Business briefs

SHELTER INSURANCE RANKS NO. 4

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Shelter Mutual Insurance Co. earned recognition from J.D. Power and Associates as a top performer in customer satisfaction with the auto insurance shopping experience. The recognition is based on the results of J.D. Power's 2010 National Auto Insurance Study, in which Shelter ranked No. 4 among auto insurers with the highest customer satisfaction. The study, released Aug. 3, compiles results of more than 25,000 responses from auto insurance policyholders. It measures customer satisfaction based on interaction, policy offerings, billing and payment, price and claims.

MAGAZINE HONORS NEW MADRID STORE

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Carolyn's Apparel, 1271 State Highway P, was named by Fashion Advantage national magazine as one of the best small shops in America.

MATERNITY STORE HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting recently at Marie's Maternity, 928 S. Kingshighway. The store, located in the Kingsway Shops, is owned by Darren and Tina Lowe.

NEW ART STUDIO OPENS

Mozaics Art Studio opened at 5 N. Main St., Suite C, Cape Girardeau. Owners Marti Wingo and Leslie Compass specialize in selling handmade local artwork.

UNITED SEATING TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER

United Seating and Mobility LLC will open in September at 1802 Broadway, Cape Girardeau. The business is owned by Robert Gouy and William Rubin of Hazelwood, Mo.

P.B. FIRM TO WORK ON NEW ORLEANS LEVEE PROJECT

NEW ORLEANS -- Archer Western Contractors chose Schultz and Summers Engineering of Poplar Bluff, Mo., to provide geotechnical instrumentation and construction materials testing for the LVP 109 levee project. The project is a 7.2-mile stretch of levee starting on the fourth bank of Lake Pontchartrain and running south along the bayou. It will involve over 3.1 million yards of soil, and over 9 million feet of wick drain will be installed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asked AWC to begin work on LVP 109 quickly, with completion scheduled by August 2011. Schultz and Summers opened a branch office in New Orleans almost two years ago in order to focus on providing surveying and materials testing services on USACE flood control projects.

FASTENAL HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

MINER, Mo. -- The Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for a Fastenal store at 2405 Malone Ave., Suite 1, Miner. Fastenal is North America's largest fastener distributor and one of the world's leading full-line industrial suppliers. Other products include chemicals, paints, electrical supplies, abrasives, raw materials and machinery.

SOUTHERN BANK SETS RECORD

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Southern Missouri Bancorp Inc. of Poplar Bluff, the parent corporation of Southern Bank, announced net income available to common shareholders totaled a record $41. million during fiscal year 2010, which ended June 30. This is an increase of $569,000, or 16.1 percent over the 2009 fiscal year. On July 20, the board of directors declared its 65th consecutive quarterly dividend since the inception of the company. The company also announced a loan production office will open Sept. 1 in Springfield, Mo.

BUSCH PET PRODUCTS HOLDS GRAND OPENING

A grand opening was held Aug. 7 at Busch Pet Products, 121 S. Broadview St., Suite 5, Cape Girardeau. The store sells natural pet foods and treats, locally made leather collars and leashes, and custom dog mattresses made by Campbell Mattress in Cape Girardeau.

BBBS RECEIVES FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS

ST. LOUIS -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri earned the four largest annual awards from its national headquarters in Philadelphia. The agency, which serves Cape Girardeau County, Sikeston, St. Louis City and St. Louis County, was selected from 400 affiliate agencies for its commitment to excellence. Awards include Agency of the Year, Board of the Year, Staff of the Year (Margaret Slack Award) and No. 1 Quality Award. This is the first time in BBBS history that a local agency has won all four awards in the same year.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES TO OPEN CAPE OFFICE

Catholic Charites of Southern Missouri will open a Cape Girardeau office. A former pizza restaurant across William Street from St. Mary's Catholic Church was purchased by the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and is being renovated to provide an office for Catholic Charities. The organization will hire a regional director to work out of the new Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Eastern Region office in Cape Girardeau, providing case management and counseling services in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Madison and northern Scott counties, said Kyle Schott, a parishioner at St. Mary Cathedral who serves on the board of directors for Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri. Case managers will help people with needs such as food, shelter, financial management and access to continuing education. Schott said the organization hopes to have a director in place by September. St. Mary's food pantry will relocate to the Catholic Charities building, Schott added.

MISSOURI FOOD BANKS TO SHARE GRANT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- On Aug. 2, Gov. Jay Nixon announced almost $25 million in assistance to Missouri food banks, pantries and programs that support low-income children and seniors. The $24,696,922 in federal assistance comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The Missouri Association of Food Banks, a network of six food banks that provide hunger relief in every county in the state and the city of St. Louis, will use approximately half the funds to serve more than 1,700 hunger relief agencies and food pantries statewide. MAFB members are Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, Columbia; Harvesters Community Food Network, Kansas City; Southeast Missouri Food Bank, Cape Girardeau; St. Louis Area Food Bank; Ozarks Food Harvest, Springfield; and Second Harvest Community Food Bank, St. Joseph. The food banks will further leverage the award by increasing participation in Missouri's Share the Harvest program, which provides access to venison donated by hunters and processors. The rest of the grant funds will be used to support families through the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

FOOD PANTRY PARTNERS WITH WAL-MART

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- The Farmington Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry announced a partnership with Wal-Mart Supercenter, with Wal-Mart hosting a food drive Aug. 6-12.

BIG RIVER GETS $24 MILLION FOR INTERNET PROJECT

A plan by Big River Telephone Co. to provide wireless broadband internet access to Southeast Missouri will receive $24.3 million in federal stimulus funds. On Aug. 5, Gov. Jay Nixon joined management at Big River in Cape Girardeau to discuss the project that will serve Washington, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Madison, Perry, Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties. About 75 new jobs will be added at Big River, which is also putting $4.3 million of its own resources toward the broadband project, said Kevin Cantwell, Big River president. He estimates the project would create 1,300 jobs, most of which would be related to construction, and others as a result of more businesses having high-speed Internet access.

ELEMENT 74 EARNS ADDY AWARD

Element 74, a Cape Girardeau web design company, has received a district-level Silver ADDY Award. Element 74's design of www.HeartforAfrica.org was recognized from more than 600 entries from four states. The ADDY Awards are presented annually by the American Advertising Federation, a not-for-profit industry association. Joe Mastroianni of the AAF came from St. Louis to present the award to a team of Element 74 employees who were instrumental in creating the site. They include Chris Behnken, director of development, Brad Davis, project director, and Andrew Defield, senior application developer. According to Mastroianni, the Heart for Africa website entered by Element 74 was one of 648 district entries from Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, and one of 92 Silver ADDY Awards given.

ANTIQUE STORE FEATURED IN MAGAZINE

Annie Laurie's Antiques of Cape Girardeau was featured in a special edition of Southern Living magazine titled "Southern Living Before & Afters." Annie Laurie's is listed under "Editor's Favorites" by home editor Jennifer Kopf. Annie Laurie's is the only store in Missouri listed. Others were in Texas, South Carolina and Alabama. Kopf is from the Cape Girardeau area, said Laurie Everett, who has owned Annie Laurie's for four years. The store has about 6,000 square feet of antiques and vintage items.

CENTER FOR INNOVATION TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCE

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University was selected to deliver a presentation at the University Economic Development Association Annual Summit Nov. 7-9 in Reno, Nev. The presentation is titled "Driving the "E-Ship": Effective Techniques for Implementing Entrepreneurial Programs." Dr. James Stapleton, executive director of the center, and Gina Harper, training coordinator, will present information on business startup efforts including Operation Jump-Start, the nationally recognized, award-winning entrepreneurial training model the center created in 2006. Center employee Christy LeGrand serves on the UEDA board of directors and will also attend the summit.

CAPE EARNS THREE MAIN STREET AWARDS

Two Cape Girardeau businesses and one local couple were recognized at the the Missouri Main Street Downtown Revitalization Awards presented Aug. 12 in St. Louis. Breakaway's Bar & Billiards won the award for best building facade rehabilitation of more than $10,000; Concord Publishing, Rust Communications and The Southeast Missourian won the award for Business Excellence; and Jim and Teresa Mauer won the Volunteer of the Year award.

SEMO IN TOP TIER FOR MASTER'S DEGREES

Southeast Missouri State University is listed in the top tier of best master's degree-granting institutions in the Midwest in the 2011 edition of Best Colleges by U.S. News Media Group. Southeast was also named one of the best colleges and universities in the Midwest by The Princeton Review. The education services company selected Southeast as one of 152 institutions it profiles in its "Best in the Midwest" section of its website feature "2011 Best Colleges: Region by Region." The U.S. News rankings, which include more than 1,400 schools nationwide, are available at www.usnews.com/colleges and in the September issue of U.S. News & World Report.

SEVERAL BUSINESSES HOLD RIBBON CUTTINGS

The following Cape Girardeau businesses recently celebrated ribbon cuttings: on Aug. 18, Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 2136 William St.; on Aug. 20, Dirt Cheap, 420 S. Kingshighway; and on Aug. 31, Plaza Tire Service, 1638 N. Kingshighway. Additionally, Modern Woodmen of America, 810 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson, held an August ribbon cutting.

RIBBON CUTTING HELD FOR SPORTS COMPLEX

The City of Cape Girardeau held a ribbon cutting Sept. 2 to mark completion of the Arena Park athletic field improvement, which included new sports field lighting for fields four, five, six, nine and 10, and new backstops for eight of the youth baseball and softball fields. This project also funded a new ball field maintenance building for equipment and material storage. Four more fields will be renovated in conjunction with a project with Cape Noon Optimist Baseball. This is the largest improvement project completed at the Arena Park Sports Complex, with funds totaling over $700,000. Work was completed by the City's Parks & Recreation Department maintenance staff.

BLACKWELL-BALDWIN RECOGNIZED

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Blackwell-Baldwin Chevrolet's body shop earned the Automotive Service Excellence Blue Seal of Recognition for its outstanding work. It is now one of only seven such recognized shops in Missouri.

REALTY EXECS RECEIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD

For the second consecutive year, Realty Executives of Cape County has received the Circle of Excellence Award from Realty Executives International. The Circle of Excellence award is presented by Realty Executives International to franchises meeting a long list of criteria, such as having a positive growth trend, consistent communication, effective branding, Homes from the Heart participation and contribution, community involvement and contribution, ongoing executive training, aiding executives in developing their business plan and more.

LOGISTICS FIRM JOINS GREEN PARTNERSHIP

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Gregory Logistics has joined the SmartWay Transport Partnership, an innovative collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and industry designed to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution. The company will pursue activities that support the partnership's goal to reduce 33 to 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide and up to 200,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year by 2012 by improving the environmental performance of U.S. freight operations. One of 2,200 companies in the nation that is SmartWay-certified, Gregory Logistics now has a partnership with Smurfit Corp and Tetra Pak. The company recently purchased 25 fuel-efficient SmartWay trailers.

STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS GET HEALTH GRANTS

ST. LOUIS -- Two nonprofits in lower east central Missouri received $283,140 in grants from the Missouri Foundation for Health. Both grants come through MFH's Health Care Workforce Development funding program, which supports projects that increase the number of health care practitioners in underserved areas; encourage youth to consider health careers; and increase nursing schools' enrollment capacity. MFH awarded the grants to Farmington High School, Farmington, Mo., $133,140, to encourage students to pursue health careers through coursework, career counseling and field experiences; and Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, $150,000, to help the university educate elementary school counselors and students about health career options.

NEW OWNERS AT JACKSON LANES

Robert and Kim Forester purchased Jackson Bowling Lanes, 304 E. Monroe St., Jackson. Robert Forester worked there for 15 years before taking over the operation this summer. The business was previously owned by a group of eight Jackson businessmen who were part of Jackson Bowling Lanes Inc. Since the Foresters assumed ownership, several facilities have been upgraded, including the installation of synthetic lanes, new flat-screen television monitors, painting and lighting repairs. The business also now has a liquor license. Jackson Bowling Lanes will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

ECONOMIC GROUP GETS NEW NAME, OFFICE

SIKESTON, Mo. --The Mid-South Economic Development Alliance, formerly Southeast Missouri Economic Development Alliance, has reorganized to better meet the needs of the multicounty regional efforts. In doing so, the new office partnered with the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce with a contract for services and now operates out of the SACC office at 1 Industrial Drive, Sikeston. The transition should be complete by Oct. 1. SMEDA formed in 2004 as a public-private partnership of more than 50 city and county governments, private businesses and interested agencies working to approach development of the Bootheel from a regional perspective. According to Glenn "Skip" Smallwood Jr., chair of the board, the alliance will maintain its presence in the southern counties with rotating satellite operations at multiple offices, including the University of Missouri Delta Research Center, various city, county and chamber offices, and company banquet and meeting rooms.

FIRST MIDWEST EXPANDS TO COLUMBIA

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- First Midwest Bank of Poplar Bluff opened a full-service bank Aug. 16 in Columbia, Mo. Travis Brown, originally from the Columbia area, is the community bank president. He said the staff has already been hired and traveled to Poplar Bluff for training. Brown and his wife, Jana Brown -- marketing manager for First Midwest -- plan to have residences in both Poplar Bluff and Columbia.

SIKESTON COMPANY ACQUIRES GENERAL SIGN

The Canedy Group of Sikeston, Mo., purchased the former General Sign Co. in Cape Girardeau. General Sign, 4857 Nash Road, employed 31 people until it closed in June. Canedy Sign manufactures and installs several types of signs including vinyl graphic decals, banners, LED signs, billboards, monument signs and pylon freestanding signs. The company will continue to operate at 18023 U.S. 61 South in Sikeston, but will also provide sales, manufacturing and installation services in Cape Girardeau location. Canedy Sign also has a facility in St. Louis.

SWEETHEART FLORIST REOPENS

Becky Engert of Cape Girardeau, former owner of Sweetheart Florist, reopened the shop at 119 S. High St. in Jackson on Aug. 16. Engert owned the business for eight years before selling it two years ago. She worked at Toni's Flower House in Cape Girardeau before repurchasing the Jackson business. Engert's parents, Penny and Larry McCormick of Jackson, are partners with her in Sweetheart Florist.

NEW OWNERS AT BRENDA'S PLACE

Shannon and Patricia Mungle of Cape Girardeau purchased Brenda's Place restaurant at 602 Morgan Oak St. in Cape Girardeau, according to a business license application filed with the city of Cape Girardeau. They took over the operation from previous owner Brenda Glueck.

C.Z. BOYER AND SON PURCHASES CALDWELL FUNERAL HOME

PARK HILLS, Mo. -- Dave Caldwell, owner of Caldwell Funeral Home, has retired and sold the business to Charlie Boyer, owner of C.Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Home. Boyer said the funeral home will remain at its current location at 711 E. Main St., Park Hills. It will be a fully-staffed funeral home and will retain the name of Caldwell Chapel. The C.Z. Boyer and Son franchise has locations in Bonne Terre, Desloge, Leadwood and now Park Hills.

BISMARCK SIGNS LEASE FOR AIRPORT MANAGEMENT

BISMARCK, Mo. -- Bismarck city officials signed a new five-year lease with Dan Govero for management of the city's airport.

AMEREN UE to CHANGE NAME

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis-based utility company Ameren Corp. changed the names of its subsidiaries in Missouri and Illinois. The company said Sept. 1 that effective Oct. 1, AmerenUE will become Ameren Missouri. On that same day, Ameren utilities in Illinois -- AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS and AmerenIP -- will merge into one entity, Ameren Illinois Co. The company is also updating its bill format in an effort to make it more clear for customers. Ameren Corp. CEO Thomas R. Voss says the name changes seek to make it clear that each company is focused on the specific needs of customers in that state. Ameren officials said there would be no advertising campaign to accompany the name changes. Customers began receiving notification letters on Sept. 1.

RIBBON CUTTING HELD FOR ROUTE 25 PROJECT

The Missouri Department of Transportation and Cape Girardeau County Commission held a ribbon cutting Sept. 9 to celebrate completion of the Route 25/South Elementary School improvements in Jackson. The project included grading and paving from Jackson Trail to south of Jackson South Elementary School. Traffic signals will be installed at the Route 25 intersection to help accommodate drivers making left turns. The school's parking lots were also reconfigured to include more parking spaces, a wider entrance and a traffic circle. Construction on the project began in May, and final installation of signals will be complete in September.

ST. LOUIS GETS GRANT FOR TROLLEY LINE

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis has received a $25 million federal grant to cover more than half the projected construction cost of a trolley running from Forest Park to the Delmar Loop. The Gateway City is one of several cities planning to restore or extend streetcar lines, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Aug. 12. Memphis, Tenn., Little Rock, Ark., and New Orleans are among the others. The $25 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant was announced in July, at the same time as trolley grants were announced for Cincinnati, Charlotte, N.C., and two for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The total project cost is $44 million.

Supporters are hopeful the St. Louis trolley could be up and running by early 2012. The Loop Trolley would cover 2.2 miles and run between the western end of the Delmar Loop in University City and the Missouri History Museum at Forest Park. Plans call for nine stops. The historic-looking trolleys would be modern, electrically powered streetcars, each costing $1 million to $1.5 million and capable of running on batteries or powered by overhead lines. Now, attention turns to getting the remaining $19 million to fund the project. Funding sources could include tax credits, corporate support and donations.

DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AWARDED IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced the approval of 36 projects under the Community Development Block Grant program totaling $10.5 million. In Southeast Missouri, grants were awarded to Butler County, $300,000 for a community facility; Caruthersville, $399,300 for street improvements; Lilbourn, $267,050 for drainage system improvements; and Steele, $82,000 for a bridge improvement project.

UNITED WAY GETS LITERACY GRANT FROM TARGET

United Way of Southeast Missouri's Success By 6 Initiative announced a partnership with Target in recognition of their efforts to support literacy and school readiness. The $2,000 grant will be used to purchase children's books, materials and tote bags to be given to families participating in Born Learning events. The grant is part of ongoing efforts by Target to strengthen families and communities throughout the country. Since opening its doors, Target has given 5 percent of its income to organizations that support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. Today that equals more than $3 million every week.

FIRST MIDWEST REBUILDING LOCATION

DEXTER, Mo. -- First Midwest Bank's One Mile Road branch has been razed to make room for a new, larger building at the same site. Jack Huffman, executive vice president of the bank, said a larger facility is needed to accommodate the growing number of customers using the One Mile Road location. The center is temporarily operating from a modular banking unit on an empty lot owned by the bank, just east of the new building site.

RIVER RIDGE COMPLETES RENOVATIONS

COMMERCE, Mo. -- River Ridge Winery completed an addition to its production facility and added a second pavilion that can be e-booked for special events. Renovations to the River Front Guest House, two miles from the winery on Water Street, were also completed. The guest house is on the same property as The Yule Log Cabin Christmas Store, which opened for the season on Sept. 1.