While the process of economic development should always be both intentional and strategic, it can also be long. Yet, a decade of patience, collaboration, and vision by Steve Etcher, Springline’s manager of location services, has finally paid off, as the Heart of America Mega Site he helped create was just awarded the 2026 Missouri Economic Development Impact Project of the Year.
The award was presented by Governor Mike Kehoe and Michelle Hataway, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, at the 68th Annual Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, held Sept. 9-11 in Kansas City.
Located on more than 5,000 acres in Montgomery County, Missouri, the mega site includes space for technology, large-scale manufacturing, distribution centers and more — all strategically located just 45 minutes from the St. Louis metro to the east and Columbia to the west, and adjacent to both I-70 and Missouri Hwy. 19, making it well-positioned in a booming epicenter of commerce.
And it didn’t take long for the mega site to attract two massive developments that have big implications for the local and state economies: Amazon and Google have already begun building new hyperscale data centers, which collectively represent a $25 billion investment in the region and are expected to generate up to $5 billion in new tax revenue for the state and county.
In addition to the tax benefit, Amazon has pledged $3 million to local 911 enhancements and another $3 million to other county development projects, while Google has pledged $300,000 to community projects and an estimated $220 million over 22 years to the local Port Authority. The financial contributions are on top of the public infrastructure enhancements both companies will be paying for in and around the mega site.
Representing just 40% of the available space at the mega site, the two massive projects demonstrate the incredible economic impact possible at this new development, as Gov. Mike Kehoe elaborated:
“More than a major investment in Missouri’s future … it represents new opportunities for Montgomery County and the surrounding region. Projects like this create lasting benefits for local communities by supporting critical infrastructure improvements, generating new tax revenue for schools and public services, and strengthening the foundation for future economic growth.”
The process of building the mega site started nearly a decade ago, when Etcher brought together the major local players, including the regional electric utilities, the railroad company, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and others — all of whom had an opportunity to weigh in on the viability of a mega site and tour the proposed area. The process helped him “create a base of local champions,” he said, who would help drive the progress.
Etcher then began meeting with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, as well as Missouri Partnership, a public-private economic development organization, lobbying both groups on the compelling reasons to pursue a mega site. Missouri Partnership eventually hired a consultant to evaluate the state, who concluded that not only did Missouri need such a project, but that Montgomery County was the ideal location.
The state then awarded Montgomery County $5 million to complete a more formal master plan. Etcher’s ability to anticipate challenges and navigate the complicated bureaucracy made him invaluable to the effort, said Michelle Hataway, director of the DED:
“Steve’s such a unique individual when it comes to planning and site development because he can get creative to solve problems, which we love. It’s a skill set not always seen because you need the years of experience and have had to touch the different programs in order to put it all together. He’s phenomenal.”
That $5 million investment is now paying off in spades, already producing the $25 billion investment from Amazon and Google, plus countless others in the future as more companies join the tech giants at the mega site.
While the $5 billion in new tax revenue is certainly a large number, it’s often hard to fully grasp what that kind of windfall can mean to a local economy. Yet, the Amazon and Google investment is expected to generate tax revenue of $115 million to $178 million just for Montgomery County — a significant boost considering the total anticipated revenue for the county for 2026 is less than $11 million.
Other ways the investment is expected to boost the local economy:
Even outside these black-and-white dollar amounts, these generation-defining investments made by companies joining the Heart of America Mega Site will continue to be felt for years to come, as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce elaborates:
“The dollars these businesses spend stimulate job creation and growth among their suppliers and nearby local businesses. This generates a cascading economic effect, where the businesses that benefit from these interactions support further employment and activity, amplifying the overall economic footprint that large private firms have.”
By truly understanding the county’s goals and building relationships with the people there, Etcher and the Springline team were able to grasp the challenges faced by rural communities and customize an economic development strategy to transform the future of the region.
“My philosophy has always been: Make no small plans, for they have no ability to stir the soul of man,” Etcher said. “I’ve always been a big dreamer when it comes to changing our communities.”
