The Foundation of Growth: What Gets Built Before the Ribbon Cutting

When people talk about economic growth, the conversation usually centers on new manufacturing facilities, hospitals, schools, and apartment communities. We celebrate ribbon cuttings because they represent progress.

But every one of those projects depends on something far less glamorous, yet just as essential: infrastructure.

That includes more than highways and utilities. It also includes the asphalt and concrete paving, parking areas, sidewalks, access roads, and traffic flow that allow businesses to operate safely from day one. It is the foundation people rarely notice until it is not built correctly.

For August Manzardo, a second-generation co-owner of Springfield Striping & Sealing, that is exactly where Southwest Missouri’s growth becomes visible.

“We’re often one of the last contractors on a project before it opens,” Manzardo says. “Every new development or expansion eventually requires asphalt and concrete infrastructure that is safe, accessible, and ready before the doors open. When our pipeline grows, it is a strong indication the region is growing too.”

Compared to this time last year, the company has seen nearly an 18% increase in bid requests spanning healthcare, education, manufacturing, commercial real estate, hospitality, and municipalities. That work includes new asphalt and concrete paving, site development, reconstruction, repair, and the maintenance of existing pavement.

Pavement is often treated as one of the final construction items, but it is also one of a property’s most important long-term investments. Proper design, drainage, base preparation, and material installation affect safety, accessibility, traffic flow, durability, and future maintenance costs.

“A hospital can’t open if its ADA parking and access routes aren’t compliant,” Manzardo says. “A school can’t welcome students back if its paving and safety markings aren’t complete. A distribution center can’t efficiently move trucks through a yard that wasn’t designed and constructed for that use. Those aren’t cosmetic details. They are operational requirements.”

While many still associate Springfield Striping & Sealing primarily with sealcoating and parking lot striping, the company has evolved into a comprehensive pavement infrastructure contractor specializing in asphalt and concrete paving and repair. Its work includes new construction, pavement reconstruction and rehabilitation, excavation and grading, asphalt and concrete repairs, sealcoating, crack sealing, pavement markings, signage, and long-term maintenance planning across Southwest Missouri and beyond.

Founded 55 years ago with a single striping machine, Springfield Striping & Sealing now employs more than 100 people and operates with just under 45,000 square feet under roof. The company plans to break ground in late August on a new 40,000-square-foot office and warehouse addition, nearly doubling its covered space and expanding its capacity for equipment, materials, employees, and future growth.

“Our company has grown because this region has grown,” Manzardo says. “We’ve always believed in doing the highest quality work, honoring our commitments, and taking care of our customers. Many of our employees have been with us for more than 20 years, and that consistency has earned trust for over five decades.”

As Southwest Missouri attracts new employers and investment, Manzardo believes the construction and rehabilitation of pavement infrastructure will only become more important. New developments require properly designed and constructed parking systems, while existing businesses must continue investing in aging parking lots, roadways, sidewalks, and concrete infrastructure.

“People remember the building,” he says. “But their experience begins the moment they enter the property. Well-built asphalt and concrete, clear pavement markings, and properly designed traffic flow help businesses operate safely, protect valuable assets, and create a strong first impression.”

Economic growth is not built only with steel and glass. It is built from the ground up.