arm, Springfield Business…

New jobs, larger footprint for SRC Logistics SRC Logistics, Inc., a subsidiary of employee-owned SRC Holdings Corporation, is expanding within its Springfield facility, creating up to 50 new jobs with competitive benefits. After winning a major client contract, the company is investing $700,000 in capital and utilizing 140,000 square feet of space at its East…

We’re on the right track to encourage business expansion Economic developers are taking the temperature of Springfield and Missouri to determine their health as nurturers of growth, and what they’re finding is good news. Chamber economic development staff took part in a recent presentation on results of a survey on business expansion. The survey by…

MoDOT director visits Springfield Patrick McKenna, the new director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, made his first official visit to Springfield April 13 to offer a view of the transportation landscape in the Show-Me State. In a presentation at the Chamber, he said the funding picture is not as dire as it had been…

Preparing to win: the back story on the Kraft Heinz expansion When major companies merge without warning, the effects can be damaging for communities that aren’t prepared … or a potential windfall for communities with a plan. That was the case with Kraft Heinz, one of Springfield’s largest manufacturing employers. When Kraft merged with Heinz…