Economic Development

Fed economist discusses pandemic’s economic impact, recovery potential Charles Gascon, economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, delivered the keynote address for the 2020 Economic Outlook on August 19. Hosted by the Chamber’s economic development arm, the SBDC, the event was broadcast virtually from the studio of the event’s presenting sponsor, BKD CPAs…

Legacy manufacturer Kraft Heinz reinvests in Springfield Longtime employer Kraft Heinz is reinvesting in its Springfield manufacturing facility as part of a five-year $48M project to enhance its manufacturing operations and capacity. This is the third major capital investment in the facility over the last several years, demonstrating Kraft Heinz’s commitment to the Springfield region…

Springfield ranked Top 50 Heartland Metros for Millennials In a recent article about the coronavirus pandemic possibly accelerating an “urban exodus,” geographer Joel Kotkin noted that millennials were already steadily moving away from expensive coastal metros to more affordable “second-tier” cities. Now, with the cost of living and possibility of remote work more important than ever, Kotkin predicts a…

The Springfield region is poised for greatness – with the right moves For the last several years, the Chamber and SBDC have been leading a conversation about how the Springfield region is on the verge of making tremendous leaps forward – that the foundation and building blocks are in place to transform our community into…

SBDC is talking about its love for Springfield The Chamber’s economic development arm, the SBDC, is focused on the future of our community – and wants you to join the conversation at the 2020 SBDC Annual Meeting to talk about loving Springfield. The event will look at how Chamber staff, with the support of SBDC…

Beverage manufacturer announces $40M expansion in Springfield Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Company, a third generation, family-owned bottler, is investing $40M to expand its local operations. Undertaking a two-phase expansion, the company will create approximately 25 new jobs, add a new production line and build a new 430,000 sq. ft. warehouse adjacent to its existing Springfield…

Manufacturing leaders discuss trends in supporting industries The focus of the SBDC’s 2019 Manufacturing Outlook event, held on December 6 was trends and issues affecting industries that support manufacturing, such as real estate and logistics, automation, workforce training, and transportation. Real estate development is a critical part of attracting and retaining business like manufacturers. Alex…

Continuing efforts to attract talent Part of the work of the Chamber and its economic development arm, the Springfield Business Development Corporation, is to attract new potential employees to our region by showing the many things that make Springfield a great place to live, work and play. To broaden the reach of our talent attraction…

Vital Farms expanding, adding more than 50 new jobs Vital Farms, a Certified B Corp and pioneer in offering pasture-raised, ethically sourced products sold nationwide, is expanding its operations in Springfield just three years after breaking ground on its first facility here. Dubbed “Egg Central Station,” the company’s 84,000 sq. ft. facility in Partnership Industrial…