Publication names Cape Girardeau 35th best city in which to conduct business

Cape Girardeau's high ranking in Southern Business and Development magazine may come as a surprise to some, but the news is not unexpected to Cape Girardeau Area Magnet executive director Mitch Robinson.

Since he became director of the not-for-profit economic development organization, he has seen area businesses come and go. But overall, he said the economic climate has proved stable, which is why he believes the city deserved its ranking as the 35th best community among small-market cities to conduct business.

"This says over the long-term we're very competitive on projects and have been successful in getting new investments in our community," Robinson said. "We're very active as a community in that economic avenue."

As part of its 15th anniversary, the publication reviewed more than 3,000 communities. Based on the number of projects that resulted in a minimum of 200 jobs and $30 million in investment, the company ranked the top markets (those with a population of more than 750,000), the top mid-markets (those with a population between 250,000 and 749,999) and the top small markets (those with a population less than 250,000).

Out of the 117 ranked cities in the small market category, Cape Girardeau placed first among Missouri's communities listed in the poll. Joplin placed 55th, Ste. Genevieve, 57th, and Farmington, 70th.

Missouri cities ranked in the other two polls were St. Louis, which finished 18th among major markets, and Springfield, which placed 48th among mid-major markets.

Aiken, S.C., claimed the top spot in the poll.

Stores in downtown Cape Girardeau have played a role in the city's national ranking as the 35th best small-market community to conduct business by Southern Business and Development magazine.

Robinson said projects such as the expansions of Procter & Gamble's plant and the effort to land NARS call service center played a role in the city's ranking. He said those projects, as well as smaller ones such as NAB Automation transferring from Illinois to Cape Girardeau, contribute to the city's economic stability.

For those businesses forced to lay off workers, such as when Havco Wood Products, which announced on Aug. 1 it was reducing its work force by 71 employees, Robinson said other companies like Newell Rubbermaid continue to add jobs. Rubbermaid recently announced it was adding 40 employees to its work force.

"We'll always have those businesses which decline for some reason or another," Robinson said. "That's just the economy, no matter how good or poorly it's performing.

"But overall we've had an economy that I'm proud of here in Cape Girardeau," he said. "And I believe we'll continue to attract a strong work force."

To recruit companies to Cape Girardeau, Robinson believes the community must continue its commitment to education, including through Southeast Missouri State University, the Career and Technology Center.

"We have a lot of choices here," Robinson said. "Those opportunities help improve the skills of workers here and they in turn solidify the employment force."

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson was pleased that the city made a second list within a month's time. The American City Business Journal on July 22 named Cape Girardeau an American Dreamtown. In that poll, the city ranked 66th of 140 communities with a population between 10,000 and 50,000 residents.

"For Cape Girardeau to again be recognized is very exciting news," Knudtson said. "There is obviously a significant amount of objectivity that goes into these rankings but when you continually are making these unsolicited lists, it certainly does serve to validate our success. I think this is a real credit to all the citizens and businesses that serve to define our community."

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137