Community Leadership Visit
For over 30 years, Springfield community leaders have traveled to another community to learn from a peer community and bring back key takeaways that will benefit the Springfield region.
These visits have provided the opportunity to learn best practices from other cities in a wide range of areas. In addition, these visits give the chance to interact with leaders in other parts of the country while also building and strengthening relationships in our own community.
In October 2026, the Chamber brought 85 business, community and civic leaders to Indianapolis, IN to learn best practices and identify opportunities for our region. We look forward to sharing key takeaways through the post-trip report soon.
You can also click on the links below to take a look back at each of our past visits.
Post-Trip Reports
Watch here for the post-trip report following the 2026 trip to Indianapolis, IN!
The 31st Community Leadership Visit to Cincinnati, Ohio offered Springfield leaders a closer look at how strong civic alignment, public-private partnerships and strategic investments in downtown, housing, workforce, regional growth and placemaking can help communities pursue transformational progress.
The 30th Community Leadership Visit highlighted how Durham and the Research Triangle leverage public-private partnerships, higher education, and a unified regional identity to fuel innovation, attract talent, and support economic growth.
The 29th Community Leadership Visit to Tulsa, Oklahoma focused on streamlining processes, public and private sector partnerships, regional economic development, talent attraction, and meeting challenging history with new opportunities.
💡Ozarks Regional Legislative Priorities
The 2023 visit to Tulsa further demonstrated the power of regional collaboration and a unified approach to public policy. Following the trip, the Chamber and regional partners developed and launched the Ozarks Regional Legislative Priorities, creating a shared advocacy platform for organizations across Southwest Missouri. The effort allows the region to identify common priorities, speak with a stronger collective voice and build greater awareness of the needs and opportunities facing the Ozarks.
The trip to the Northwest Arkansas (NWA) region, a switch from previous visits to a single city, highlighted NWA's significant population growth generated by leaning into the strength of collaboration, investing in a regional brand, capitalizing on natural outdoor assets, focusing on the talent and industries of tomorrow, and engaging the private sector to progress forward with one identity and vision.
💡Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement (LORE)
The 2022 visit to Northwest Arkansas reinforced the value of approaching talent attraction, quality of place, regional identity and economic growth across jurisdictional boundaries. Ideas and relationships strengthened through the visit helped build momentum that later contributed to the formation of Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement (LORE). Unlike initiatives that emerged immediately following a visit, LORE developed over time as conversations continued and regional leaders worked toward a shared vision.
💡Cycle Connect 417
Cycle Connect 417 was inspired by the 2022 visit to Northwest Arkansas, where Springfield community leaders saw firsthand how women were using cycling to build meaningful connections, empower one another, support local businesses and strengthen their community.
The second trip to Springfield focused on the city's growth and investments that make this the place we choose to call home, the strength of our collaboration and community assets, and opportunities to lean into our regionalism and outdoor amenities.
💡Celebrate Springfield
The Celebrate Springfield initiative and annual event was created following the 2021 Community Leadership Visit in Springfield. The local visit highlighted the need to help residents better understand and experience the assets available in their own community. Celebrate Springfield brings public, private and philanthropic partners together to connect residents with local events, programs and opportunities, reduce barriers to participation and strengthen community pride. This initiative represents a relatively immediate CLV outcome, with participants identifying an opportunity during the visit and translating it into action soon afterward.
In our return trip to Lexington, attendees focused on the city's well-defined identity, its ability to tackle tough issues with a spirit of collaboration, and its investments in downtown, education and workforce.
💡Tough Talks
The Tough Talks program was inspired by the Courageous Conversations model presented during the Chamber's 2019 visit to Lexington. The program created opportunities for business and community leaders to engage in honest discussions about difficult issues affecting the region.
The second CLV trip to Chattanooga focused on the city's long-range planning initiatives, its ability to highlight its natural beauty, its decision to make gigabit Internet available to all residents and its innovative education programs.
💡Gigabit Fiber Internet
While expanded broadband access had long been a priority for City Utilities, its partnership with Brightspeed to bring gigabit fiber internet throughout Springfield was modeled after and catalyzed by similar partnerships examined in Huntsville and Chattanooga. The initiative strengthened Springfield's digital infrastructure and supported the needs of residents, employers, entrepreneurs and educational institutions.
💡Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Ozarks Technical Community College's Center for Advanced Manufacturing was informed by models examined during the 2018 trip to Chattanooga and in other communities visited over the years. The center reflects the importance of connecting education directly with employer needs and preparing students for high-demand careers.
In the first repeat location for a CLV, the focus was on the outdoors, bold leadership, reinvestment in the center city, and efforts to continue a long tradition of regional collaboration.
💡Friends of SPS and Proposition S
The 2017 visit to Boise introduced participants to a community-led model for supporting public-school investment. That approach helped inspire Friends of SPS, which supported Proposition S and the development of new and improved school facilities throughout Springfield.
2016 - Greenville, South Carolina
The trip to Greenville looked at downtown development around a bold vision, investment in workforce development, and a history of successful public-private partnerships.
Springfield's visit to "Rocket City" looked at Huntsville's aggressive approach to economic development, its focus on science and technology, and its investments in transportation and education.
💡Workforce Development Advocacy
The Chamber's continued advocacy for state-level workforce development programs grew directly from the success of the Alabama Industrial Development Training program studied during the 2015 visit to Huntsville. The model demonstrated how a state can work directly with employers to develop customized workforce solutions that support business attraction and expansion.
2014 - Omaha, Nebraska
The visit to Omaha looked into the city's efforts to brand itself, their approach to workforce development, their efforts surrounding entrepreneurship and the business community’s level of philanthropic support.
2013 - Nashville, Tennessee
When Springfield leaders visited Music City, they focused on the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem, talent attraction efforts, innovative approaches to education and more,
2012 - Fort Collins, Colorado
The trip to Fort Collins looked into the city's downtown resurgence, its efforts in enhancing quality of life, its connection with its university, and its approach to encouraging entrepreneurship.
2011 - Tupelo, Mississippi
Visitors to this Gulf city tried to discover what makes up the "Tupelo Spirit" - a mix of humility and swagger, a focus on planning for the future, and a friendly and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
2010 - Springfield, Missouri
The 2010 "visit" was unique in the program's history, in that we never left Springfield. Instead, we looked at our own community's "best-kept secrets" - the strengths we can build on and weaknesses we need to address.
The trip to Grand Rapids focused on that city's philanthropy sector, its commitment to sustainability in the environment, economy and social equity, and its life sciences industry.
💡Facing Racism
Diversity and inclusion efforts examined during the 2009 visit to Grand Rapids directly influenced the Facing Racism program. The program was established at the Chamber and later managed by Missouri State University, working to foster education, reflection and dialogue around race and inclusion.
The visit to Madison looked at city and county government sustainability efforts, the connection between the university and the business sector, and the ongoing commitment to education and workforce development.
💡The Network for Young Professionals
The Network is a locally developed program, but several visits, including the 2008 trip to Madison, provided best practices that helped shape its development. The Chamber's program has since connected thousands of young professionals with opportunities for leadership, professional development and community engagement.
In Knoxville, Springfield leaders learned about the city's focus on scientific and manufacturing innovation, the impact of the University of Tennessee, the connection between the city and the region and the importance of downtown development.
2006 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City taught us about regional partnerships, redevelopment of their downtown core and investment in education - specifically through the MAPS program - as well as a focus on biosciences.
When the Springfield delegation visited Des Moines, they learned about the importance of regional partnership, airport redevelopment, the focus on center city and investment in education.
💡Springfield-Branson National Airport
Trips to Colorado Springs in 1999 and Des Moines in 2005 helped inform both the development of the airport's Midfield Terminal and its renaming as Springfield-Branson National Airport. Those visits demonstrated the importance of air service, a modern passenger experience and a regional identity in supporting long-term economic growth.
2004 - Asheville, North Carolina
In Asheville, the focus was on the revival of the city's downtown district, community and business support for education, and the value of collaborating at the regional level.
For the 10th annual visit, Lexington leaders told us about their annual Community Livability Report, their commitment to growth management, center city revitalization efforts, and improvements in the education system.
💡Community Focus Report
The biennial Community Focus Report was inspired by a community-indicators initiative presented during the 2003 visit to Lexington. The report has encouraged Springfield to be more reflective about its strengths, identify persistent challenges and bring community organizations together around measurable areas of opportunity.
The program agenda in Little Rock focused on downtown redevelopment, including the city's River Market District and downtown arena, and regional job creation efforts in the 11-county area.
2001 - Charlotte, North Carolina
The trip to Charlotte, unusual for the size of the target city, was helpful in that it yielded valuable information about regional economic development, business-education partnerships, center city revitalization and local government cooperation.
Our visit to the hub of the Inland Northwest focused on regional partnerships, downtown revitalization, arena development, education and the importance of air transportation.
💡Jordan Valley Park
Ideas for the development of Jordan Valley Park were sparked by several early Community Leadership Visits, including the 2000 trip to Spokane. The park became a key component of Springfield's downtown redevelopment and helped create a stronger connection among civic, educational, cultural and recreational assets in the urban core.
1999 - Colorado Springs, Colorado
The 1999 trip to the Rockies focused on air transportation, tourism and utility deregulation, as well as the ways the military and sports industry have impacted the local economy.
💡Springfield-Branson National Airport
Trips to Colorado Springs in 1999 and Des Moines in 2005 helped inform both the development of the airport's Midfield Terminal and its renaming as Springfield-Branson National Airport. Those visits demonstrated the importance of air service, a modern passenger experience and a regional identity in supporting long-term economic growth.
In our visit to Chattanooga in 1998, participants looked at the city's sustainable development efforts and protection of the outdoors, as well as center city revitalization progress - including the development of the then-new Tennessee Aquarium.
💡 Key Takeaway: Wonders of Wildlife
The early development of Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium was inspired in part by lessons from the Chamber's 1998 visit to Chattanooga and other peer communities.
While we don't have post-trip reports from the first four Community Leadership Visits, these visits were crucial in developing what the program would become in subsequent years. They helped form the foundation for many elements of the visit, including the group discussion structure and the importance of interaction with both our peers and each other.
1997 - Boise, Idaho
💡 Regional Economic Development
The 1997 visit to Boise helped lead to the creation of the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership. Subsequent visits to Spokane, Charlotte, Little Rock and other communities reinforced the importance of approaching economic development on a regional scale.
1996 - Peoria, Illinois
1995 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
1994 - Spartanburg, South Carolina
Interested in receiving the Community Leadership Visit invite for future trips? Click here to express your interest!