Publisher's Note

SBJ file

Marty Goodnight, Publisher, Springfield Business Journal

The Economic Growth Survey is not just a snapshot; it’s a starting point.

Behind every data point is a doorway into better decisions, sharper questions and more intentional leadership. The real value comes when this information is used – not just read.

Share it with your leadership team. Use it to check your instincts against market trends. Start your next strategic planning session by asking: How does our experience align – or differ – from what this data reveals?

If you’re hiring, what do the 77% of businesses struggling with talent tell you about how you recruit and retain? If you’re debating expansion, what do the 40% planning in-market growth – or the 26% raising capital – signal about where confidence is heading?

EGS isn’t just for economists or CEOs. It’s for department heads building teams. For entrepreneurs evaluating risk. For nonprofit leaders aligning mission with need. For anyone who wants to make better choices rooted in local reality.

And while SBJ is proud to publish this work and drive the conversation, we know the most important dialogue is also happening elsewhere: around conference tables, Zoom calls, jobsite trailers and classroom roundtables. That’s where this data belongs.

We also acknowledge the great work being done by other organizations to produce vital research. It’s not a competition – it’s a collaboration. We’re all pulling in the same direction.

Let’s use the data. Let’s have the conversation. Let’s keep building.

Economic Growth Series content includes content produced by the SBJ newsroom as well as paid advertising content from series sponsors. The news and advertising content is developed independently.

SBJ 2025 Economic Growth Survey collected March 31-April 30, 2025. Survey sample size of 249, with a +/- 5.7% margin of error and 95% confidence interval. Survey conducted by the Circulation Verification Council.