Our History

Sustainable Ozarks Partnership History

In 2012, the Sustainable Ozarks Partnership was formed a nonprofit entity to support the Fort Leonard Wood Region. This region is defined as the four counties – Laclede, Phelps, Pulaski, and Texas – surrounding Fort Leonard Wood. We purposefully work to strengthen the entire region, preserve current Fort Leonard Wood missions, and attract new and existing missions to the installation.

2012

Sustainable Ozarks Partnership was established as a nonprofit entity as a result of the Initial Integrated Strategic Sustainability Plan (ISSP).

2015

The SOP coordinates a critical Army Listening Session, hosted by Fort Leonard Wood, with over 2,100 community members and the largest congregation of federal, state, and local elected officials in the region’s history.

2016

The FLW Region is named as an inaugural Great American Defense Community. This Association of Defense Community program recognizes the unique contributions cities, counties and regions that host installations make to improve quality of life for service members, veterans, and their families.

2017

The Sustainable Ozarks Partnership (SOP) and Fort Leonard Wood are recognized by the United States Army with the
Army Community Partnership Award.

2018

The SOP, along with the entire FLW Region, welcomes commercial jet service at the Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport. The new service more than doubles the previous commercial air transportation capacity into and out of the region.

2022

The SOP launches the first ever Fort Leonard Wood Regional Military Spouse Employment Needs Assessment Survey to collect information from military spouses on their personal employment experience in the region, as well as their professional qualifications, experiences, needs, and preferences.