SBJ 03/08/10 "From 2005 to 2007, Marshfield, Nixa, Ozark, Willard, Rogersville, Republic and Battlefield reported fmore than 3,000 housing starts combined. Last year, there were less than 200 homes started in those seven communities collectively, according to building permits filed in each city". It also stated that the year-to-date housing starts are providing hope for smaller communities. Marshfield 2009 Total - 7 2010 YTD - 1 Nixa 2009 Total - 43 2010 YTD - 22 Ozark 2009 Total - 16 2010 YTD - 14 Willard 2009 Total - 15 2010 YTD - 8 Rogersville 2009 Total - 2 2010 YTD - 6 Battlefield 2009 Total - 20 2010 YTD - 2 Republic 2009 Total - 81 2010 YTD - 24 Total 2009 - 184 2010 YTD - 77

Springfield's metropolitan statistical area population has grown faster since 2000 than any other MSA in the state, according annual population estimates from the U.S.Census Bureau. Population in the five-county metro area - covering Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties - was 430,900, up 1.1% since 2008 and 17% since 2000, according to a news release from the Springfield Business Development Corp. That 10-year growth rate surpasses Columbia's 14.1%, Kansas City's 12.6%, Joplin's 10.8% and St. Louis' 4.8% growth. SBJ printed 03/25/2010