Republic's growth on display at regional summit

That was the message from Republic City Administrator Dean Thompson during the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership’s seventh annual Regional Summit.

Thompson’s presentation was clear: Partnerships have been key to the city’s successful growth in recent years, including the city’s merger with Brookline and upcoming planned developments Terrell Creek and Lakes at Shuyler Ridge.

The key to the town’s growth, Thompson said, has been its willingness to think outside the city’s jurisdictional boundaries.

“There’s so much going on here that sometimes I don’t think about what’s going on right outside our city limits in Greene County or what’s soon to be right outside our city limits in Christian County,” Thompson said in his presentation, titled “Development Outside of the Box.”

“It’s amazing how often we get that myopic view, put the blinders on and forget about what’s going on economically outside of our community that we can draw from.”

Thompson pointed out that the 11,500 people who live in what he called the Republic jurisdictional area are directly affected by an OREP-area population of more than 500,000.

Republic has been able to take advantage of partnerships with that population base in recent years to build a Police station and aquatics center using funds from various Greene County taxes.

He also pointed out another example of community growth: The Republic Community Center, where the regional summit was held. The center was partially funded by county park and recreation sales taxes.

Add to that the consolidation with Brookline, which increased Republic’s area by 2,900 acres or 68 percent, and the planned Terrell Creek addition, which will add another 2,200 acres, and the growth in the town is apparent.

Another sign of growth: The addition of national chain retailers, including a recently completed Lowe’s home improvement store and a planned new distribution center for Marshall, Minn.-based Schwan Food Co.

Allen Kunkel, manager of regional development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed the importance of cooperation between communities.

“Their success is dealing with what they have to inside their community but also being able to partner with other entities, whether it’s Greene County or Springfield, working together and having an open mind,” he said. “What happens around you also affects your community, so you can’t have the tunnel vision attitude.”

Republic’s Thompson also was quick to point out that the town’s success can be duplicated elsewhere.

Other communities are indeed following Republic’s example.

Recently elected Billings Mayor John Inmon, already has been in communication with other communities since being sworn into office April 10.

“We’ve been involved in meetings with Republic, Battlefield and Clever about city boundaries and things like that,” said Inmon, who previously served as a member of the Billings Board of Aldermen.

Inmon met April 12 with Ozark officials to discuss urban development in Christian County and its communities.

“The quality of life in our communities,” Thompson added, “ultimately depends upon our abilities to cooperate, communicate and develop trusting relationships, allowing us to prepare for the future.”