Economic Development: All partners on board to develop industrial park

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An industrial center could rejuvenate and revitalize the northwest part of Springfield|ret||ret||tab|

After more than 32 months of analysis and debate, Springfield's economic development partnership has finalized plans to move ahead with the development of a second large-scale industrial park, this time near Springfield-Branson Regional Airport in the northwest part of the city. |ret||ret||tab|

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times. "Why the west side?" |ret||ret||tab|

My answer is "Why not the west side?" Many in Springfield believe the west side of the city, particularly the northwest, may be the next new center of business activity in this community, an area that offers tremendous potential for quality business and industrial development.|ret||ret||tab|

A large-scale and master-planned industrial park may do for northwest Springfield what Partnership Industrial Center has done for the city's northeast area create energy and activity, new capital investment and a flurry of private sector development. |ret||ret||tab|

I wasn't living and working in Springfield prior to the development of Partnership Industrial Center, but word is there wasn't much out that way. A big farm field, a few businesses here and there. Not much else that would give one a reason to venture in that direction. |ret||ret||tab|

Today, Partnership Industrial Center is blessed with 16 world-class industrial tenants. Two more are expected soon. These companies have invested more than $120 million in new buildings and equipment, and 1,600 people who call the Springfield area home are working in this one industrial park. Additionally, the service and supplier industry near the industrial park is thriving and growing each day. Northeast Springfield today is dramatically different, in many positive ways, from what it once was. |ret||ret||tab|

Partnership Industrial Center West may have a tremendous impact on the part of town perceived by some as isolated, tired and unattractive. Its access to Interstate 44 is outstanding; Springfield-Branson Regional Airport is next door, and other quality manufacturers, such as Litton Interconnect Technologies (which, by the way, recently announced a $60 million-plus expansion project in northwest Springfield), M-D Pneumatics/Tuthill Corp. and Aaron's Automotive Products call this general area home. |ret||ret||tab|

John Q. Hammons just opened a new hotel and restaurant in northwest Springfield. Hammons and his staff don't do anything without serious site location research and analysis. And major improvements are being made to the West Bypass that will only benefit new business and industrial activity in the area.|ret||ret||tab|

A big farm field, a few businesses here and there, and not much else that would give one a reason to venture that direction? Similar to the Partnership Industrial Center area seven years ago, the northwest area of Springfield is primed for development. |ret||ret||tab|

Springfield's partnership for economic development and our thriving private-sector development community eagerly anticipate the many positive things that are about to happen in northwest Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Greg Williams, CED, is vice president of economic development, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.) |ret||ret||tab|

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