Giacomo Bologna and Alissa Zhu | Springfield News-Leader

Donald Trump Jr. said Springfield was an economically distressed city that was only recently saved by his father, President Donald Trump.

"Many had lost hope," Trump Jr. wrote in a column published in Friday's News-Leader, adding: "It's a city that recovered from the brink of collapse, now seeing an economic rebirth that seemed impossible only a few years ago."

Mayor Ken McClure said the president's policies have benefited Springfield, but the city has been working and planning for decades to secure a stable economy.

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"Springfield has never been on the brink of collapse," McClure said.

The Trump Jr. column, titled "Springfield proves president's America First approach works," coincides with his father's visit to JQH Arena. It says Springfield has seen a significant turnaround since Trump visited Springfield last year to tout his tax plan.

"Springfield workers have jobs again and families are keeping more of their paychecks, all thanks to the president's economic agenda of regulatory relief for small businesses, tax-cuts for the middle-class and better trade deals for American workers," Trump Jr. wrote.

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He called Springfield "the quintessential American comeback story."

"Comeback from what?" asked Councilman Craig Hosmer. "Maybe he's got the wrong Springfield, I don't know."

Hosmer said Trump Jr. either doesn't know the facts — or doesn't care about them.

“I’ve been on council for five years, and I can’t say we ever thought we were on the brink of collapse," Hosmer said. “He hasn’t really done his homework on where Springfield is currently, where’s it been the last several years and what Springfield's about.”

Trump Jr. also highlighted local stories of success as evidence of the "poetic turn-around" created by President Trump. Trump Jr. mentioned a Springfield solar panel company's plans to hire more workers and more bonuses for employees of Great Southern Bank in the wake of tax cuts.

Matt Morrow, the president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said those parts of the column are "dead-on."

"That's happening, and it's happening in a really important way," Morrow said. " ... The gist of it is that things are good in Springfield and they're getting better."

McClure said the overall message of Trump Jr.'s column — that President Trump's policies are helping workers and businesses in Springfield and across the country — is on point.

“Clearly federal policy has helped and many of the specific examples referenced are accurate,” McClure said.

However, McClure said the city has been working on its own to improve the economy, citing a recent vote to fund worker training at Ozarks Technical Community College and plans for a major redevelopment of an area north of downtown called Idea Commons.

"We've taken responsibility over the years for our own destiny," McClure said.

City spokeswoman Cora Scott said Springfield handled the Great Recession better than most cities.

"Springfield weathered the recession pretty well because of our diverse economy," Scott said. "We are blessed with a variety of industries."

While other cities headed toward bankruptcy, Springfield made decisions with its firefighters' and police officers' pensions that helped stabilize city government.

"That was a very wise choice by the citizens to vote to support that," Scott said.

Councilman Tom Prater represents the northeast quadrant of town.

“I slept through the part when Springfield was down and out,” he said. “… Springfield was never nearing an economic collapse.”

Like other city leaders, Prater called the federal tax reform a “helpful piece of the puzzle,” noting that some local businesses have benefited.

However, he believes the most important factor in Springfield’s growth should be credited to local government.

“I think the local efforts that Springfield has initiated have been the biggest factor in our growing economy and decreasing unemployment," Prater said.

Trump Jr. credits his father for that low unemployment level.

"Since my father's speech in Springfield a year ago, Springfield's unemployment level is lower than the nation's rate and monthly job growth is booming in the manufacturing and construction industries," Trump Jr. wrote.

Greg Burris, who served as city manager for a decade before resigning this summer, said Springfield has always had a relatively low unemployment rate.

That's backed up by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which reported that Springfield already had a lower unemployment level than the nation's rate when President Trump came to town last year.

Burris said he also took issue with how Trump Jr. ended his column. It read: "Springfield is down and out no longer — let's keep it that way."

"I'm not sure Donald Trump Jr. has ever been to Springfield but I can't remember us being down and out," Burris said. "We're fighters and hard workers."