Business

A 2,000-acre tract of farmland in northern Scott County could soon be home to a $175 million solar farm producing at least 200 megawatts of renewable energy. Although it has reportedly been in development for several years, word of the Kelso Solar Project didn't become public until last week when a pair of energy companies issued a news release about it...

The older I get, the less enthusiastic I become about my birthdays. However, should I live long enough to see my 80th, 90th or perhaps even the 100th anniversary of my birth, then yes, those birthdays will be notable and worth celebrating. There's apparently a 100th birthday coming up this week for an area organization that's also worth noting...

Casey Crowell, senior vice president of treasury solutions with The Bank of Missouri, has been named to the 22-member Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. The youth mentoring organization is headquartered in St. Louis and has a satellite office in Cape Girardeau. The organization works with thousands of children, families and volunteers in the city and county of St. Louis, as well as St. Charles, Jefferson, Cape Girardeau and Scott counties...

Gov. Mike Parson's decision last week to end pandemic-related unemployment benefits next month rather than allowing them to expire in September is being praised by state and local business representatives as a major step toward filling thousands of job vacancies throughout the state...

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — River traffic reopened Friday on the Mississippi River near Memphis, three days after it was closed when a crack was discovered in the Interstate 40 bridge connecting Tennessee and Arkansas, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Arkansas Department of Transportation, meanwhile, said a video taken by an inspector two years ago found "significant rust and the beginning of a crack" in the same area as the fracture that prompted the bridge's shutdown last week...

Threadz, a boutique, gift and custom apparel shop, has relocated from its North Main Street location to 1704 Broadway, Suite 104, in the West Broadway Plaza. Kelli Rector, Threadz owner, started the business in 2008 with her late husband, Steve. For the past five years, it has been at 115 N. Main St. in downtown Cape Girardeau...

The Workforce Development Board of Southeast Missouri was one of several agencies in the state to recently receive a grant from the Missouri Office of Workforce Development as part of the Missouri Apprentice Ready initiative. The grants of up to $50,000 will help agencies prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a registered apprenticeship program...

Job seekers are invited to drive through the Centenary United Methodist Church parking lot in the 300 block of North Ellis Street in Cape Girardeau from 3 until 7 p.m. Wednesday to pick up a packet of information about area businesses looking for employees...

The Phi Beta Lambda business fraternity at Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Illinois, and two of its members were recently recognized at the Phi Beta Lambda State Leadership Conference. The SCC chapter of the fraternity was recognized for raising the most amount of money in support of the March of Dimes and for having the third-largest Phi Beta Lambda membership among all Illinois chapters...

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Board & Brush, 20 N. Main St., Suite 101, in observance of the creative studio's new ownership. n The Scott City Chamber of Commerce will host its May Morning Coffee from 7 until 7:50 a.m. Thursday at The Front Porch, 1408 Main St. in Scott City. A light breakfast will be provided...

The City of Cape Girardeau's customer service office received two business license applications last week. Applications were received last Tuesday from: n Caitlin Jones of Cape Girardeau on behalf of Lennon & Lace LLC, a boutique and gift store that opened earlier this month at 209 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau...

A life free of pain — that’s what patients with the following problems seek: Back pain and degeneration, shoulder pain and degeneration, knee pain and degeneration, sciatica, peripheral neuropathy, arthritis, hip pain and degeneration, neck pain and degeneration, headaches and plantar fasciitis...

Every vehicle owner wants to get the most out of their tires. Here are three tips from the team at Plaza Tire Service that will extend the life of your tires. Proper inflation Vehicle manufacturers set a specific PSI (pounds per square inch) to which your tires should be inflated. ...

This year has been a challenge of epic proportions because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the hurdles 2020 put in front of us, SoutheastHEALTH has remained steadfast in its commitment to positively impact the health and wellness of the region. A key component of that commitment is access to care. ...

Montgomery Bank’s commercial team specializes in providing relationship-driven, customized solutions for their customers’ business needs. For more than 30 years, Montgomery Bank has helped businesses spend less time securing funding and more time running their business. Their dedicated commercial team helps business owners and operators with their commercial goals and objectives...

A pandemic that led to an economic downturn across much of the nation has apparently had a much milder impact in Southeast Missouri, and specifically in Cape Girardeau. At the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee last week, chamber members heard from a panel representing several businesses who said, by and large, the local economy has weathered the COVID-19 pandemic as well as anyone could have expected. ...

In what some may consider an act of charity, the Internal Revenue Service postponed this year's income tax filing deadline from April 15 until May 17. (Don't look now, but that's next Monday.) And, speaking of charity, if you're among the many Americans who still haven't filed your tax returns, you may be trying to calculate the charitable contributions you made in 2020, which might be deducted from your 2020 taxable income...

If the pace established during the first five months of 2021 continues, this will be a record year in terms of sales-tax revenue in Cape Girardeau County. The county received $598,304.94 in sales-tax revenue last week from the Missouri Department of Revenue, according to numbers released by Cape County Treasurer Roger Hudson. The payment represents sales tax collected primarily during April and was more than 8.5% more than the sales tax generated in May 2020...

The inland port project near the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers at Cairo, Illinois, took a significant step recently with the completion of a project labor agreement (PLA) between the Alexander-Cairo Port District and the Illinois AFL-CIO...

Ameren Missouri, working with the Missouri Public Service Commission and Office of Public Counsel, is directing an additional $3.5 million to help eligible customers dealing with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. "These additional funds will support more customers as we head into summer, a time when electricity usage is typically much higher," said Marty Lyons, chairman and president of the St. Louis-based utility company...

Show-Me Truck Equipment is tentatively slated to open later this month in an 11,544-square-foot industrial building at 1840 Farmington Road in Jackson. The property was originally home of Busey Truck Equipment in the 1980s. Tom Kelsey, real estate broker with Lorimont Commercial Real Estate in Cape Girardeau, said the company will sell, install and repair a wide variety of truck body styles, including utility, flat beds, stake beds, crane beds, dump and van bodies. ...

Adult & Teen Challenge Super Thrift in Jackson is moving — a few feet. Currently located at 1985 E. Jackson Blvd., the thrift store is moving two doors down to 1905 E. Jackson Blvd., a location formerly occupied by Save A Lot grocery store. The store will open at the new address May 29, which will also be the date of a "grand reopening" sale...

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded contracts to several companies in Southeast Missouri for asphalt pavement repairs, guardrail and guard cable repairs, and pavement resurfacing. Contracts awarded by the commission during an online meeting last week:...

Mondi Jackson LLC is recruiting up to 30 full-time employees to help accommodate significant growth at its location north of Jackson. The company is hosting a pair of employment events later this month in Cape Girardeau where job seekers age 18 and older can learn about the available positions and talk with Mondi representatives about employment options with the company...

The Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development (MDHEWD) will host another in its series of virtual job fairs next week. Scheduled from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. May 18, the online hiring event will focus on openings in the field of information technology...

The Charles Hutson Horticulture Greenhouse at Southeast Missouri State University recently became the first retailer in Cape Girardeau to be certified by Proven Winners, a brand of retail garden center products. The certification makes the university's greenhouse at 1039 Bertling St. one of just two retailers in Southeast Missouri to obtain the Proven Winners designation. The other is Sheltons' Farm & Greenhouses in Bernie...

A leadership change is coming to the local Salvation Army facility in Cape Girardeau. After serving four years as pastors and administrators in Cape Girardeau, Salvation Army Lts. Matt and Virginia DeGonia have been assigned to serve as divisional youth and candidates secretaries at The Salvation Army's Midland headquarters in St. Louis. Their reassignment becomes effective at the end of June...

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce's May Business After Hours networking session is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at Coalter Insurance Group's new Jackson location, 120 S. Missouri St. Social distancing and face masks are recommended for attendees...

The City of Cape Girardeau's customer service office has received a business license application from Robert Lee Schooley II of Jackson on behalf of BSS Investments LLC, doing business as The Ground-A-Bout. Schooley has acquired Barista's Coffee Bar on the first floor of the Marquette Tower, 338 Broadway, and will operate it as The Ground-A-Bout Marquette beginning June 1...

The Cape Girardeau development services office issued one commercial building permit last week. The permit issued to S.M. Wilson & Co. is for the second phase of an interior renovation at Lighthouse Ministries Church, 710 Southern Expressway, at an estimated project cost of $394,000...

Many have heard the expressions “there are plenty of fish in the sea,” which is true, but not all “fish” are quite like these. Kathi and her son, Jake, began building their Southeast Missouri real estate empire over a decade ago on a foundation of ethics, faith in God and helping people...

A couple of days ago I switched my thermometer to “cooling,” set the temperature at 70 degrees, and proceeded to grab a chilled drink from the fridge and added a few ice cubes for good measure. On most days, I take each of those little things for granted. But on that day, I felt a much deeper sense of gratitude for these cold features in my life...

Networking events are a popular perk of Cape Chamber membership, but there are many other benefits for individuals and businesses. “Here at the Cape Chamber, we know one-size does not fit all. Each business is unique in their goals, the time they have available to share, and the budget they are able to invest,” said Cape Chamber president and CEO John Mehner. ...

Whether someone calls Southeast Missouri “home,” or is just passing through, the historic buildings and structures lining the streets catch the attention of many. Penzel Construction Company in Jackson has had a hand in building these iconic structures in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and other parts of the region since the company began in 1910 — a legacy the company carries on today...

A group of local growers wants to bring Southeast Missouri back to its roots, literally. Slow Food Southeast Missouri, or Slow Food SEMO, launched on Earth Day last month with a mission to educate the region on clean, fair and sustainable foods. Part of that mission involves bringing back food from the past that's been forgotten, according to Lance Green, one of Slow Food SEMO's five board members...

Can a business require its employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations? That question is being asked more often as the COVID-19 vaccines have become available to virtually everyone older than 16 in the United States. Although there are no federal employment requirements for vaccinations, the question of whether a state, local government or employer mandates the inoculation of employees as a condition of employment is often a matter of state or other applicable law...

The nation's economy made huge rebounds in the first quarter of 2021, according to new data released Friday by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Personal income in March increased $4.21 trillion, or 21.1%, while consumer spending jumped $616 billion during the month, a 4.2% increase over the previous month...

Are you an entrepreneur with a great business plan but no startup funding? Then Codefi's 1ST50K may be able to help. Applications are being accepted online through May 31 for the 2021 1ST50K competition in which up to four startup companies will be selected to receive $50,000 in startup capital...

Elias Ace Hardware, 1719 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, became Cory's Ace Hardware last week after it was purchased by Huskey Investments LLC. The new ownership took effect Friday. Cory Huskey, the new owner, was the store's manager the past three years and began working on the transition last summer with former owners Fred and Tammy Elias...

In recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Day, observed annually May 4, McDonald's restaurants throughout Southeast Missouri will offer free beverages to teachers through May 14. To qualify for free beverages, teachers must show a valid educator ID when ordering. No purchase is necessary. Offer is valid at participating location drive-throughs while supplies last...

Coalter Insurance Group has established a new office at 120 S. Missouri St. in Jackson. The company, which also has offices in Cape Girardeau and Perryville, Missouri, specializes in commercial and personal insurance products, including auto, home, life, Medicare supplements and specialty lines for watercraft, recreation vehicles and similar items...

What sort of retail businesses would residents of Jackson and the surrounding area like to see added to their community? The City of Jackson and the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce want to know what you think. They've teamed up with NaviRetail, a retail consulting firm headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, to study the potential of retail development in Jackson, especially near the East Main Street and East Jackson Boulevard interchanges with Interstate 55 (exits 99 and 102)...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. — Citizens Electric Corp., the Perryville, Missouri-based utility cooperative serving all of Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties along with eastern St. Francois and northern Cape Girardeau counties, held its annual shareholder's meeting Thursday...

Merchants in uptown Jackson will hot a "Picnic Around the Square" from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday. The event, which will take place along High Street between Main and Adams streets, will feature live music, food trucks and extended store hours by many of the participating merchants...

The Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University is hosting a pair of free online workshops this month intended to help business owners strengthen their brands and development plans for strategic growth. The workshop times, dates, topics and registration information are:...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Tyson Foods, which has a production facility in Dexter, Missouri, recently selected the Southeast Missouri Food Bank in Sikeston to receive a grant valued at $40,000 to help fight food insecurity in the region. The funds will be used to support the mobile food pantry programs in Scott, Stoddard and Dunklin counties...

Occupational therapist Wynnette Sherrill has joined the therapy staff at Mid America Rehab Sports & Physical Therapy in Cape Girardeau and Jackson. Sherrill graduated from the occupational therapy program at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1998 and became certified in hand therapy in 2005. She has spent much of her career in the outpatient therapy setting, with an emphasis on the treatment of work-related and complex hand injuries...

A ribbon-cutting, hosted by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday to mark the opening of Inspire Boutique, the new gift shop at Saint Francis Medical Center, 211 Saint Francis Drive. n The Cape Girardeau chamber's May First Friday Coffee will be Friday morning at the Century Casino Event Center. Doors open at 7 a.m. with a program beginning at about 7:40 a.m...

Erik Harper of Jackson filed a business license application last week with the City of Cape Girardeau on behalf of Midpaw LLC, doing business as Shakers, 284 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, in connection with an ownership change of the business, which was formerly owned by David Creech of Cape Girardeau...

The City of Cape Girardeau reports issuing one commercial building permit last week. The permit was issued to Thornton's Handyman Services for the opening of a wall allowing Hot Shots Sports Bar & Grill, 15 N. Main St., to expand into an adjacent building. The work is being done at an estimated cost of $2,000...