Community leaders celebrate PIC build-out

Springfield’s Partnership for Economic Development celebrated the successful build-out of the 13-year project Aug. 24.

The center, which was expected to take about 15 years to complete, is home to 21 companies and more than $200 million in private investment, according to a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce news release.

“The build-out of PIC represents a major economic development milestone for our region,” said Jim Anderson, chamber president, in the release. “Some called it a field of dreams. In some ways, it was and is; we built it, and they came. And the community is more prosperous as a result.”

The partnership comprises representatives from the chamber, Springfield Business and Development Corp., the city, county and City Utilities. It was formed to develop large-scale, master-planned industrial parks to create and retain quality manufacturing jobs for Springfield.

The idea followed the loss of Zenith’s Springfield facility in 1990; CU bought the land in 1992, and the partnership was formed a year later.

Partnership Industrial Center tenants:

AC Buckhorn

AmeriPride Linen & Apparel

Dameron Color Labs

Central States Industrial

Certified Metals

Cintas Corp.

DaBryan Coach Builders

Diesel Exchange

Digital Monitoring Products

Jarden Plastic Solutions

Megavolt

Missouri Color Web

Nestle Purina PetCare

NorthStar Battery Co.

Polar Tank Trailer

Reckitt Benckiser Midwest Logistics

ReGen Technologies

Springfield Striping & Sealing

Stainless Technology

The Maiman Co.

Watts Radiant