Springfield Standard

The City’s Departments of Economic Vitality and Workforce Development are collaborating to streamline operations and enhance services for regional job seekers and employers through operating grants reaching 58 counties. The City Council will review a proposal on Monday night to integrate the two departments, aiming to strengthen business relations with the goal of attracting new investments and talent to Springfield.

Currently, the City's Economic Vitality and Workforce Development departments operate independently with distinct objectives. Recognizing the connection between workforce dynamics and economic prosperity, combining these departments allows for a comprehensive strategy that aligns labor market needs with economic development goals.

According to Economic Vitality Director Amanda Ohlensehlen, this consolidation will help the City offer a higher level of service, increase staff capacity, and integrate with partner agencies through a holistic approach. As proposed, there is no impact on the general fund, and it is anticipated that general fund savings will result over time. All current staff positions will be retained in the consolidation.

The City of Springfield has nearly 50 years of experience providing workforce services to the Ozark region. Since 2021, it has been awarded over $24 million in grants from various sources including the Department of Commerce and U.S. Economic Development Administration. "We are also proud of our collaboration with the Workforce Board to deliver roughly $2 million dollars in workforce services annually under the current public workforce system of WIOA (Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act)," said Interim Workforce Development Director Ericka Schmeeckle.

Outcomes from recent initiatives include:

- Good Jobs Challenge (EDA): enrolled 1,684 participants in 58 counties; 745 from the seven-county Ozark Region.

- Apprenticeship Building America Grant (DOLETA): enrolled 494 participants in a 10-county region.

- Pathway Home 2 Grant (DOLETA): enrolled 425 participants from prisons throughout Missouri who were released back into the Ozark Region.

- Green for Greene (EPA): enrolled 269 participants in the seven-county Ozark Region.

In 2021, Economic Vitality was established as Springfield's primary department for professional responsibilities related to economic development. Its objectives include encouraging reinvestment, coordinating significant development projects impacting tax bases, retaining existing businesses while promoting entrepreneurship, and attracting new businesses.

“The combination of Economic Vitality and Workforce Development initiatives will ensure that the City is meeting goals outlined in Forward SGF as well as interdependent council priorities," said Ohlensehlen.

City Manager Jason Gage added that strategic alignment would provide broader services while efficiently marketing city assets: “This consolidation...will allow us to better serve our residents."

The newly combined department proposes three divisions: Community & Economic Development; Grant Management; and Workforce Development. This structure aims at improving efficiency by leveraging additional grant opportunities.

Schmeeckle emphasized enhanced collaboration: “This integration will create a cohesive approach...to align closely with City Council priorities.”

Benefits outlined include cost savings from combining staff, increased staff capacity, operational efficiencies, stronger community presence, diversified funding through grants, better leverage state/federal funding opportunities as well as improved business attraction/retention.

Additionally, plans are underway for acquiring and renovating a building near City Governmental Plaza for relocating Workforce Development services. This move seeks easier public access while maximizing tax-exempt financing options discussed by Council on May 20th; a vote is scheduled for Monday night.