MEMO

PERRYVILLE -- A new edition of the "Directory of Manufacturing and Basic Industries in the Southeast Missouri Region" is now available from the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission.

The directory lists 388 manufacturers in the seven-county Southeast Missouri region. Each listing includes the company name, principle contact person, products, numbers of male and female employees, and other information.

The 1994 directory is available for $25. Additional information is available by contacting the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, P. O. Box 366, Perryville, Mo., 63775, or by calling (314)-547-8357.

The Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association has captured the 1994 EDDY Award in the Practical Application Excellence Category from the Missouri Governor's Economic Development Conference, held recently in St. Louis.

The association was recognized for its publication, "Economic Development Profile of Missouri's Cape Area." The association also won honorable mention for its print-ad campaign, "The Rush to Cape."

The award recognizes economic development publications in 12 different categories. The association's publication competed against other brochures and books in Category I, which evaluates publications designed to provide factual information and general economic data and trends about a municipality or area.

FREDERICKTOWN -- Cap America Inc., a head-wear production firm in Fredericktown, will receive a low-interest loan through the Missouri First Linked Deposit for Job Creation Program for the purchase of new machinery and equipment.

Missouri State Treasurer Bob Holden announced approval of the linked deposit loan recently. The expansion will create 15 to 20 new jobs.

The intent of the Missouri First program is to reduce financing costs associated with job creation so that companies will be encouraged to locate or expand in the state, said Holden.

Under the program, the state treasurer deposits state funds in Missouri banks at below market rates so that banks can provide eligible business borrowers with low-interest loans to create or retain jobs.

Cap America was founded in 1985, with 35 employees. Today, the firm employs more than 250 people, and is the largest employer in Madison County. Company president Phillip Page said increased sales are prompting the firm to add new machinery and workers.

Holden said the Missouri First program has helped create and retain more than 1,100 jobs so far this year.

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The U.S. Enrichment Corporation's (USEC) gaseous diffusion plant in West Kentucky's McCracken County reached a new production record in May.

The company produced more enriched uranium products in May than in any other month in its 42 years of production.

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant generated 621,000 units of production, called Separative Work Units (SWU), exceeding the previous record established in May of 1979 by 16,000 units.

The May 1994 production resulted in enough fuel to meet the power needs of a city the size of Nashville, Tenn., for more than two years.

USEC, a government corporation, produces and markets uranium enrichment services for commercial nuclear power plants to more than 60 electric utilities in the U.S. and 11 foreign countries. It operates gaseous diffusion plants in Paducah and Portsmouth, Ohio.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it will expand into Argentina and Brazil.

More than 13,000 people attended the company's annual stockholders meeting here recently and heard the announcement that the first South American stores are expected to open next year.

Wal-Mart's expansion into South America follows recent moves into Mexico and Canada by the largest U.S. retailer.

In Argentina, the first Wal-Mart Supercenter and Sam's Club will open in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area. Wal-Mart said it will own and operate its stores in Argentina.

A joint venture with leading Brazilian retailer Lojas Americanas will operate Wal-Mart Supercenters and Sam's Clubs in Brazil. Lojas Americanas, whose 1993 sales totaled more than $1 billion, currently operates 89 discount department stores in Brazil.