City staff provides update for C-Street TIF projects
On Thursday, March 10, the Economic Vitality and Public Works departments hosted a Commercial Street TIF Project Open House at White River Brewing Company. With more than 20 C-Street stakeholders and members of the public in attendance, City staff provided updates and gathered input on the following projects:

• Directional signage to the Commercial Street district
• Parking Lot Improvements at Pacific St. and Campbell Ave. and Pacific St. and Robberson Ave.
• District gateway elements
• Schematic design of the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge Plaza
• Commercial Street Art Collection Plan. 

For those who could not attend the meeting, all display boards and meeting materials are available for review at springfieldmo.gov/cstreet. 

Loan programs help small biz grow and thrive

City Council recently approved contracts to allow City staff to provide loan servicing functions for two different loan programs through the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG) and the Springfield Finance and Development Corporation (SFDC).

SMCOG received an award from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to capitalize and administer a revolving loan fund program that will lend to new, expanding, and existing businesses within Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, Webster, Barton, Jasper, McDonald and Newton counties. SMCOG and the City entered into an agreement whereby Economic Vitality staff will provide loan underwriting and processing services for applications received from the 14 counties served by the SMCOG funding. Application materials will be available soon. Learn more.

SFDC's focus is in the revitalization of Springfield’s center city area. A contract between SFDC and the City continues a partnership whereby Economic Vitality staff members process and service economic development loans for small businesses and entrepreneurs that will continue to stimulate business growth, job creation and leverage additional investments to benefit the community as a whole. Learn more.

Supercharge SWMO offers free training for new and prospective startups

Supercharge Southwest Missouri offers free on-demand training platform to entrepreneurs. Expert-led modules cover everything anyone needs to know to start and grow a successful business in southwest Missouri. 
 

Birthplace of Route 66 Festival back on the Mother Road in 2022

After having to cancel the 2020 and 2021 Birthplace of Route 66 Festivals due to the pandemic, festival organizers the City of Springfield, Aaron Sachs & Associates, KY3/KSPR/CW, Downtown Springfield Association and West Central Neighborhood Alliance are thrilled to announce that the festival is on in 2022.
The festival will take place Aug. 11-13 and will kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at the Aaron Sachs Stage in Motorcycle Village (Jefferson Avenue and McDaniel Street) with the free Rockin’ the Route 66 Kickoff Concert. The Thursday night concert will provide a chance for community members and visitors alike to celebrate coming out of the pandemic and set the stage for future economic vitality and recovery efforts to be promoted during and following the festival. Read more.