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Business in brief: SRC opens self-storage; NaviLens now at Blind Community Thrift Store

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SRC Holdings opens Enterprise Self Storage

This week, SRC Holdings opened its latest business venture, Enterprise Self Storage, serving east Springfield. The storage facility offers 300 units ranging in size from 10 feet by 5 feet up to 12 feet by 40 feet for indoor boat and vehicle storage. The facility also offers 24/7 video surveillance.

The new business is the latest phase in SRC’s decade-long, $100 million plan for real estate development anddiversification led by SRC Development Group. According to a press release, the new storage facility allows SRC to more efficiently utilize its land and diversify its income while meeting Springfield’s high demand for storage space.

“This has been a fun project to work on, and we’re excited to be opening our doors. We’ve already had a lot of reservations from members of the community, and we’re excited to see the growth this brings for our employee-owners,” said Kim Bell, who manages the new venture.

Blind Community Thrift Store introduces NaviLens codes

The Blind Community Thrift Store on North Kansas Expressway in Springfield has become one of the first retail stores to introduce NaviLens codes. NaviLens allows blind, visually impaired, and non-English speaking customers to shop via the NaviLens app by scanning codes. The adaptive software uses voiceover technology to provide departments, directions, and prices throughout the store.

NaviLens is free to use, and the codes are simpler to scan than traditional QR codes. They can also be scanned from up to 50 feet away. At the Blind Community Thrift Store, these codes are used to describe items, where items are located in the store, prices of those items, and descriptions of clothing racks. Codes can also be translated into 36 different languages.

“Technology like this is just a step for accessibility, but it is an incredible step that we hope can be used as a model for the rest of the world,” the store said in a press release.

The Blind Community Thrift Store will also be providing free personal use NaviLens codes to those who need them. The codes can be taped to various personal items around the home and are fully customizable to the user’s needs. These codes can be shared with up to five other people. For more information, stop by the Blind Community Thrift Store at 2713 N. Kansas Expressway.

Nixa Public Schools wins international communications award

Hermes Creative Awards has announced Nixa Public Schools as a Gold Winner of its international awards competition for the concept, writing, and design of emerging media. The school district, honored among companies such as AARP, Bank of America, Chicago White Sox, Cisco, and Pepsico, won the award for its district magazine, Eagle Express.

This year, more than 6,500 corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies, and freelancers entered the Hermes Creative Awards competition. Hermes Creative Awards recognizes “outstanding” work in the industry.

Hermes Creative Awards is judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of thousands of marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, media production and freelance professionals. 

Egg Central Station earns sustainability certification

Egg Central Station, Vital Farms’ egg washing and packing facility in Springfield, has earned a prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification for the 2022 expansion of its facility. LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council’s internationally recognized green building rating system.

“This prestigious acknowledgment underscores Vital Farms’ commitment to raising the standards in the food industry and the company’s impact goal of reducing operational greenhouse gas intensity by 25% by 2027,” the company said in a press release.

Egg Central Station is at the heart of Vital Farms’ operations. Each day, 6 million pasture-raised eggs from the company’s more than 300 family farms are washed, sized, graded, and packed at Egg Central Station.

Inside the facility there are features such as daylighting and climate control to improve conditions for workers. Food safety practices also go “above and beyond current regulatory requirements,” and Egg Central Station also has advanced water filtration systems. Solar panels generate renewable energy while providing parking shade, and bioretention elements clean and cool rainwater. Additional construction elements include the use of low-VOC emitting materials and finishes made from high recycled content.

Baxter joins OMB Bank commercial lending team

OMB Bank has announced John Baxter has joined its commercial lending team as a vice president and loan officer.

Baxter has two decades of banking experience. He began his career in 2004 as a mortgage loan officer for Central Bank in Sedalia. In 2006, he was named branch manager for Central Bank’s Ozark location and in 2008, he joined Central Bank’s lending team in Springfield. Before joining OMB, he was vice president of commercial lending for Simmons Bank, a position he had held since 2012.

“John brings an incredible amount of experience and a deep understanding of the local market to our commercial lending team,” said Joey Orr, executive vice president of community banking. “With 20 years in the banking industry, his expertise will be invaluable as we continue to support the financial needs of businesses in the communities we serve. We’re thrilled to welcome John to OMB.”

Mediacom makes enhancements to internet speeds

Mediacom announced this week that the company would make significant speed enhancements to several of its Xtream Internet services. Beginning May 17, new and existing customers can take advantage of the following speed increases:

  • Xtream Internet 100 will become Xtream Internet 250. Speed jumps from 100 Mbps down to 250 Mbps down (a 150% increase)
  • Xtream Internet 300 will become Xtream Internet 500. Speed jumps from 300 Mbps down to 500 Mbps down (a 67% increase)

Mediacom has also replaced its Connect2Compete Plus service with a new and improved low-cost broadband plan called Xtream Connect. Xtream Connect offers speeds of 100 Mbps down by 20 Mbps up. Priced at $14.99 per month (plus modem rental if applicable) Xtream Connect provides qualifying households affordable internet access.

Mediacom is further enhancing the program by allowing customers enrolled in the Xtream Connect program to add landline phone service for $5 per month. Xtream Connect is available to any household in Mediacom’s service territory that participates in the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or certain other federal programs.

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