Chamber leadership visit staying home this week

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its 17th annual community leadership visit Sept. 16-17 at the chamber, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway.

A group of 76 Springfield-area business, education and government leaders will take part in the event, according to a chamber news release. The list of participants can be found here.

The chamber-sponsored community leadership events take in-depth looks at communities in an attempt to brainstorm ideas to better the regions, with this year's conference focusing on the Springfield community, the release said.

Among the agenda highlights are:
    •    A look into Springfield's past economic development;
    •    A look ahead into future possibilities;
    •    A look at how to make Springfield more business friendly;
    •    A discussion on how to make Springfield attractive to the future work force; and
    •    A discussion on how to increase diversity and decrease poverty.

Past Chamber of Commerce leadership visits have spawned community improvement projects, including the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership, Community Focus: A Report on Springfield-Greene County and the new terminal at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, the release said.

Past leadership visits have been held in Madison, Wis.; Knoxville, Tenn., and Oklahoma City, among other locations.