Looking Forward Together: A Call for Regional Partnership (Sponsor Letter)

Gregg Scholtens

As we close out this Economic Growth series, I want to share what I’m seeing from my vantage point in commercial construction and infrastructure. More importantly, I want to issue a challenge to our business community.

The outlook for our region is undeniably strong. At KCI Construction, our project pipeline has remained consistently robust over the past 18 months, particularly in healthcare and public infrastructure. We’ve been blessed with significant CoxHealth projects, including the Meyer Orthopedic Rehabilitation Hospital expansion and the Ozarks Rehabilitation Hospital  in Ozark. And with another transformative healthcare project on the horizon, our team remains deeply committed to building spaces that serve patients and families across the Ozarks.

Beyond healthcare, we continue to see steady demand across Department of Transportation projects, municipal infrastructure upgrades, and educational facility improvements. The DOT’s current widening of I-44 and planned improvements from Joplin to Conway speaks volumes about our region’s trajectory. Our local K-12 schools, universities, and colleges continue to expand their campuses, driving construction activity, workforce development, and community renewal across Springfield and southwest Missouri. Despite its non-passage, the convention center proposal represents another catalyst for economic impact with the potential to return dividends for years to come.

Looking ahead, I see our single biggest opportunity in shovel-ready sites. The Chamber has done excellent work marketing Springfield for manufacturing and large commercial projects, but we need infrastructure in place to capitalize on that momentum. The planned Highway 60 widening from James River to I-44 will open tremendous land along that corridor for commercial and manufacturing growth.

Here’s where I need you to lean in: We must think regionally, not just locally.

I’m talking about seeing the Ozarks as a unified region from Springfield down to the lake area and Branson, up to Bolivar and beyond. We need to ignore city and county boundaries and ask ourselves what’s best for the entire region. When we all rise together, everyone benefits.

This means active engagement in our local planning organizations and economic development councils. Whether it’s the Chamber, City Utilities seeking board members, or the Regional Economic Partnership gaining traction, your participation matters. These aren’t just networking opportunities. They are where the framework for our collective future gets built.

The opportunity ahead of us is significant, but it requires all of us pulling in the same direction. Support infrastructure investments like the convention center. Engage in regional planning efforts. Plan your own facility needs with an eye toward long-term growth. And most importantly, embrace a regional mindset that elevates our entire area.

The infrastructure is being built, literally and figuratively, for tremendous growth. The question is whether we’ll seize this moment together.

—Gregg Scholtens