Community leaders celebrate PIC build-out

Springfield’s Partnership for Economic Development celebrated the successful build-out of the 13-year project this afternoon at a news conference at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

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 chamber news release. Only one facility has changed occupancy since development began at East Kearney and North LeCompte.

“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.

The idea was successful enough to lead to the creation of PIC West in 2001.