The 2012 Salute to Design & Construction activities kicked-off with a proclamation ceremony at the Greene County Public Safety Center on Tuesday, October 23. Guests were also invited to tour the new state-of-the-art facility during the event.
HBA CEO Matt Morrow emceed the ceremony and Greene County Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock presented the first proclamation at the ceremony. Viebrock also introduced Emergency Management Director Ryan Nicholls who highlighted some of the $19.7 million facility’s impressive features and technology. Also on hand with proclamations and resolutions: Springfield Mayor Bob Stephens, Jeremy Cady on behalf of House Speaker Pro Tem Shane Schoeller, Senator Bob Dixon and Stacy Burks on behalf of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt.
All of the officeholders and their representatives emphasized the importance of the construction industry’s impact on the economy. The numbers are significant for commercial and residential construction. Every billion dollars invested in nonresidential construction activity adds $3.4 billion to the gross domestic product, increases personal earnings by $1.1 billion and creates or sustains 28,500 jobs. From our recent economic impact study, we know that every 938 single-family homes built in the Springfield, MO MSA in 2010 will generate a cumulative $109.1 million in revenue, compared to only $93.0 million in costs over the next 15 years.
Following the Proclamation Ceremony, Springfield Contractors Association President King Coltrin announced the Project of the Year Finalists: Missouri State’s Foster Recreation Center, the Greene County Public Safety Center and the John Deere Reman facility in Strafford. The recipient of that award, along with several others, will be announced at the Salute to Design & Construction Annual Awards Banquet on November 1.