Show Me Christian County details $30 million asphalt plant, Smile Center, Ozark Marketplace and job targets

Show Me Christian County staff updated the Christian County Commission on April 24 about recent business expansions and projects they said will create jobs and tax revenue over the coming years.

The update highlighted Capital Holding Group’s expansion and new asphalt plant — described by staff as a nearly $30,000,000 investment that will create 29 direct jobs. Staff said JobsEQ labor-market modeling shows those 29 jobs will have downstream effects, positively affecting about 309 other jobs in the region and that, for every $1,000 in sales paid to Capital Holding Group, roughly $260 will be spent back into the local economy. "I always want to highlight that economic development is a team sport," said Kristen, a Show Me Christian County staff member, describing coordination among county, city and state partners on the project. Staff said the project began in May of last year and includes multiple development phases.

Staff also reviewed the Smile Center project, which they said represents a $3,500,000 investment and will create seven direct jobs; using the project’s internal multiplier, staff said the net local job effect is roughly nine positions. The Smile Center was described as a headquarters and regional draw that will serve clients from nearby communities.

On retail development, staff summarized the Ozark Marketplace proposal: a 26-acre site with about 20 acres for buildout and six acres reserved for oversized water detention. They said the board of aldermen recently approved an incentive package for the project and that retail tenants publicly announced so far include Aldi, which staff said is expected to open before the end of the year. Staff estimated the marketplace could generate just over $2,000,000 in sales tax revenue for the county, though they said exact tenant lineups and timing remain fluid.

Staff discussed infrastructure and grants tied to multiple projects. They reported capital and state/federal dollars are associated with some work at the asphalt plant site and described a USDA-linked grant connected to Creative Audio’s property development. Staff said Creative Audio was a co-applicant on a grant that requires creation of 100 jobs across its companies within a five-year period; the grant timeline and program obligations were presented as the primary schedule driver for that project. Staff said the county has awarded the contract for related road work and that overpass and road improvements should begin in July.

Throughout the presentation staff emphasized collaborative roles for the county, the cities of Ozark and Nixa, utilities and state agencies in permitting, road and utility work and grant applications. Commissioners thanked staff and invited continued updates.

No formal action or vote was taken during the presentation besides the commission’s earlier approval of the consent agenda, which included placing sheriff’s office destruction of records on the record (see separate article).