BUSINESS: SURVEY: BUSINESS RETENTION, RECRUITING AND LABOR TOP LIST

Business retention and expansion, economic development and recruiting new industry and availability of competent workers are priorities of Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce members, according to a recent survey by the group.

The priorities were established during the chamber's annual Three-minute Survey.

Between 250 and 300 of the chamber's 1,200 members completed the survey.

Their responses were not surprising to John Mehner, chamber president and chief executive officer.

"Obviously, economic development and business retention are going to be at the top. They always are," he said.

Mehner also anticipated that work-force issues would be high on the list, in view of the low unemployment numbers, not only in the immediate area, but across the nation (3.8 percent in United States).

Latest statistics reveal about 39,000 workers in Cape Gir-ardeau County Perry County records a 2.1 percent unemployment rate, and Bollinger County has a 4.4 percent unemployment rate.

The chamber continues to focus on worker retraining, said Mehner. The chamber has been working the Southeast Missouri Regional Training Group and urges members to get more involved with that organization for worker training.

Education, K-12 and infrastructure round out the top five issues in the survey.

"We'll be talking about the survey results during our retreat" Friday, said Mehner. "We look at the results of these surveys two ways. We use the results to build our priorities and formulate our business plan for the coming year, and it gives every chamber member an opportunity to provide input on what directions we take."

Members also rated the chamber's performance on a number of items in the survey. Ninety-five percent of those casting ballots believed the chamber's overall rating ranked good to excellent. Forty percent rated it excellent and 55 percent good.

Members were also asked to tell what their friends, relatives and co-workers have been talking about the past year.

"There three clear-cut topics this year -- workforce development, education and economic development," said Mehner.

CHAMBER SURVEY RESULTS

Issues by priority

1. Business retention and expansion.

2. Economic development and recruiting new industry.

3. Availability of competent workers.

4. Education, K-12

5. Infrastructure: Streets, sewers, utilities.

6. Health care (affordability and quality).

7. Tie: Crime issues and transportation.

9. Downtown vitality.

10. Growth: Population, annexation.

11. Higher education.

12. Governmental affairs, local, state and national.

13. Housing: Diversity, affordability.

14. Workman compensation

Most talked about issues

1. Workforce development.

2. Education.

3. Economic development.

Chamber performances

Overall rating of chamber: Excellent, 40 percent; Good, 55 percent; Fair, 4 percent.

Business services: Excellent, 40 percent; Good, 52 percent; Fair, 5 percent.

Community-based economic development: Excellent, 26 percent; Good, 52 percent; Fair, 6 percent.

Governmental affairs: Excellent, 26 percent; Good 42 percent; Fair, 25 percent.

Leadership roles: Excellent, 30 percent; Good 49 percent; Fair, 15 percent.

Newsletter: Excellent, 38 percent; Good, 47 percent; Fair, 12 percent.