Posts by growthzone
A success for the Chamber’s legislative agenda and the state
A success for the Chamber’s legislative agenda and the state Each year, Chamber volunteer leaders spend months deliberating and deciding what priorities to include in the annual legislative agenda. The 2017 State Legislative Agenda covers a wide range of topics, from workforce development to funding for education and transportation. But one of the first items in the…
Read MoreSBDC Annual Meeting highlights area growth, changing business environment
SBDC Annual Meeting highlights area growth, changing business environment More than 300 community and business leaders were on hand February 8 at the University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center for the Annual Meeting of the Springfield Business Development Corporation (SBDC), the Chamber’s economic development subsidiary. Attendees heard about several high points for the year, as…
Read MoreTaking the message to the Capitol
Taking the message to the Capitol The Chamber works year-round developing, refining and sharing its list of legislative priorities – priorities based on the needs and feedback of our members. Those priorities cover a wide range of issues, and work on those issues takes place in myriad locations and takes numerous forms. As one of 10…
Read MoreMaking the case for Chamber legislative priorities
Making the case for Chamber legislative priorities The new year brings a wealth of possibilities in the Missouri Legislature, along with significant budgetary challenges. In an effort to address both sides of the legislative coin for 2017, Chamber volunteer leaders and staff have been advocating to state elected leaders in a variety of ways about…
Read MoreAnother group of new companies gets an eFactory boost
Another group of new companies gets an eFactory boost Following up on the success of its first group of startup companies, the eFactory’s Accelerator initiative has announced the second group of entrepreneurs that will be participating in the program. Five companies have been selected for this next phase: Apt Crowd – A text analytics company that…
Read MorePenmac founder Patti Penny: 2017 Springfieldian
Penmac founder Patti Penny: 2017 Springfieldian A desire to help people find their success and a strong entrepreneurial vision have helped Patti Penny create a lasting legacy in Springfield. Her contributions and her commitment to the area were celebrated on January 27, when the Chamber named her the recipient of the 2017 Springfieldian award. The…
Read MoreLeadership Kickoff features John Wanamaker & Britton Jobe
Leadership Kickoff features John Wanamaker & Britton Jobe The Network and Leadership Springfield had a huge turnout for our 2017 Leadership Kickoff event, with more than 100 members attending lunch and a Q&A session with new Chamber Chair John Wanamaker from BKD, LLP and Network Chair Britton Jobe from Neale & Newman. Leadership Springfield Board…
Read MoreThe 2017 State Agenda: Reforms, Right to Work
The 2017 State Agenda: Reforms, Right to Work At the end of his first week as Speaker Pro Tem of the Missouri House of Representatives, Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) visited the Chamber to speak with a packed house and offer a look at the top priorities for the 2017 legislative session. Haahr, who is beginning his…
Read MoreFood processors talk about regulatory issues, workforce needs
Food processors talk about regulatory issues, workforce needs The Springfield region has always had strong agricultural roots, but many don’t recognize the strength and importance of agribusiness to the area’s manufacturing sector. Those businesses were on full display during the 2016 Manufacturing Outlook, held at University Plaza on December 7. Joe Reynolds, president of Central…
Read MoreFreshman legislators visit Springfield to kick off statewide tour
Freshman legislators visit Springfield to kick off statewide tour Newly-elected state legislators can face an overwhelming task when entering office, especially if they are new to public service. So freshman members of the Missouri Legislature get a statewide tour before they take office, visiting areas around the state to hear from business, education, and community…
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