Springfield Business Journal_2020-08-10

Lyndall Fraker expects medical marijuana to be available in September. $2.00 · SBJ.NET AUG. 10-16, 2020 · VOL. 41, NO. 3 SPECIAL EDITION PAGE 9 Medical marijuana expected to hit MO shelves in September by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net An Orlando, Florida-based development and hospi- tality group is making a big splash in Hollister with the announcement of a $250 million-$300 million water- park resort that’s expected to produce at least 450 jobs.  Imagine Hospitality LLC, dba Imagine Resorts & Hotels, selected the city south of Branson for a 575,000-square-foot resort on 68 acres, according to company officials. Deena Redding, chief development officer for Imagine Resorts, said the group has a parcel of land under contract off of U.S. Highway 65 near La Quinta Inn & Suites and Menards. “This will be the first of its kind,” said Imagine Resorts CEO Bruce Neviaser, at a July 29 livestreamed news conference in Hollister. “Our goal is to break ground in the first quarter of next year.” He said the project is in the design phase to determine schematics, program- ming and final budgeting. It’s expected to take over two years to build with a 2023-targeted opening. Hollister City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss said local officials have pursued a waterpark resort concept for over a decade. A failed project was abandoned by developers in 2008. The city issued a notice of need in 2017 for the land – on the west side of Highway 65 across from an Ozarks Technical Community College campus – requesting possible waterpark resort ideas. Imagine Resorts an- swered the call that same year, Ziegenfuss said, kicking off project development for Imagine Resorts Hollister. Local officials say the developers have a glimmer of hope for economic development even in these uncer- tain times from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Imagine as a group is telegraphing they have confi- dence in the future,” Ziegenfuss said. The plans call for a 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark; 450 guest rooms and cabins; up to eight restaurants; 40,000 square feet of family entertainment space; 30,000 square feet of convention center space; 10,000 square feet of retail space; and spa areas for adults and children. Taney County Partnership Executive Di- rector Jonas Arjes also has been involved in talks for years to bring the concept to Hol- lister. “It is a year-round tourism asset with full-time, year-round jobs,” he said. “It’s something that will bring visitors to town in January and February, be open 365 days a year and provide good quality jobs for locals and folks in the region.” The Hollister resort is the latest county project that seeks to draw visitors year-round. Aquarium at the See MARIJUANA on page 41 See HOLLISTER on page 47 by Kathryn Hardison khardison@sbj.net Even in the midst of a pan- demic, medical marijuana is still on pace to reach consumers by late summer, ac- cording to officials with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. But it’s unclear how this will im- pact the budding industry in south- west Missouri. Three cultiva- tion facilities have passed the commencement inspections required to oper- ate in the state, said Director of Medical Marijuana Lyndall Fraker, but none of those are in southwest Missouri. The facili- ties approved so far are in the St. Louis area and in Perryville, north of Cape Girardeau, ac- cording to DHSS data. Fraker said some product should be available in the state in the coming month. “Our goal is to still have some dispensaries open by late summer. We may not make August, but we expect to make September,” said Fraker. “Each facil- ity will be making arrangements on their own. The first three cultivation facilities may have contracts with certain dispensaries, so it may not be available to every- one.” Local entrepreneurs say the However, the amount of product that will be available locally is unknown Imagine Resorts picks Hollister for $250M-$300M development Jonas Arjes : The resort will bring tourists to town year-round. provided by IMAGINE RESORTS & HOTELS The indoor waterpark at Imagine Resorts Hollister will span 100,000 square feet. provided by IMAGINE RESORTS & HOTELS