Steady improvements seen with industrial additions to area

As the economy improves, more businesses are taking a look at the greater Cape Girardeau area to put down roots.

While perhaps lacking the big splash company, the area has made smaller and steady gains in industries moving to the area and expanding their facilities.

Part of that has to do with increased property options available for recruiters to offer new businesses.

As business reporter Bridget Brown wrote in last week's update on the status of our local business parks, the most noticeable land development for new businesses is the Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park, on LaSalle Avenue, just off Interstate 55.

Since its purchase in 2014, Pepsi MidAmerica built a $3.1 million customer-service center on the property. Construction of a new facility is underway, a property owned by Derek and Karla Cornelius, who purchased about 14 acres. While it hasn't been announced yet what business will move in there, Derek Cornelius owns Si03, which is a protein powder and dietary supplement manufacturer.

Even though it was once declared difficult to market for flood infrastructure reasons, the Nash Road Industrial Park continues to see new businesses move in, since, as Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president and CEO John Mehner explained, local and regional business leaders trust the levee system and aren't afraid to invest on the land. Reed's Metals and a landscaping business have moved in or adjacent to the industrial park there. Ole Hickory Pits, owned by David Knight, has expanded his operations out at Nash Road and continues to grow his business. Buchheit Logistics purchased the old PolyOne facility last year.

And then you have Jackson, which in the last year has built and finished the bones of a manufacturing building, ready for an industrial business to make a new home in the business park on Route PP. Two prominent businesses, Liberty Utility and Mondi, are thriving along the U.S. 61 industrial park, after moving there several years ago.

Business leaders continue to market these areas, as well as a large facility for an aviation-related business out at Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

These efforts, combined with an orchestrated drive to bring more tech jobs to the area, should give confidence that the jobs picture in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding areas is headed in the right direction.