JACKSON, CAPE GIRARDEAU CHAMBERS SHOW GROWTH

Jackson's chamber of commerce has spent the past 10 years changing, while Cape Girardeau's has generally remained the same, say chamber leaders.

Cape Girardeau couldn't have grown much, said John Mehner, chamber president and chief executive officer. The chamber is already the fourth largest in the state, trailing only St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.

"With that kind of base, our growth isn't going to be real high," Mehner said.

The result of changes in Jackson has put the smaller chamber on more equal footing with Cape Girardeau's, at least in terms of mission.

"In the past it was more of a social type of setting," said Ken Parrett, executive director of Jackson's chamber. "It was like most small chambers. You answer the phone and pass out maps."

But residential growth and a different outlook from city leaders has created the new attitude in Jackson's chamber.

"The days are gone when you join the chamber to do the right thing,'" Parrett said. "People want something in return."

Parrett became the chamber's head in 1998. He became the organization's first executive director since 1975.

The result has been a more dynamic organization, he said.

An industrial relations committee was established with a goal of finding out the needs of existing industries. Last year, Tractor's Classic American Grill won the chamber's first business-of-the-year award. The chamber also sponsored political debates about Proposition A, Proposition B, the Jackson school bond issue and countywide planning and zoning last fall on the courthouse lawn.

"Anything here that affects business is something the chamber should be involved in," Parrett said.

Chamber in good shape

Menher said he had less to do when he took charge of Cape Girardeau's chamber in 1993.

"I inherited a chamber in really good shape already," he said.

Although Cape Girardeau experienced a modest population growth of 5 percent compared to Jackson's more than 20 percent expansion for the past decade, Menher said another statistic is more significant to him. Jobs in Cape Girardeau County have increased by 10 percent since 1990.

"Jackson has had great residential growth, but where are most of the jobs?" Menher asked rhetorically. "In Cape or Cape County."

Menher can point to manufacturers such as axle maker Dana Corp. coming to Cape Girardeau in the past 10 years, along with national retailers like Target and a slew of restaurant chains.

The chamber is working on plans to improve area business access to a larger workforce, Menher said, although he declined to give details.

The relatively high number of those employed regionally leaves expanding businesses or those new to the area less selection.

To realize more economic growth, Menher said he is dependent on the chamber's 1,200 members, up from about 1,000 in 1990. He points to a leadership program for high school students suggested by Police Chief Rick Hetzel that started last fall and continues through this school year.

Jackson's chamber memberships are growing faster. From 195 members two years ago, Jackson now has about 350, Parrett said.

Jackson also sees part of its future in high school students. A $500 chamber scholarship is offered through Future Business Leaders of America, and a career day was recently sponsored to allow students to spend time on the job with members.

"High schools are the minor leagues of the business world, so we try to pay attention to them," Parrett said.