Q&A Jim Anderson, President, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Anderson: Our economic development initiative, Partnership for Prosperity, marked its third year with several success measures met. Among those, the initiative helped secure nearly $95 million in new capital investment in Springfield's 10-county region and exceeded work force goals for the metro area with the creation of more than 7,600 jobs.

(Partnership for Prosperity) is a program of the chamber's subsidiary, the Springfield Business & Development Corporation. Its investors have pledged $1.8 million over five years to address existing business needs, work force development, regional development and marketing of the Springfield region.

In the Missouri General Assembly, the chamber was the regional business community's leading advocate, successfully lobbying for legislation favorable to business, including workers compensation reform, economic development incentives and the Missouri State University name change.

The chamber sponsored a 20-member delegation on its first business development trade mission to China in April.

The chamber launched its Character Education program, promoting a community of character in workplaces, schools, faith organizations, civic groups and families.

Our agribusiness impact study was completed, quantifying this to be a $3.9 billion economic sector that creates more than 14,500 jobs in our region.

SBJ: What goals is the organization pursuing in 2006?

Anderson: At a retreat in October, the chamber's board of directors decided on two strategic priorities for 2006. One is work force development, through which we will assist in the effort to improve the Springfield region's educational achievements, including school readiness skills, literacy and graduation rates, with the active participation and partnership of the higher education community. We'll also improve and sustain the communitywide Character Education program.

The second is infrastructure development, through which we will provide leadership on key infrastructure issues facing our region, including expansion and development of the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

SBJ: What are some of the key challenges in bringing business to Springfield?

Anderson: In conjunction with its economic development partners, the chamber faces the challenge of competition associated with new investment opportunities. Secondly, global changes in manufacturing and trade demand innovation and commitment from our business community. Economic development success is predicated on our public/private partnership's ability to articulate the advantages of living and working in the Springfield region to various and diverse audiences.

SBJ: In what ways will the chamber focus on international business?

Anderson: We're organizing our second mission to China, which will be in April. Our goals for this trip are to generate business contacts between the Springfield region and China; showcase Missouri State University's extensive presence there; and provide participants a firsthand look at the rapid development and modernization taking place in China.

We also are planning to host one or two visiting delegations from China during the coming year. These groups of entrepreneurs and government officials will meet with business leaders here to further the cooperation between our two countries.

SBJ: In August, chamber delegates made a community leadership visit to Des Moines. What's on tap for 2006?

Anderson: We haven't selected a destination yet for the 2006 community leadership visit. We typically look for a community of comparable size or slightly larger that has successfully addressed some of the same community and economic development issues that we are working on here in Springfield. The goal of the chamber's community leadership visit program is to learn from the experiences of other communities and bring home ideas that will benefit the Springfield region. Previous intercity visits have served as catalysts for important local projects, such as the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership, Jordan Valley Park and the annual publication of a community report card. This year will be our 12th visit.