A new group, Friends of SGF, has launched a campaign in support of the proposed convention and events center and related tax that will appear on the April 7 ballot.
The co-chairs of Friends of SGF are Sally Hargis and Marshall Kinne. Hargis is chair of the board of Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co., and Kinne is regional president-Springfield for Point C, formerly Med-Pay LLC. Gordon Elliott, owner of Elliott Lodging Ltd., is the group’s treasurer.
The creation of the organization was announced in a news release issued Feb. 17. Kinne confirmed that the group is currently filing paperwork to register as a political action committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission. The group was not registered as of press time.
In the news release, Hargis called the center a generational investment in Springfield’s future.
“It will create new jobs, attract private investment and position our city to compete for major events year-round,” she said. “A yes vote means stronger tourism, stronger local businesses and a facility that serves both national events and our own community.”
Kinne said in the release that the center is a transformational opportunity for the Queen City and one that will be paid for by visitors at the city’s hotels, rather than by local residents.
“The revenue is legally restricted to this project and will be overseen by a citizen committee to ensure every dollar is spent exactly as promised,” said Kinne.
Elliott added that the visitor funds will support local infrastructure and create lasting benefits for Springfieldians.
“Having reviewed the data as a local hotel owner, this is a smart use of a hotel-motel tax – one that reinvests tourism dollars to create even more economic activity for our city,” Elliott said in the release.
Jeff Seifried, co-owner of Mother’s Brewing Co., offered his support to the tax measure.
“As a downtown business owner, I see firsthand how events drive foot traffic, which support local restaurants and shops,” he said in the release. “This project is a real opportunity to accelerate downtown’s momentum and bring more customers through everyone’s doors.”
The release spells out some arguments in favor of the tax issue in the release, which notes that the center is projected to create hundreds of new, permanent jobs while attracting more private investment to Springfield. These were the findings of a report by a paid consultant working for the city, Chicago-based Hunden Strategic Partners Inc.
It adds that building a convention and events center would strengthen Springfield’s reputation as a destination for major events, help boost year-round tourism and expand opportunities for local events.
The organizers offer several ways to get involved with Friends of SGF, including engaging as a volunteer or supporter, making a financial donation or requesting a speaker at a civic or community meeting.
The group’s website is FriendsofSGF.com, and a note on the home page says it is dedicated to sharing facts about the tourism-tax-funded center.
Opposition planned
In addition to the booster group, vocal opposition to the center is mounting from some who link their planned “no” votes to a separate issue: House Bill 2847, state legislation that aims to take away city residents’ right to referendum on zoning decisions.
Wendy Baker Huscher helped to organize the successful 2022 Galloway Village anti-zoning referendum – the only one in the city’s history, with 70.5% of citywide voters rejecting a proposed Elevation Enterprises development across from Sequiota Park.
Huscher has said in public Facebook posts that if House Bill 2847 is not withdrawn, she will organize a public awareness campaign, including placing anti-tax-measure yard signs in the 30 days leading up to the April vote.
“The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is pushing to eliminate our ability to challenging zoning by referendum while simultaneously advocating for the convention center,” she wrote in a Jan. 26 post that introduced her effort and included the yard sign design. “When the same interests try to silence voters and then ask for their support, the response should be simple: no.”
So far, House Bill 2847, proposed by Rep. Jeff Knight, R-Lebanon, remains an active piece of legislation, but no hearing is scheduled and the bill is not on the House calendar, according to the legislature’s bill tracking website.
Gauging public sentiment
The city’s architect, Populous Inc., sought public feedback on the convention center through an online survey that closed Feb. 18.
Survey takers ranked the most important initiatives to them as the community grows, with improving quality of life for residents coming out on top, followed by attracting jobs and economic opportunity and supporting local businesses.
Asked what they would need to feel confident in supporting the project, a quarter of respondents cited stronger financial transparency, with 20% saying they needed clear examples of everyday community use. Another 17% said they would need proof that the center supports local businesses.
A narrative question asks respondents to answer the question, “10 years from now, what would make you say, ‘That was a good investment for Springfield’?”
A handful of responses from among dozens provided are as follows:
“If it provides an opportunity to grow the area and used for the benefit of the people.”
“Learning what the real economic impact to the community was.”
“Consistent use of the convention center, and financial independence.”
“If we had a badass convention center.”
