Letter to the Editor: It’s time to invest in Springfield’s future: Vote yes on Nov. 4

Dear editor,

Springfield has always been a community that punches above its weight. From our entrepreneurial spirit to our collaborative approach, we continually find ways to grow opportunity and improve quality of life for residents. On Nov. 4, city voters will have the chance to capitalize on a pivotal moment for the region by increasing our lodging tax to build a modern convention and event center.

For decades, business and civic leaders have recognized the need for a facility that can compete with our peer cities. Since 2006, multiple studies have identified Springfield’s underperforming convention capacity as a barrier to growth. While regional competitors have invested in modern spaces that draw conferences, concerts, sporting events and trade shows that drive millions in visitor spending, Springfield has fallen behind as a convention and event destination. Without investment, we are projected to continue losing an estimated $125,000 per day in missed visitor spending.

The proposed project, supported by increased lodging revenue, would change that trajectory. Plans call for a 125,000-square-foot multiuse convention and event center, connected to a new headquarters hotel and walkable to more than 1,000 guest rooms. Once complete, this facility is projected to host 164 events annually, generating 80,000 hotel room nights and delivering more than $1.3 billion in direct spending and nearly $69 million in tax revenue over 30 years.

But this isn’t just about tourism. Every additional visitor means more customers for our restaurants, retailers and small businesses, leading to increased investment and revitalization potential in our downtown. Employers also tell us that amenities like this proposal are crucial to recruiting and retaining talent. A thriving downtown convention and event center sends a powerful signal that Springfield is investing in itself – and that benefits us all.

The funding structure matters, too. The lodging tax is largely paid by visitors staying in hotels, motels and short-term rentals for less than 30 days, not by local residents. Springfield’s lodging tax has not been raised since 2004, while our peer cities have chosen to intentionally invest in their tourism facilities with taxpayer support. Even with the proposed increase, our rate would remain regionally competitive.

Notably, showing a local funding commitment through the lodging tax positions Springfield to secure $30 million in earmarked state funds. Without clear support from the community around this project, those dollars could be reallocated elsewhere. The business community understands the importance of leveraging outside investment, and this is a chance to bring significant state resources home.

This investment aligns with the chamber’s PATH strategic plan, which calls for transformative, high-impact initiatives that enhance both our economy and quality of life. A convention and event center does exactly that: it expands our economic base, creates opportunities for local suppliers and service providers, and supports the ongoing revitalization of downtown Springfield.

As business leaders, we are called to think not only about today but about the Springfield we want to leave for the next generation. Investing in a convention and event center is a bold step, but a necessary one if we want to compete, grow, and thrive in the decades ahead.

On Nov. 4, we urge you to vote yes on the lodging tax ballot measure. This decision is about more than hotel rooms or tax revenue – it’s about jobs, community vitality, economic opportunity and Springfield’s future as a place where people and businesses thrive.

—Bob Helm, chair of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and partner at Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP