Planning for What’s Next

One survey never tells the whole story. But after asking Springfield business leaders the same questions year after year, you start to see patterns. This year, one stood out to me.

Business leaders aren’t waiting for certainty anymore.

A few years ago, it felt like everyone was waiting for inflation to settle down, interest rates to change or the next headline to tell them what to do. This year’s survey feels different. Businesses have accepted that uncertainty is part of today’s economy, and they’re making decisions anyway.

I don’t think confidence is necessarily higher. I think it’s become more disciplined.

Nearly four out of 10 businesses still expect to expand in this market over the next five years. More than half plan to invest in technology, and almost half are focused on developing the next generation of leaders. Those aren’t decisions made by companies standing still. They’re decisions made by leaders preparing for the future. The priorities are changing, too.

Workforce challenges are still front and center, but business leaders are also talking about artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, housing, regional growth and infrastructure. Those aren’t short-term issues. They’re the kinds of conversations communities have when they’re thinking five and 10 years ahead instead of simply trying to get through the next quarter.

That’s encouraging because communities don’t accidentally become great places to do business. They decide to become them.

I’ve said before that Springfield’s biggest opportunity is thinking and acting as a region. Businesses don’t see city limits the way governments do. They see talent, transportation, housing, infrastructure and customers. The more we invest in those things together, the stronger our competitive position becomes.

In this edition and the two to follow, we’ll take a closer look at what business leaders told us and what those trends mean for our future. My hope is that this series doesn’t just spark conversation. I hope it encourages action.

Every community has challenges. Ours certainly does. But I don’t see a business community waiting for someone else to solve them. I see leaders investing, adapting and planning for what’s next. That’s exactly the kind of mindset that builds a stronger economy, and it’s one of the reasons I’m optimistic about where Springfield is headed.