YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
The Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau is gearing up to begin construction this week on a new headquarters.
The organization is moving from 269 State Highway 248 to a $4.3 million building planned at 4100 Gretna Road – a location that took over a year to find following the board of directors’ 2015 decision to relocate, said chamber President and CEO Jeff Seifried.
“This is something the board of directors has been looking at for a number of years,” he said. “When you look at the current facilities, they just have become outdated, frankly, and we’ve outgrown it.”
The project is funded through a low-interest U.S. Department of Agriculture loan and chamber savings, Seifried said. The plan increases square footage to 18,000 from about 10,000. The office is designed with four conference rooms, one boardroom and a large multipurpose room with seating for up to 54 people. Seifried said extra space and meeting rooms were key motivating factors.
“Currently, we don’t have an adequate meeting facility,” he said. “Many times, staff has to go off-site when they want to meet with clients; our typical programming we would do can’t be held within the building.”
Although it’s uncertain when the chamber and CVB staff of 31 will be able to move into their new office, Seifried said construction is anticipated to be complete by year’s end.
R.E. Smith Construction Co. is the general contractor. Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. designed the building, with civil engineering by Cook, Flatt & Strobel Engineers Inc., structural work by Bergmann Engineering Co. and mechanical, electrical and plumbing services by Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins Inc.
“The business community is excited about this project and specifically having a place where the business leadership can conduct business in a professional manner,” Seifried said. “That’s what this project does for Branson.”
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