Business Notebook: Local jobs, more on Leadership Cape project proposals and vegetarian burgers

Employment in various business sectors in Cape Girardeau County generally mirrors statewide data, according to information presented by Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce president John Mehner at the chamber's Women's Network luncheon last week.

"For nongovernment employees, we took a look at some of the major categories to see where we are," Mehner said.

For instance, Mehner reported 11% of Cape County's workforce works in some form of manufacturing business, which is the same percentage as Missouri's overall workforce.

"So we're right on par with the state," he said.

Statewide, 13% of the workforce is engaged in retail sales, while in Cape County the number is somewhat higher at 17%, which Mehner said stands to reason because Cape Girardeau is a regional shopping hub.

Hotel and food service workers comprise 12.5% of the county's workforce, while Missouri overall checks in at 11%.

Mehner noted there is a significant difference between the county and state percentages when it comes to the health care sector. Statewide data indicates 17% of working Missourians are employed in a health-related occupation, but in Cape County the number is 27%.

"If you're a 'glass half-full' person, you would say 'That's awesome,' because it's a high paying field and it's likely to increase because some of us are getting older by the day and are going to require more and more care," Mehner said. "But if you're a 'glass half-empty person, you would say 'Wow, we have more than 25% of our workforce in one category, and we need to be extremely concerned about that as we move on.' I actually agree with both of those positions."

Government-related occupations — which includes people working in public education in the elementary, secondary and postsecondary levels — accounts for 14% of Cape County's workforce, slightly less than the statewide average of 15%.

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2019 Leadership Cape participants pose for a photo Sept. 6 during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee at the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center.Jay Wolz

Earlier this month, the Missourian published a summary of the five projects presented by the 2019 Leadership Cape teams during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee on Sept. 6.

The chamber has uploaded a more detailed description of each of the five projects on its website. The link to the presentations page is www.capechamber.com/blog/home/2019/leadership-cape-presentations.

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A few months ago, this would have been a more significant story, but it was announced last week discount retail merchandiser and pharmacy chain Fred's has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and will close its remaining stores in the next couple of months.

Fred's closed its Cape Girardeau store on South Sprigg Street earlier this year.

Back in February, Fred's had 568 stores and nearly 6,600 employees in 15 states, mostly in the southeastern U.S. But after multiple rounds of store closures, including one announced in April that included the Cape Girardeau store, the retail chain now has only about 80 locations.

Fred's tried several strategies to avoid bankruptcy including flash sales, cost cuts and asset sales.

"Despite our team's best efforts, we were not able to avoid this outcome," Fred's CEO Joe Anto said in a statement.

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Rick Hetzel and Cheryl Mothes, owners of the Fresh Healthy Cafe, are expanding the eatery's menu to include a "plant-based Fresh Beyond Burger." The new menu item is available beginning today at the Fresh Healthy Cafe adjacent to Fitness Plus at Saint Francis Medical Center.

"After months of testing and sampling different plant-based burgers, we selected the Fresh Beyond Burger because of the unbelievable texture and taste," Hetzel said in a news release about the new menu offering. He added many of his "taste testers" couldn't tell the difference between the plant-based and traditional meat-based burgers.

According to Mothes, who is pursuing a doctorate in holistic nutrition and has been a vegetarian for nearly 30 years, plant-based foods are more easily digested, are nutrient dense and are better for overall health than meat-based products.

The Fresh Beyond Burger contains no soy, no GMOs and no cholesterol. It has just below 500 calories and is offered as a combination with a side and a drink or can be purchased separately.

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Speaking of eating establishments, a favorite breakfast and lunch spot in Jackson will be reopening next week. Check out the Missourian's business section next Monday for the delicious details.

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Now on to the rest of this week's Business Notebook ...

SEMO to host economic symposium

Several economic issues affecting the Southeast Missouri region will be highlighted at the Southeast Missouri State University Harrison College of Business and Computing's Southeast Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Symposium (SEEDS) on Sept. 26 on the university campus.

The symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Dempster Hall. The event is free and open to the public, although preregistration is requested. Register online at www.semo.edu/accounting-economics-finance/seeds.

According to David Yaskewich, chairman of the university's Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance, the symposium is an opportunity for professionals from various backgrounds to discuss issues ranging from the regional and economic outlook to the business of cannabis in Missouri.

The symposium will include a keynote address on household debt levels in the region, presented by Don Schlagenhauf, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Travel adviser attends vacation summit in Jamaica

Bethany Byrd

Dream Vacations franchise owner and travel specialist Bethany Byrd of Jackson recently attended the Dream Vacations Land Summit in Jamaica to learn more about all-inclusive resorts and tours.

"Travel is an ever-growing industry. At the Land Summit, we were able to meet with different vendors to make sure we are providing the best experiences for our clients," Byrd said in a statement.

As part of the training program, Byrd learned how to expand her resort and tour business through 12 site inspections, interactive workshops, group excursions and private parties, and learned about all-inclusive vacation experiences for corporate retreats, destination weddings, honeymoons, family reunions and more.

Chamber happenings

Members of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will have an opportunity to give one-minute "elevator speeches" to other chamber members at the organization's next First Friday Coffee on Oct. 4 at the Isle Casino Cape Girardeau Event Center.

In order to qualify for a chance to speak, interested chamber members must preregister themselves and a prospective member on the First Friday Coffee event page of the chamber's website and must bring prospective members with them to the event. Only one speaker per organization and organizations will be randomly drawn that morning.

For more details, contact Dana Brune at the chamber office, (573) 335-3312.

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The Cape chamber's next Business After Hours gathering will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Show Me Center. The chamber's Business After Hours gatherings are open to chamber members and their guests.

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A ribbon cutting marking the 40th anniversary of Gibson Recovery Center and hosted by the Cape chamber is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Osage Center, 1625 N. Kingshighway.

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Simply Swirled, 274 S. Mount Auburn Road, will mark new ownership with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Cape chamber at 2 p.m. Friday.

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The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce's next business breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the Jackson Civic Center. The event is open to Jackson chamber members and their guests.

Business license application

Bruce Modicue Jr. of Cape Girardeau has submitted a business license application to open Go Sweets LLC at 2502 Tanner Drive, Suite 200, in Cape Girardeau. According to the application, the business will open Oct. 1 and will make and distribute desserts such as cakes, pies, ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, etc.

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