Economic Development
Springfield named top city to start a business
Springfield named top city to start a business Springfield is the 3rd best city in the nation to start a business and the top city when it comes to accessing resources for startups, says a study published by personal finance site WalletHub. The study ranked the 150 largest U.S. cities across two key dimensions, “Access to…
Read MoreSeries: Talent wars and our strategies to win
Series: Talent wars and our strategies to win As our economic development team works with companies every day, we hear over and over again concerns about labor. Some common questions include, “Can we find the right skill sets here? How can we find the right people to hire? Can we be a profitable business in…
Read MoreNew Series: Keeping up with the new economy
New Series: Keeping up with the new economy There’s no doubt the economic recovery is upon us and our economic development program is seeing its full effect—local employers are expanding, project leads are increasing, and prospects are visiting with us about defined projects, not just vague inquiries. But are we ready for the growth that’s…
Read MoreVideo: New tools unveiled to help recruit talent
Video: New tools unveiled to help recruit talent After a draft version debuted at the SBDC Annual Meeting, our latest talent attraction video has now been launched! Focusing on our thriving but little known IT culture, the video tells the story of information technology in Springfield and describes the benefits of living and working in…
Read MoreWhy so much hype about workforce? Find out
Why so much hype about workforce? Find out Workforce isn’t just a buzz word–it’s part of an emerging reality facing communities across the nation. The problem stems from the fact that growing economies like ours are literally going to run out of people to hire. As the baby boomer generation leaves the workforce, there aren’t going to…
Read MoreA look back at the Springfield Business Development Corporation in 2014
A look back at the Springfield Business Development Corporation in 2014 There are a number of companies in our region who contribute above and beyond their Chamber membership to invest specifically in the economic development efforts of the Springfield Business Development Corporation. The SBDC is staffed by and serves as the economic development arm of…
Read MoreGo behind the scenes of the Talent Attraction Video
Go behind the scenes of the Talent Attraction Video How do you capture the spirit of our city in a little more than 3-minutes? You combine dozens of interviews with Springfieldians, hours of raw footage from around the region and a relentless focus on the key findings of our Talent Attraction Initiative research. Springfield’s first…
Read MoreManufacturer announces plans to locate in Springfield region
Manufacturer announces plans to locate in Springfield region Americana Tire and Wheel has announced plans to locate in the Springfield region, investing $1.5M to open a new assembly facility in Marshfield, MO, and create 20 new jobs above Webster County average wage. Through the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership, Chamber staff worked with the Marshfield Development League…
Read MoreWhy Springfield? Watch the video to find out
Why Springfield? Watch the video to find out It’s the question every human resources department has to answer when hiring outside the community–and because there are so many reasons to choose Springfield, it’s not always an easy question to answer. Until now. This morning, Springfield’s first talent attraction video made its public debut during the Chamber’s…
Read MoreIs Springfield running out of room to grow?
Is Springfield running out of room to grow? For the last year, industrial employers looking for a building in Springfield have had only a handful of options to choose from. In fact, Springfield’s industrial vacancy rate currently stands at 4.3%. This sits well below the national average of 9.4%, putting our region at a disadvantage when it…
Read More