Business briefs

FIRST STATE COMMUNITY BANK EXPANDING

First State Community Bank at 2527 William St. in Cape Girardeau has begun an expansion that will enlarge the facility to more than 13,000 square feet. The two-story expansion will add 4,350 square feet to the structure, said Dan Combs, First State Community Bank senior vice president. Combs said the bank is adding office space and a window for the post office to be open before and after bank hours. He said another reason for the expansion was to have the bank's insurance agency and loan officers working in the same building. Combs said they're hoping to get the project "under roof" before winter, with a target completion date of early June.

AUTO TIRE AND PARTS WINS TRIUMPH AWARD

The Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professionals and the Department of Management and Marketing at Southeast Missouri State University selected Auto Tire and Parts as the winner of this year's Triumph Award, according to a news release from Southeast. The award honors long-term marketing excellence in the region. Previous winners include Drury Industries, Rhodes 101 Convenience Stores, Plaza Tire and Bluff City Beer, the release stated. Auto Tire and Parts was founded in 1909 and has grown to more than 40 locations in four states. The award was presented during the Marketing and Small Business Conference on Sept. 22 in Cape Girardeau.

JACKSON GOLF COURSE TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS

Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson is about to improve, now that a pair of Chicago investors are in the mix. Run by the Litzelfelner -- or Litz -- family since 1990, the 165-acre, 18-hole course has created some buzz lately, with rumors circulating about a possible sale. The course hasn't been sold, however, and the Litzes aren't leaving. Instead, two partners have been added, resulting in a new business entity called Bent Creek Golf Course LLC instead of Litz Brothers Inc. Brad Belcaster of LaGrange, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, is one of the new partners, along with his own father, Bob. Their main goal will be to help make needed improvements to the course's aging infrastructure and possibly expand its offerings, said Mike Litz -- who, along with his father and the course's founder, Jack, and brother, Rob, have been running the facility since its inception.

KEEPER'S KLOSET RELOCATES

Keeper's Kloset LLC, a consignment boutique formerly at 2136 William St., Suite 196 in Cape Girardeau, moved to 52 S. Plaza Way. The boutique is in the front half of eClips School of Cosmetology and Barbering, which still operates out of the back half of the building. Keeper's Kloset, which opened in April 2014, also has undergone a change in ownership, with former co-owner Jen Carothers taking over the business as sole owner. Chelsea Dillick, the second former co-owner, left to focus more on her other jobs at hibu, a digital advertising company, and in real estate. Carothers also works full time for hibu. Carothers said the high ceilings, amount of space and convenience in availability of the space were factors that brought the business to its new location. The additional space also will be beneficial to the business because a new sales element will be added in October: Jenny May Boutique, where Carothers will sell new clothing primarily online, but also will bring some pieces to the store. Carothers said she has wholesalers in Los Angeles who will provide women's clothing for her boutique, and she plans to incorporate children's clothes at a later date. Carothers said she planned to have the Jenny May Boutique up and running by Oct. 1.

RICE NOODLE CAI OPENS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU

A new restaurant, Rice Noodle Cai, opened at 1017 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau. The restaurant offers various kinds of fried rice, sesame chicken, lo mein noodles and more. The business does not offer inside seating, but has takeout options through a drive-thru window and walk-up service.

PANDA EXPRESS COMING TO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Students at Southeast Missouri State University will have a new dining option on campus next spring with the opening of Panda Express, according to a news release from the university. Matt Ludwig, director of operations for Chartwells Dining Services on campus, says Chartwells has Panda Express at several other universities, and it has been very popular among students and staff. To accommodate the Panda Express concept, an expansion of the University Center will be undertaken to the south of the center. Through the 850-square-foot expansion, a full Panda concept, including production, storage and serving space, will be accommodated without losing any seating or meeting room space in the University Center, the release said. To accommodate the expansion, SONO and Dippin' Dots have closed. Ludwig says SONO may find a new home in the Market Food Court if there is the demand. The Panda Express project was bid in early October and work was expected to begin in mid-October. Plans call for construction to be completed in January, with Panda Express to open sometime during the spring semester.

LINTNER RELOCATES LAW OFFICE

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Jon Lintner moved his law practice, The Lintner Law Firm, to 21 N. Walnut St. He and his wife, Holly, purchased the home there and refurbished it for office use. The firm was previously on the square in downtown Perryville.

NIXON ANNOUNCES NEARLY $2M IN UPGRADES AT THREE RIVERS COLLEGE

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon visited Three Rivers College on Sept. 18 to announce nearly $2 million in improvements and renovations. The projects are being made possible through Building Affordability, an initiative proposed by the governor in collaboration with public colleges and universities and passed with bipartisan support in the general assembly this year, according to a news release. The initiative will provide $1,900,868 for Three Rivers to make needed upgrades to electrical, HVAC and lighting systems in the Westover Classroom Building, Crisp Technology Center, Tinnin Center, Education Annex Building and the Academic Resource Commons. Additionally, repairs and improvements will be made to building exteriors and roofs, as well as parking lots, sidewalks and lighting throughout campus.

JACKSON CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Sept. 17 for Nicole Dirnberger's State Farm Insurance agency at 2905 E. Jackson Blvd. The chamber also held a ribbon cutting Sept. 18 for Aire Solutions, 2355 Rust Ave. in Cape Girardeau.

SIKESTON GOODWILL STORE HAS NEW LOCATION

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A grand opening and ribbon cutting were held Sept. 17 for the new 14,430-square-foot MERS/Goodwill store at 608 Brunt Blvd. in Sikeston.

EAST PRAIRIE CHAMBER GETS STATE RECOGNITION

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- The East Prairie Chamber of Commerce was recognized Sept. 15 as a member of the 2015 Missouri Community Betterment Program. This year's theme was "Rural Resilience," and the chamber entered the following projects: Feed the Eagles, Downtown Revitalization, East Prairians Improving the Community and Save Our School. Communities were judged on what they were able to accomplish with the resources they had available. Chamber director Cyndi Norton and city councilwoman Karen Coffer will attend Missouri Community Betterment's conference in October to learn if East Prairie will be selected as one of the year's project winners.

TRAVEL AGENCY OPENS IN NEW MADRID

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Leslie Copeland Hunter, a New Madrid native, has relocated to her hometown and opened Oakland Travel Agency at 12286 U.S. Highway 61. She completed training and certification in Jacksonville, Florida, in April, and is a member of Cruises and Tours Unlimited.

ST. LOUIS COMPANY MOVING TO SEMO OFFICE

Vinuity, an information technology professional services company in St. Louis, announced plans to establish an office at the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Company leaders and local economic development officials have planned the expansion for the past several months, according to a news release from Southeast. Vinuity provides domestic rural outsourcing services and consulting for a portfolio of clients, including software development, quality assurance, application and dba support and help-desk features. The new office will be about 1,000 square feet and will open with about four employees, consisting of local administrators and associate software developers, Southeast announced. Lonnie McMinn is president and CEO of Vinuity.

ALLIANCE, TAMMCORP TERMINATE MERGER

Alliance Bancshares Inc. of Cape Girardeau and Tammcorp Inc. of Tamms, Illinois, have announced a mutual termination of a proposed merger. "It has taken longer than originally expected to complete the merger, partly due to delays encountered in processing required regulatory applications," the companies said in a joint statement. According to the joint release, both companies emphasized the termination was amicable, and neither ruled out returning to merger discussions in the future.

FORMER AT&T EXEC LAUNCHES COMPANY

Craig Felzien, who retired after 35 years as an AT&T executive and a decade as a professor at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, has launched Majestic Consulting Co. The company's goals are to improve clients' sales, promotional campaigns, conduct business seminars and more. Felzien offers seminars on topics such as "Establishing Executive Presence" and "Business Etiquette." For more information, contact Felzien at (636) 706-9315 or craigfelzien@gmail.com.

HISTORY CENTER CUTS RIBBON

The Cape Girardeau County History Center, 102 S. High St., Jackson, held a ribbon cutting on Oct. 19.

ERA MERGES WITH RE/MAX

ERA Cape Realty recently merged with RE/MAX Plus Realty, owned by Shari and Mac McConnell. Six Realtors from ERA have been added to the RE/MAX team: David Glastetter, Barb Travers, Barbara Giddens, Melinda Hilterbrand, Megan Frank and Ralph Hendrickson. The six Realtors bring with them a combined 179 years of real estate sales experience, according to information provided by RE/MAX. Many of the agents are longtime Southeast Missouri residents. RE/MAX sells new construction, residential, commercial, investment and land properties.

NIXON ANNOUNCES FUNDS FOR STARTUPS IN CAPE GIRARDEAU

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon recently announced two organizations in Springfield and Cape Girardeau that provide valuable resources to local entrepreneurs will receive a total of $675,000 in early stage business grants. The announcement follows the news this summer that Missouri was ranked -- for the first time -- as a top 10 state for startup funding by Forbes. The grants announced by the governor include a $325,000 grant to 1st50K in Cape Girardeau and a $350,000 grant to Springfield Innovation Inc. through the Missouri Technology Corporation, a public-private partnership promoting entrepreneurship. The grants will help these organizations provide mentorship, facilities and co-working spaces, access to capital and other valuable resources to the region's startup community, according to the news release.

AT&T HIRING 60 IN CAPE GIRARDEAU

AT&T is hiring 60 employees at its call center at 351 S. Silver Springs Road in Cape Girardeau, according to a news release. The positions are for U-verse Solutions call center sales representatives. In the first eight months of this year, AT&T hired nearly 450 employees in Missouri, the release said.

LAST JASPER'S STORE CLOSES

Jasper's at 1631 E. Malone Ave. in Sikeston, Missouri, closed effective Sept. 30. The store was the last of the Jasper's brand, according to an email from Jeff Maurer of Mayson Capital Partners, controlling partner of Pajco Inc., which operates Rhodes 101 Convenience Stores. The decision to close the Sikeston store was based partly on the size of the land parcel being small and limiting "the business we could do there," Maurer wrote. The company operates a Rhodes 101 Stop on North Main Street in Sikeston and is looking for additional building sites in the city. The company is also working on a project to redevelop the site of the Jasper's store in Perryville, Missouri, which Maurer wrote was a "much older building that no longer met our current standards," such as fresh food service. Two Rhodes 101 Stops remain in Perryville, one of which has just undergone renovations, Maurer said. The company is also breaking ground on a Rhodes 101 Stop in Farmington, Missouri, this month, with plans to open early next year, Maurer wrote.