SBDC's No. 1 priority to help existing businesses

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For the past 30 months the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's economic development subsidiary, the Springfield Business and Development Corporation, has been heavily involved in the process of developing a second industrial park in the metropolitan area. |ret||ret||tab|

Springfield's Partnership Industrial Center is nearing capacity and the community's economic development partnership intends to maintain the momentum of job creation and new capital investment by offering a quality industrial park setting for new and expanding industry.|ret||ret||tab|

Of course, the effort has been delayed somewhat because of the Springfield City Council's decision.|ret||ret||tab|

The council decided not to expand the boundaries of the Urban Services Area to allow development of a very attractive parcel of ground just east of the existing Partnership Industrial Center.|ret||ret||tab|

Stay tuned.|ret||ret||tab|

While industrial park development is critically important to the long-term economic vitality of our region, it's only one component of the Springfield Business and Development Corporation's work. |ret||ret||tab|

In fact, it ranks third on the list of the organization's key priorities for the year 2000, behind our long-time focus on business retention and expansion, and assisting Springfield area employers with labor-availability challenges. |ret||ret||tab|

The fourth key priority focuses on the attraction of quality companies that will enhance and continue to diversify the area employment base. |ret||ret||tab|

That's right: Existing-business assistance has been, is now and will always be the No. 1 priority of the organization.|ret||ret||tab|

It's no secret that more than 80 percent of all new jobs created in Springfield, or any community nationwide, comes from existing business and industry. Sure, the new office and manufacturing projects get the biggest headlines, but the meat and potatoes of any modern economic-development program is in the assistance provided to the companies who call our community home today.|ret||ret||tab|

In 2000, the Springfield Business and Development Corporation, in conjunction with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and its partners at City Utilities and the city of Springfield, will focus on such activities as developing and implementing a local online job network via the Chamber and SBDC Web site |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|www.springfieldchamber.com. |ret||ret||tab|

Any local employer with a job availability page on its own Web site will have the opportunity to link to our Web site to promote openings in their organization throughout the country and the world. |ret||ret||tab|

We'll also spend a great deal of time communicating to local business and industry the array of programs and incentives available at the state and federal levels (that is to say customized training funds, tax credit programs, expansion or seed capital financing programs). |ret||ret||tab|

We will also regularly communicate with local business owners about their companies' satisfaction with Springfield's business climate. |ret||ret||tab|

This open climate will help us learn what the economic development partnership can do to enhance the local business environment. |ret||ret||tab|

In 2000, the Springfield Business and Development Corporation will work to identify and support redevelopment opportunities in and around Springfield. |ret||ret||tab|

It is our philosophy that redevelopment is as important as new development and that the two are not mutually exclusive.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield's business-attraction program doesn't take a back seat to any such program in the United States. |ret||ret||tab|

We'll continue our efforts to market and promote various privately held business or industrial sites or facilities in the area, as well as the remaining parcels at Partnership Industrial Center. |ret||ret||tab|

We'll continue to prepare and present comprehensive, customized proposals to business prospects, conduct marketing presentations to regional and national commercial brokerage houses and site selection consultants, and promote Springfield as one of the finest cities in America for business development and growth.|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield's economic development program has one primary goal. It is focused on making this community for both existing and prospective businesses a location that provides an environment conducive to business growth and development, quality living and prosperity.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|(Greg Williams, CED, is vice president of economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.)|ret||ret||tab|

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