Publisher's Note

SBJ file

Marty Goodnight, Publisher, Springfield Business Journal

Welcome to Springfield Business Journal’s 2024 Economic Growth Series kickoff with a focus on local economic growth, driven by insights from more than 300 area business leaders. This information is fresh, having been collected in April. For the sixth year, SBJ has collected a compelling set of data for our readers to make good decisions. This series is one that speaks to the core of SBJ’s why: To serve as a steward for business information so that our audience can make empowered decisions.

We kicked off this data to a room full of data hungry decision-makers to start the conversations. We had one of the most compelling sponsor panel discussions I’ve ever moderated. SBJ’s Economic Growth Series equips readers with practical advice for navigating the dynamic economic landscape. From resource management to recession strategies and future planning, this series provides essential knowledge for success.

And the headline this year? There is a lot of confidence in the community and momentum is strong for regional growth. Survey results indicate growing business confidence, with 45% of respondents anticipating market improvements in their sectors. Attracting new customers now outranks talent acquisition as the top concern for businesses in the next five years. Additionally, 37.5% plan to expand physical locations, and 54% intend to increase employee numbers. Recent headlines in SBJ highlight growth in health care, education, manufacturing, regionalism efforts, arts and tourism, as well as new partnerships propelling southwest Missouri’s rapid growth in the state. The series delves into growth drivers, challenges faced by businesses and successful strategies.

Join us on this insightful journey through the local economic landscape, uncovering the secrets to sustainable growth. In addition to reading this six-part series, I encourage you to meet with your teams and have a conversation about this data. We share it so you are empowered to make decisions. Here’s to continued growth, southwest Missouri!

SBJ 2024 Economic Growth Survey collected March 26-May 6. Survey sample size of 310, with a +/- 5.2% margin of error and 95% confidence interval.