Thank you to the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce for inviting Kristen to serve as a panelist discussing economic development at the July member luncheon (L-R: Whitney Guison, Nixa Chamber // Jimmy Liles, City of Nixa // Kristen Haseltine, SMCC)

Kicking Off a New Fiscal Year

A Letter From the President/CEO

As we kick off the 2025-2026 fiscal year, our team extends a sincere thank you to our fantastic network of investors, board members, and community partners.

It's been an exciting year for economic development in Christian County with several project announcements, growing interest, and behind-the-scenes progress made toward developing sites and infrastructure.

In fact, from July 2024 through June 2025, the SMCC team worked on a total of 29 projects and 16 project leads throughout the county!

These projects ranged from site development to light manufacturing/industrial, health care, hospitality, retail, mixed-use redevelopment, and more.

As momentum grows, we will continue to host project meetings, submit information packets, explore options for local expansions, assist with grant applications, connect employers to resources, and more because of your contributions and support. Thank you again for making this work happen.

We are thrilled to see what this year will bring.

Looking forward,

Kristen Haseltine

President/CEO - SMCC

Welcome, New Investors!

June 2025

Stay Engaged

SMCC Board Meeting

The next investor-only board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16th at 10:00 AM at the Faught Administration Center Community Room in Nixa.

Be sure to mark your calendars. We look forward to seeing you there!

Investors, mark your calendars for our next First Tuesday meeting at 10:00 am on Aug. 5, to be held at the Christian County Resource Management Office in Ozark. August's topic is The Economic Impacts of Public Safety. Your presence and input are valued. To invite a guest, please contact SMCC.

Board Meeting Location Update*!

Faught Administration Center – Community Room

301 S. Main St, Nixa, MO 65714

Enter through the circle drive at the back of the building.

*We will hold SMCC board meetings at the Faught Community Room for the remainder of 2025 as Nixa City Hall Council chambers are renovated.

Looking to engage with SMCC? Investors are invited to express interest in serving on the First Tuesday or Government Affairs Committees.

Apply Here

The Christian County Community Betterment Fund (501c3 tax deductible) supports initiatives that enhance local assets and improve quality of life in Christian County. These funds help facilitate key community improvement projects by contributing to grant match dollars, feasibility data, and more.

Donate today to make a lasting impact!

Christian County's Top Employers

By the Numbers: These Christian County businesses and organizations top the list of largest employers* in our area. Don't see your business listed? Click below to add your information!

In descending order as of July 2025:

Nixa School District
Ozark School District
Mercy
Walmart (Ozark)
Walmart (Nixa)
Christian County
Lambert's
Clever School District
Diversified Plastics Corp
Finley Farms

Additional: Lowe's, Tracker Marine, Sparta School District, City of Ozark, City of Nixa, Creative Audio, OTC Richwood Valley, Total Highspeed, Ozark Bank

*employment numbers are self-reported directly to SMCC or available via public sources

Add Your Company's Information Here

SMCC In the News

How does state-level lawmaking affect local communities and public services in Southwest MO? SMCC Vice President Anna Evans spoke with Springfield Business Journal about the potential impacts of recent legislation to local taxing districts across many Missouri counties. NOTE: The article link is limited to SBJ subscribers.

CLICK HERE to read

Programs & Partner Resources

Credential Training Program Now Accepting Applications

Missouri One Start is now accepting applications for its Credential Training Program through July 31. This competitive grant helps Missouri employers cover the cost of short-term, industry-recognized credentials for current or prospective employees.

Program Highlights:

• Up to $2,000 reimbursement per employee

• Up to $30,000 per company per fiscal year

• 12 months to complete credentials after approval

• Applications accepted quarterly (July, Oct, Jan, April)

This program supports businesses of all sizes in upskilling talent and staying competitive in a changing economy.

Apply by July 31 - CLICK HERE

The Ozarks Transportation Organization (OTO) is working to finalize the 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).

Click here to view an interactive map of the Draft OTO FY 2026-2029 TIP.

Want to leave a comment on the draft plan?

Email: comment@ozarkstransportation.org

Visit OTO's website: https://www.ozarkstransportation.org/contact