Editorial

Recruiting boomers

Cape Girardeau is a great place to live, work and raise a family, and according to a 2009 Money magazine ranking, it's one of the top 25 places to retire.

With this national recognition, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce is planning to market the area to the large number of Midwestern baby boomers who will be turning 65 in the coming years. The campaign will begin in the first quarter of next year, and the chamber has a goal of attracting 2,000 new baby boomers to the area over a five-year period.

Red Letter Communications owner Jim Riley first came up with the idea to market the area to this segment of the population. Riley recently said that every day over the next 12 years, about 10,000 baby boomers will turn 60. Noting that 60 percent of baby boomers live within a day's drive of Cape Girardeau and that many say they will "downsize," the Cape Girardeau area -- which has a reasonable cost of living -- should be an attractive hot spot for this age group.

Though the campaign will be run through the chamber, funding will come from contributions from involved businesses, individuals and organizations.

The chamber's goal of attracting 2,000 baby boomers to the area in the next five years is ambitious. Additionally, there are a number of individuals who might be interested in relocating to our community beyond the five-year period.

This marketing campaign model appears to be a good one. Hats of to Jim Riley for his vision, and thanks to the chamber for taking a leadership role in the campaign.

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