Energy-efficent appliances receive sales tax holiday

Show-Me Green sales tax holiday

Beginning Friday and ending April 25, sales of qualifying Energy Star-certified new appliances will be exempt from Missouri state sales tax. Ste. Genevieve County and the cities of Ste. Genevieve, Jackson and Perryville also are participating and will not assess tax on the sale of qualifying items. "No matter where people shop in Missouri, they'll save at least 4.225 percent, and that's a significant savings," said David Overfelt, president of the Missouri Retailers Association, by news release. The holiday was established by legislation passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2008. For more information, visit: http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/green/.

Under new development

One of Cape Girardeau's older and larger manufacturing facilities, a 104,825-square-foot brick building at 334 N. Broadview St., was sold to Jason Coalter, owner of The Printing Co. The building was home to Ralph Edwards Sportswear, manufacturer of jackets for men, women and children, from 1956 through the 1970s. In the 1980s it was leased to Tri-Con Corp., which primarily made seat covers for the automobile industry. After Tri-Con closed, it housed a variety of warehouse storage tenants. Coalter is working on development plans to bring new life to the facility and the roughly 5-acre surrounding site. Tom Kelsey, commercial broker with Lorimont Place Ltd., handled the transaction.

Closed

Daytimer Lounge at 829 S. Kingshighway closed as of April 6.

Business training

* Cape Area Personnel Association and the Society for Human Resource Management of Southeast Missouri State University are holding a human resources conference with more than 30 exhibitors on Wednesday at Isle Casino Cape Girardeau. Training topics will include workplace regulations and how to handle human resources dilemmas. Human resources professionals can earn 5 HRCI credits. Costs are $80 for CAPA and SHRM members and $90 for nonmembers. The fee includes breakfast, lunch and programs. For information, visit www.capamo.org.

* A free WorkSTEPS seminar will be from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. April 23 at Drury Lodge, 104 Vantage Dr., sponsored by WorkSTEPS and Mid-America Rehab. Presenter Larry Feeler, chief executive officer of WorkSTEPS, will provide strategies for preventing and reducing workplace injuries through employee functional testing, ergonomics and conditioning. RSVP by tomorrow to phoehne@midamericarehab.com or call 339-5989.

Farmers market food safety training

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will hold a free workshop Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center for food vendors and producers of foods sold at farmers markets, focusing on regulations and exemptions, approved sources, food safety and sanitation and processing of nonexempt foods. For more information, contact the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, Environmental Services, at 335-7846 ext. 128, or the Missouri Health Department at 751-6095 or by email: Ellen Dettman, ellen.dettman@health.mo.gov, or Nancy Beyer, nancy.beyer@health.mo.gov. Registration is not required, but space is limited.

Renewable energy improvement funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking applications from agricultural producers and rural small businesses for assistance with energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Funds are through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program, authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, also called the Farm Bill. REAP is designed to help applicants "reduce energy costs and consumption and help meet the nation's critical energy needs." Applications are being accepted for renewable energy system and energy efficiency improvement grants and guaranteed loans with deadlines beginning April 30. For information, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/MO-REAP.html or call (876-9321.

Rumors and previews

* The former Rhea Optical building at 1105 Broadway is being redeveloped by Jason Coalter. Stay tuned for details.

* Requetta's, a new bar and lounge, will open at 127 N. Water St., in the former Jeremiah's location, in the next few weeks. Owner Lametia Henderson said she plans to have serve soul food and feature bands, comedy shows, open-mic nights, karaoke, hip-hop and live DJs on both floors on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. More to come.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

777 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, MO

829 S Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

2289 County Park Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO

1105 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO

104 Vantage Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO

Ste. Genevieve, MO

Perryville, MO

Jackson, MO

127 N. Water St., Cape Girardeau, MO