Springfield recognized for community strengths

The city placed 10th on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2005 Hot Cities list in the small cities category, which includes 170 cities with fewer than 20,000 businesses. The ranking was based on the area’s business climate, higher education and airport activity.

The National Policy Research Council in Washington, D.C., measured the percentage of businesses that began between four and 14 years ago that have experienced substantial growth. Springfield was ranked with cities such as Lincoln, Neb., and Auburn-Opelika, Ala.

Springfield also was awarded a five-star ranking in Expansion Management magazine’s 2005 Mayor’s Challenge. The title was given to the top 20 percent of 362 metro areas considered.

The awards were based on criteria that included an area’s schools and graduation rates, availability and quality of health care, crime rates, affordable housing, employment opportunities, amount of university research and government spending.

The city and Greene County were recognized for their focus on funding projects that directly benefit children as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People by America’s Promise.

Burrell Behavioral Health and the Community Partnership of the Ozarks, which together have secured nearly $30 million for area children, were recognized for their efforts.

Jim Anderson, president of Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said the last few years have brought more and more national recognition to the city.

“We’ve had some pretty high-profile rankings in the last few years especially, in terms of the development that’s occurring,” he said. “It just further affirms what many people who live here already recognize – it’s a tremendous place to do business.”