Come Together, Right Now

The end of the year is near, but there is still much to do before we rest and celebrate with friends and families this holiday season. November was a big month for Show Me, and December is already proving itself formidable as well.


Investors and partners, thank you for your participation at our first expanded board meeting. We’re excited to continue this new format, making tweaks and tuning the dials as we go. Again, thank you for your positive comments and support.

There is a plethora of holiday celebrations happening in the Ozarks!

In early November, Missouri Partnership shared a project opportunity with economic development organizations across the state, and we were thrilled to be able to reply with a possible site/facility in Clever. With only 48 hours to respond to the RFP, we collaborated with several community partners to submit our proposal in time. We want to thank our partners for helping us see this through; this is but one example that shows how willing and dedicated our friends in Christian County are to advancing our community and economy.


SMCC is currently engaged in eight development projects and five projects that are under construction. In addition to working on these projects, there are many other items we're working on to advance economic growth and vitality in Christian County.

Please reference the rest of our newsletter for ways to engage with SMCC and Christian County leaders.


I’d like to thank you once more for your support. We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a blessed new year! Great things are coming in 2023!

Kristen Haseltine

President/CEO - Show Me Christian County

417-496-5987 (cell)

Coming up next!

Ozark HRD Business Survey

Show Me Christian County is partnering with the Historic River District (HRD) to conduct a Business Walk survey in the district and connect with local businesses in downtown Ozark. The survey will take place on Tuesday, December 6 at 1pm. Our group of partners and volunteers will first meet at the Show Me office.

Upcoming Tours of OTC's New Center for Advanced Manufacturing

Christian County leaders and partners are invited to tour OTC's new manufacturing center with us on Monday, Dec. 12 at 1pm. Instructions for parking and finding the entrance to the center can be found here! You may RSVP to this event by clicking the button below; you will be prompted to send an email to the SMCC office administrator, Rachel Campbell. Please RSVP by Dec 9.

RSVP here! 

Hospitality Study

SMCC is making progress toward completing a hospitality industry feasibility study for Christian County, and we are actively working with a consultant to gather data. More information and updates will follow as this project progresses!

Next Full Board Meeting

The next Show Me Christian County full board meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at the new Nixa Chamber Welcome Center, located at 902 W Mount Vernon St, Nixa, MO, pending the remodeling project is completed. Be sure to mark your calendars!

We want YOUR feedback! Take our Legislative Priorities Survey!

Show Me Christian County wants to know your concerns, feedback and legislative priorities as we head into 2023. To help us focus our legislative advocacy efforts, please follow the link below and fill out our quick 8-question survey. Thank you!

Click here to take the survey!

Billings Business Walk Results

In October, Show Me partnered with the City of Billings to hold a business walk. We collected responses from 20 storefronts, gaining valuable information from local business owners and leaders. Anna Evans has compiled and presented the results of our business walk into a single, full report, which can be accessed here and on our website.


You may view the report by clicking the button below:

Full Report

Grant Opportunities

The Missouri Department of Economic Development received funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to assist with economic recovery efforts. The following grant applications are open or will open soon. Please follow the link for more information about these grants.


  • Tourism (accepting applications through December 14, 2022)
  • Entertainment Industry
  • Nonprofit
  • Cell Tower

Show Me Christian County, OTO, Christian County Government and the City of Ozark have been collaborating together and working with regional partners to capitalize on these funding opportunities for projects that will have a significant impact on our community, such as the Chadwick Flyer Trail.


For more information about ARPA funds via DED, click below.

Click to view DED ARPA Resources

Show Me on the Road

SREP Meeting - Ozark, MO

Anna and Kristen attended the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership's meeting at the OC, in which SREP officials communicated their work on a strategic plan for the next five years, highlights of which include a housing study and a migration study. Over fifteen regional partners and leaders were in attendance.


IEDC Basic Course - Tampa, FL

Ethan attended the IEDC's Basic Economic Development Course hosted by the University of South Florida in Tampa. Two days into the four-day course, Tropical Storm Nicole soaked the bayside coast, shutting down the course early. Fortunately, the remaining sessions were made up via Zoom the following week.

An unusually angry bayside as Tropical Storm Nicole arrives.

Billings City Council - Billings, MO

After partnering with the City of Billings to put on a business walk, SMCC presented a full report of business walk findings at the city's November aldermen meeting. The full report can be viewed here or on the Show Me website.


SBJ Economic Growth Series - Springfield, MO

Rachel attended the Economic Growth Series hosted by the Springfield Business Journal. Tim Rosenbury, Director of Quality of Place Initiatives, City of Springfield, gave a presentation at Forward SGF Planning Studio on downtown development and revitalization.

Sparta acquired the old Legacy Bank building at auction for $245,000.

Sparta Property Community Meeting - Sparta, MO

The City of Sparta partnered with SMCC to hold a town hall meeting regarding the city's recent acquisition of the property at 7509 State Highway 14. Several residents turned out to voice support and concerns for the property, and valuable feedback was collected. Thank you to everyone who came out!


Billings Childcare Meeting - Billings, MO

Kristen met with the City of Billings and Billings schools to discuss the potential of a forthcoming childcare survey for residential families. As of now, childcare options in Billings are limited, such as infant and toddler daycare and after-school opportunities for kids and teens. SMCC is working with community partners to identify the scope of needs so we can begin work on potential solutions.

Promoting Our Community

Winter is here, and with the season of togetherness comes numerous holiday celebrations in the Ozarks. Take a look below to see what's happening in Christian County and beyond!

02 - Mayor's Tree Lighting Ceremony

02 - Friday Night Lights

03 - Springfield Children's Business Fair

03 - Sparta Christmas Parade

03 - Highlandville Christmas Parade

04 Nixa Christmas Parade

10 - Ozark Holiday Market

10 - Downtown SPF Christmas Parade

10 - Springfield Symphony X-mas Concert

21 - December Holiday Market

25 - Christmas 🎄

31 - New Year's Party at the Mill

31 - New Year's Eve 🌟

  • Arvest
  • Bank of Billings
  • Bank of Missouri
  • Billings, City of
  • Bryan Properties
  • Callaway Gardner Real Estate
  • Central Bank of the Ozarks
  • Christian County Government
  • CJW Transportation Consultants
  • Clever, City of
  • Cochran Engineering
  • Connell Insurance
  • Creative Audio
  • DeWitt Construction
  • Esterly, Schneider, & Associates
  • Finley River Community Foundation
  • FORVIS
  • Fremont Hills, City of
  • Great River Engineering
  • Great Southern Bank
  • Highlandville, City of
  • Jared Enterprises
  • Liberty 
  • Massengale Group, KW
  • McDonald's
  • Mercy Health - Springfield Communities
  • Meridian Title Company
  • Mitchum Jewelers
  • Nixa Chamber of Commerce
  • Nixa Community Foundation
  • Nixa School District
  • Nixa, City of
  • Ollis / Akers / Arney
  • Olsson Associates
  • Ozark, City of
  • Ozark Electric
  • Ozark School District
  • Ozarks Technical Community College
  • Paragon Architecture
  • Republic Services
  • Sapp Design Associates
  • Shaffer & Hines, Inc.
  • Stenger Management
  • SVN
  • Torgerson Design Partners
  • Toth & Associates
  • Wasson Family Limited Partnership
  • White River Valley Electric Cooperative
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