Chamber of Commerce: Challenges of growth vary by community

The recent release of the 2000 census figures confirm what area leaders have known and experienced over the last 10 years that the Ozarks region is growing at a remarkable rate. The 10-county region served by the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership experienced a 25.7 percent increase since 1990, compared to the state growth of 9.3 percent. This relates to an annual regional growth rate almost three times the state's growth rate.

As a region, nine of the 10 counties rank in the top third in both the highest growth rates and the greatest population growth. Specifically, Christian, Taney and Stone counties rank first, second, and third, respectively, with the highest growth rate among Missouri counties. Greene County ranked second in greatest population growth: 32,442. The Springfield metropolitan area (Greene, Christian and Webster counties) had the highest growth percentage (23.4 percent) among metro areas.

This trend holds true among the 30 Ozark communities represented by the 57 current members of the partnership. With few exceptions, members consistently rank in the top third among municipalities with the greatest population gains and highest growth rates.

People living in the Ozarks benefit from the byproducts of growth. New businesses and jobs result from growth, which in turn produces a larger tax base and stronger local economy. Growth in communities also provides individuals with more choices for shopping, dining, health care, recreation and entertainment. There is a general feeling of prosperity driven by newcomers finding homes, schools and jobs to improve their quality of life.

A recent poll by the National Association of Home Builders states that three-quarters of Americans agree that growth, when managed properly, is good for the community and surrounding area. Also, Americans value their freedom to choose where they live and work and how they travel. In fact, the majority of the growth in the Ozarks occurred in rural areas and small towns.

This pace of growth comes with challenges. Every locality has different housing, economic development, and environmental goals. Area leaders are faced with managing future development, alleviating traffic congestion, preventing the overcrowding of schools, preserving open space, and revitalizing deteriorated areas, among others. Quality growth means taking a balanced, sensible approach to solving a community's growth-related challenges. By no means is this an easy task.

One particular challenge for several Ozark communities is that the business growth is not keeping up with population growth. Residents leaving a community to work and purchase goods in another community is common, but many community leaders throughout the region are working hard to provide opportunities for residents to find jobs within their community.

The Sparta Community Development Organization has taken the lead in developing an industrial park to create job opportunities for local residents. Although this Christian County community is growing, it is not growing at the same rate as are Ozark and Nixa. In order to compete for new jobs, community leaders are willing to take the risks necessary to spur economic development.

Another challenge faced by area leaders is managing infrastructure needs to accommodate the population growth. This includes the utility services and the transportation system. Because people value the freedom to choose where they live and work, the public sector often struggles to accommodate these needs. Balancing the infrastructure needs, the available funds to pay for this infrastructure, and the effect on the environment is tricky.

A quality growth approach means that environmental improvement and economic development should complement each other to produce healthy, vibrant communities. Every locality has different housing, economic development and environmental goals. It is important to accommodate growth in ways that respect the environment, the economy and the community.

The challenge localities face is to develop long-term growth plans that incorporate development trends experienced in the last decade and those anticipated in the future. It is important that cities, counties and chambers of commerce work together to manage where, when and how development happens.

The Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership is an effort to allow community and business leaders in our 10-county area to work together and address common issues that will affect our economic growth. We live and operate in a regional economy, and our ability to work together has a direct relationship on our economic prosperity.

Each partner has a unique outlook on what economic development and growth mean to its particular community or organization. This diversity is what strengthens the partnership and the region. The partnership is built on the foundation of regional cooperation. Managing growth in a way that benefits the entire area can only be accomplished by neighboring governments working together in coordination with the business community.

The Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership is a program of the Springfield chamber in association with Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. and 55 partner members in the Ozarks region.

(Allen Kunkel is the manager of regional development with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.)