Springfield looks for more progress after 2024′s economic development successes

Springfield city officials and community leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, March 14, 2024 for the city's new fire station on South Charleston Pike. Pictured L TO R: Horton Hobbs, Greater Springfield Partnership; Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott; Springfield Fire Chief Jacob King; City Commissioner Tracey Tackett; Assistant Mayor David Estrop; Mayor Rob Rue; City Manager Bryan Heck; Fire Fighters Union 333 President Kevin Sanders; City Project Manager Juli Springer and Deputy Director of Public Safety and Operations Jason Via. PHOTO By Vicky Forrest

Credit: Bill Lackey

Credit: Bill Lackey

Springfield city officials and community leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, March 14, 2024 for the city's new fire station on South Charleston Pike. Pictured L TO R: Horton Hobbs, Greater Springfield Partnership; Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott; Springfield Fire Chief Jacob King; City Commissioner Tracey Tackett; Assistant Mayor David Estrop; Mayor Rob Rue; City Manager Bryan Heck; Fire Fighters Union 333 President Kevin Sanders; City Project Manager Juli Springer and Deputy Director of Public Safety and Operations Jason Via. PHOTO By Vicky Forrest

2024 saw Springfield make headway in economic development with projects such as a $1.3 billion data center, the expansion of an auto parts maker that added more than 100 jobs, and increased housing options.

The Greater Springfield Partnership spent much of the year securing funds, seeing a 60% increase in its biggest fundraising campaign yet at $6.5 million, the majority of which will go toward workforce development, GSP vice president of economic development Horton Hobbs said. This was an “odd year” with that focus and the presidential election and “overwhelming negativity” surrounding Haitian immigration in Springfield, Hobbs said.

“In spite of all those things, our business community remained very resilient and really future-focused, and you could really see, it was evident by the development we saw and the momentum we felt in spite of those headwinds that we had,” Hobbs said.

Topre adding 157 jobs, increasing capability with hot stamping

Auto parts maker Topre announced plans to add 157 full-time jobs in Springfield, generating more than $6.9 million in new yearly payroll, according to state officials.

Topre America Corp. has a stamping and assembly facility at Champion City Business Park northeast of downtown. Topre received a 1.274%, eight-year Job Creation Tax Credit for the project from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority.

This expansion adds about 140,000 square feet, bringing the facility to around 750,000 to 800,000 square feet, Topre COO Brad Pepper said in August. Topre’s presence in Springfield has helped it serve its northern customers, he said.

The company uses metal press-forming technology to create and supply “high-performance components and products” to a variety of industries, including cars, air conditioning systems, temperature-controlled logistics and electronic equipment. The Springfield location is expanding with hot and cold stamping machines and more presses for a new contract with the electric vehicles industry.

Brad Pepper, vice president of Topre America, talks about the new $10 million facility his company plans to build in the Champion Business Park in Springfield and the Honda front end, in foreground, that they intend to build there. Bill Lackey/Staff

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

5C Data Center USA to come to Springfield in $1.3 billion investment

A $1.3 billion data center project proposed for Springfield would bring jobs averaging a $127,000 salary and would be completed in late 2027 if all of the financing and construction move forward, according to Springfield city officials and city documents.

The 5C Data Center is planned for the current LexisNexis site at 601 Benjamin Drive in the Prime Ohio development at the southeastern edge of the city, plus expansion around that building. It would create around 100 full-time jobs, according to an October city interoffice memo.

Hobbs said this is the largest one-time investment in Clark County’s history.

Housing options expanding

Housing developments have been in the works over the past year, including Melody Parks on Springfield’s east side, which has seen some homes purchased and people expected to move in during spring or summer 2025.

Two other housing developments are expected to come to Springfield in the Clark-Shawnee school district after the school board approved tax abatement compensation agreements in December.

Sycamore Ridge is proposed as a 222-unit single-family housing development to be built at the intersection of Burnett Road and Leffel Lane, near the city of Springfield’s south border with Springfield Twp. The Maple Grove development, consisting of 110 single-family homes, will be built on Springfield’s east side, across U.S. 40 from Walmart.

Hobbs also pointed to the Wren Lofts at High and Limestone in downtown Springfield, bringing new residents and continuing downtown development.

“The key to the long-term success and sustainability of downtown is to get people to live there, and certainly that started a few years back with the condos, but now with these market rate apartments coming online in ‘25, [we are] finally getting started after several years of attempts,” Hobbs said. “It’s a huge milestone in ‘24, for sure.”

Fireworks returned to Holiday in the City in downtown Springfield Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. This year they were accompanied by a drone display.  BILL LACKEY

Credit: Bill Lackey

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Credit: Bill Lackey

Tourism, events, Prime Ohio

Hobbs said Springfield is continually focused on events downtown, including those related to April’s total solar eclipse, which saw more than 1,000 people downtown and a boost in overnight stays.

On the tourism side, the area saw a total of $560 million of economic impact in 2024, a $100 million increase since 2021, Hobbs said.

“We’re starting to see the tourism efforts pay dividends, and people are certainly traveling a lot more now, and of course the events downtown, just the continued momentum around events ...” Hobbs said

Springfield’s National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence will continue its momentum, too, Hobbs said.

The city is optimistic that it will land another project or two to fill the remaining acreage at the Prime Ohio site, Hobbs said.

“Hopefully we are able to attract some significant development to the airport area, and I think those are certainly strong focal points for us — the whole Intel effect, if you will,” Hobbs said. “That’s going to continue to have an impact on the whole state, but certainly our region. I think we’re very well positioned to take advantage of increased investments in that space.”

Hobbs said another focus will be being proactive as a community “to tell our story nationally,” not letting outside forces to do so.

“I just look forward in ‘25 to continuing the momentum that we sustained in ‘24 in spite of some of the negative conditions,” Hobbs said. “There’s no crystal ball here but I do believe that we’re going to continue to be moving forward.”

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