Local business landscape is buzzing with action

Business acquisitions, openings, moves

* Enterprise Bank & Trust, the banking subsidiary of Enterprise Financial Services Corp., announced on Tuesday an agreement to acquire certain assets of Gorman & Gorman Home Loans, a division of F&M Bank and Trust Company, subject to regulatory approval. Gorman & Gorman has a location at 1217 N. Kingshighway. Mark Gorman, founder and president, will join Enterprise as president of the bank's combined mortgage organization. Approximately 30 mortgage producers, underwriters and operations staff in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau and Springfield, Mo. also will join Enterprise. Gorman said the acquisition would allow to organizations to grow, deliver broader product options and "better serve our communities with more residential loan options and products for first-time homebuyers and historically underserved markets." Gorman & Gorman was founded in 1994 and was acquired by F & M Bank and Trust Company of Hannibal, Mo. in 2010. Enterprise Financial operates commercial banking and wealth management businesses in St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo. and Phoenix, Ariz.

* The Treasure Chest antique and collectible mall opened at the junction of Interstate 55 and Highway 74, at the Dutchtown exit, in the former location of Younghouse Party Central. The Treasure Chest carries antiques, furniture, collectibles and jewelry. Booth space by the square foot and show cases are available for rent. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. Contact the Treasure Chest at 334-7790. Younghouse Party Central has relocated to 2005 N. Kingshighway.

* The Anatomy Studio, offering personal training, nutrition and life coaching, and the Pink Studio, a Mary Kay skin care and cosmetics training facility, will hold a grand opening 4 to 7 p.m April 12,. The public is invited to share hors d'oeuvres and to enter to win door prizes, including a personal training package and a $50 gift certificate for Mary Kay cosmetics. Additional vendors, including Satin Hands Treatment, massage therapists and independent laboratory ArcPoint Labs will be on site. Anatomy Studio owner Becky Towe is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist and life coach who is working toward a Ph.D.in psychology with a concentration on behavioral modification. Nancy Marshall, a Mary Kay sales director, has been working with the cosmetics company for 22 years and has earned 13 pink Mary Kay cars for her sales success. The neighboring businesses held a ribbon-cutting Tuesday at 1936 Broadway.

* $1 Jewelry & More, selling fashion jewelry, hair accessories, purses, and more, held a ribbon-cutting Monday at 97 N. Kingshighway, Suite 2.

Business education

* The Business and Industry Training Center at Shawnee Community College is offering Excel spreadsheet training from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. April 3. The hands-on workshop is designed to teach participants an advanced understanding of Excel 2010, which is used to analyze numbers, keep track of data and graphically represent information. The fee is $55, including materials and lunch. Registration is required by Thursday and space is limited. Participants will receive 0.5 credit hours and may qualify for 6.5 continuing education units. For more information and to register, call Gabriele Farner at 618-634-3254 or email gabrielef@shawneecc.edu.

* Paige Cahill, email marketing and social media expert, will give a presentation called "Rev Up Your Customers' Relationships, Results, Revenues & Social with Email Marketing" at Tri-State Advertising and Marketing Professional's meeting at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Port Cape Girardeau. Registration is required at http://tristateamp.eventbrite.com. Cost is $12 for Tri-State AMP members, $15 for nonmembers and $10 for students. Cahill will teach the seminar again at Tuesday at the University of Missouri Cape Girardeau County Extension Center, 684 W. Jackson Trail in Jackson. Fees range from $10 to $50 and seating is limited. For more information or to register, call 243-3581 or contact Richard Proffer at profferrd@missouri.edu.

Business records scam alert

* Jeff Slinkard of Baer & Edington LLC in Jackson shared an alert by Secretary of State Jason Kander of a potentially deceptive letter from an entity called Corporate Records Service. The solicitation says businesses must complete an Annual Minutes Records Forms and pay a $125 fee or risk violating state law. The letter is false. Official correspondences contain the Missouri state seal and Corporations Division contact information. For questions for more information, contact the Corporations Division by phone at 866-223-6535 or visit www.sos.mo.gov.

Business development opportunities for artists

* The galleries of Bilderbach Art Plaza and Goddard Photography at 5 N. Main St. are holding a fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday. Artists can have professional photographs taken of their work for a cost of $30 per finished digital image. Proceeds will be donated to 2013 missions for Rehoboth Childrens Orphanage in Guatemala. Call 225-5413 to schedule an appointment.

Agribusiness grants and scholarship

* The Missouri Department of Agriculture is accepting proposals for funding "to increase the production, processing and/or distribution of Missouri's specialty crops through grants from the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program." The Department anticipates receiving grant funding for fiscal year 2014 from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in Missouri, according to a news release. Applications for the 2014 fiscal year must be submitted no later than Friday and are available online, or by contacting the department's Agriculture Business Development Division at abd@mda.mo.gov. For more information, visit mda.mo.gov.

* Scott County Women in Agriculture is offering a $750 scholarship to a 2013 high school graduate. To be eligible, the applicant or applicant's family must be currently involved in farming or agribusiness in Scott County, Mo. The applicant is not required to major in agriculture. The application deadline is April 1 and forms are available at: http://scottcountywomeninagriculture.wordpress.com. For more information, please contact Kay at 545-3593, extension 3.

Previews

* Banterra will celebrate the grand opening of its new $7 million facility at 1650 N. Kingshighway from 3 to 7 p.m. April 4. More next week.

saldeman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

1217 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

1650 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

2005 North Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO

1936 Broadway, Suite B, Cape Girardeau, MO

1936 Broadway, Suite D, Cape Girardeau, MO

19 N Water St, Cape Girardeau, MO

32 N. Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO

5 N. Main St, Cape Girardeau, MO

8364 Shawnee College Rd., Ullin, IL

684 W. Jackson Trail, Jackson, MO