SBJ Economic Growth Survey: Publisher's Note

SBJ file

Jennifer Jackson

Jerry Maguire’s famous utterance, “Show me the money,” is prominently displayed on a sign in my office. It’s motivating to me somehow and serves as a constant reminder that it all takes money. It absolutely takes money to operate, keep the lights on and to keep everyone paid on time. When we are winning this game of business, we are generating revenue at an appropriate rate to do just that. However, in the times that Springfield Business Journal seized opportunities for strategic growth, expansion or relocation, capital was needed from outside sources.

The focus of discussion at the Oct. 6 Economic Growth Survey forum and this special edition is centered on sources and access to capital.  Inside these pages you will read about local money available for the taking. Area banks are flush with cash deposits from federal stimulus funding and eager to lend it for the right projects at record-low interest rates. There are traditional loan programs and credit lines, as well as Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture lending readily available. There are yet other options to find the money you need, like the less common deals made through venture capital and strategic partnerships. Additionally, for those with capital to invest, there’s a cadre of investment incentives on everything from a physical business location to going solar. And those ever considered “unbankable” by traditional means, options are still available.

I encourage you to read this special Economic Growth Survey section and the four that preceded it and then to add your voice to those seeking positive change and economic prosperity for our community at one last forum discussion of the year scheduled for Oct. 27. Secure your seat for this forum that promises to present a decision-makers’ outlook. I’ll look forward to hearing what you have to say!

SBJ 2021 Economic Growth Survey collected April 12-May 4. Survey sample size of 309, with a +/- 5.6% margin of error and 95% confidence interval.