Business notebook: Semo Port featured in Business Today

"Economically, the port has more than earned its keep," said Rice "Pete" Burns, the Southeast Missouri Port Authority's board of commissioners chairman, in a recent interview with the Southeast Missourian.

In 2014, the port handled more than 1.3 million tons of freight, the most it's seen, and made $111,000 after expenses -- money port administrators said they hope can go toward continuing expansion, including a loop railroad track on their wish list.

A larger railroad for the port could mean big business for area industries, as inquiries about rail transportation capabilities often come in, Burns said.

The port authority was formed in the 1970s and since has grown infrastructure and business to a level that represents the state's most developed public port authority, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The August issue of Business Today profiles the port's executive director, Dan Overbey, and offers a look at the port's influence on the region's agriculture industry.

A special section about the port set to run in the newspaper Sunday will detail how the port works, its effect on the local economy, plans and a historical timeline.

Saint Francis gets energy incentives

By including energy-efficient equipment in its new five-story patient tower, Saint Francis Medical Center recently earned cash incentives from Ameren Missouri.

The medical center recently received $281,195 from the utility company through a partnership with Ameren's BizSavers energy efficiency program, a news release from Saint Francis stated.

Saint Francis installed energy-efficient lighting, lighting-occupancy sensors and heating and cooling systems in the patient tower, which is part of the Building on Excellence expansion and renovation project.

The medical center projected saving more than 5 million kilowatt-hours per year, or around $290,000 in annual energy costs, because of the improvements, according to the news release.

The improvements are the 26th such project the medical center has completed in the three years it has partnered with Ameren, according to the release. Saint Francis also is completing two more energy-efficiency projects.

"It is our goal to help make energy efficiency more affordable for local businesses and organizations of all sizes," said Laura Klipfel, an Ameren customer service adviser. "By providing cash incentives to businesses like Saint Francis Medical Center, the incentives offset the capital cost of the equipment which, in turn, will save energy for years to come."

Heating, cooling firms combine

Mark Lundy began a lengthy career in heating and cooling when he worked for Jaymac Equipment in the 1980s, and now he's made it his second business.

Lundy, who owns and operates Lundy Heating & Cooling in Perryville, Missouri, is the new owner of Jaymac Equipment, a longtime family-owned Cape Girardeau heating and cooling dealer and service company for residential and commercial clients.

Lundy bought the second business from Larry Jansen, whose father started Jaymac in 1959. The relationship between the Jansen family and Lundy goes back many years, as Lundy's first job in the industry was working for Jaymac.

"My goal is to continue what they started more than 50 years ago," Lundy said. "They have good core values and made sure the company is run right."

Lundy decided to keep the Jaymac name because of its recognition in the area for quality work, he said. Jansen remains employed by Jaymac, as do all employees who were with the company before the sale.

Lundy opened his Perryville company in 1995.

Jaymac is a dealer of Carrier brand equipment; Lundy Heating and Cooling offers Bryant equipment.

Lundy said both companies offer the latest technologies in air-quality improvement equipment, along with duct cleaning and sterilization. The companies also offer geothermal heating and cooling systems and a variety of services, including intensive maintenance programs and 24-hour emergency services. More information is available at jaymacequipment.com, lundyheatingandcooling.com and lundygeothermal.com.

Missouri jobless rate steadies

Statewide unemployment was 5.8 percent in June, according to a monthly jobs report released Tuesday by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

The rate was the same as in May, after a one-tenth of a point lower rate was measured in April.

The seasonally adjusted data showed the state's nonfarm payroll employment grew by 1,500 jobs during June. Increases in employment were seen in the industry areas of accommodation and food services; administrative support and waste management services; and transportation, warehousing and utilities, according to a news release.

BBB debuts 'scam tracker' tool

An online tool designed to help track and report business-related scams recently was released by the Better Business Bureau.

The BBB Scam Tracker lets users report scams and check suspicious phone calls, emails or texts, according to a news release from the organization. Scams can be searched by name or type and can spot trends or track scams using demographic data, the release stated.

The tool was developed by nine local offices of the organization and the Council of Better Business Bureaus with a grant from Target Corp. The organization has offices in Cape Girardeau and St. Louis. The tool is available at bbb.org/scamtracker/us.

Jackson chamber has social media training

Bob Clubbs of Jackson will lead a free training session on social media presence and strategy Wednesday at the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.

Clubbs, who recently began his own social media consulting firm, Clubbs Media, after successful outreach to thousands of followers with weather and local news Facebook pages, will lay out the basics of social media marketing for businesses, according to the chamber's newsletter.

The session begins at 11 a.m. July 22. More information is available by calling the chamber at 243-8131.

Marketing firm moves; plans ribbon cutting

Bold Marketing, a marketing and advertising agency in Cape Girardeau, recently moved its offices and soon will hold a ribbon cutting.

The event will be at 4 p.m. July 28 at 1917 William St., according to local chamber of commerce newsletters.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632