SBJ Economic Growth Survey: Publisher's Note

SBJ file

Jennifer Jackson, publisher, Springfield Business Journal

There is much to be said about placemaking and tourism as a central focus to economic growth. Think you’re not in the tourism business or are not financially impacted by Springfield’s sense of place? Perhaps you should think again. According to Tracy Kimberlin, president and CEO of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, area hotel occupancies support up to 10,000 visitors at any given time. If your business doesn’t directly serve those occasional dwellers, in all likelihood it supports those employers and their workers.

Springfield Business Journal held a visioning workshop on tourism and placemaking on Sept. 14 at Finley Farms in Ozark, and it was attended by approximately 70 area business leaders. It was not by accident that the discussion took place overlooking the Finley River just after sunrise in a building that in years prior was just making rust. The Ozark Mill has undeniably become an area attraction and place of beauty. It stands as proof positive of three things: No. 1: Place can be created just about anywhere; No. 2: When there is true vision, talent can be attracted locally and from afar; and No. 3: It doesn’t just happen. Public/private partnerships must be set in motion in order to bring projects like Finley Farms to fruition.

In this special edition of SBJ, you will read about ongoing regional efforts to market the Ozarks as a tourism destination. You also will learn more about the burgeoning sports tourism industry in Springfield and strategies to leverage that growth. Further, you can learn how a small town in Kentucky made a name for itself with sports tourism. This special section and the ongoing Economic Growth Series discussions can be a source of inspiration and a springboard for action. I urge you to dig into the content and to join us for the next conversation scheduled over happy hour at the Betty & Bobby Allison Sports Town on Oct. 4. I look forward to seeing you there!

SBJ 2022 Economic Growth Survey collected April 29-June 22. Survey sample size of 235, with a +/- 5.4% margin of error and 95% confidence interval.