STRICTLY BUSINESS: LOOKING FOR LARGEST EMPLOYERS

The Southeast Missourian's "Top 60" industries, based on number of employees, started as a "Top 25" six years ago, but due to growth, expansions and new industry, the list went to "Top 40 in 1995 and to the "Top 60" in 1996.

We're in the process of looking to the 1998 list, which will appear during the first quarter of 1998.

This year, we'll present three lists -- a "Top 60" on manufacturing, industry and product-related companies; a "Top 25" Cape Girardeau County list of all employers in the county (manufacturing, retail, medical, education and others); and a "Top 10" list of largest employers in Southern Illinois.

Companies eligible for any of the lists are urged to submit company name, type of product, how long in business, and total employment to: B. Ray Owen, Strictly Business, Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.

We will quickly review some of the top employers in each category. If some numbers have changed, call (573)-335-6611, extension 133, and leave message on voice mail.

Manufacturing and industry are Missouri giants.

Some 8,485 facilities provide employment to 461,632 employees statewide, with Cape Girardeau County ranking 11th among Missouri's 114 counties in manufacturing facilities.

The 132 Cape County plants provide employment to more than 7,000 people, with more than a third of them at two plants: Procter and Gamble Paper Products north of Cape Girardeau, and Lee Rowan Co. at Jackson.

P&G, which manufactures disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, employs about 1,350 and Lee Rowan, which produced plastic-coated wire, closet accessories and organizers, employs 1,025.

The Top Ten: 1. P&G Paper Products Co., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, 1,325; 2. Gilster-Mary Lee Co., Perryville, and McBride, manufacture and packaging of cake mixes, stuffing mixes, hot cocoa drink mix and popcorn, 1,200-1,500; 3. Noranda Aluminum Inc., Marston, producer of aluminum for sale throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, 1,170; 4. Lee-Rowan Co., Jackson, manufacturer of closet organizer items, 1,025; 5. TG-USA of Perryville, manufacturer of parts for Toyota Motors and for domestic automakers, 950; 5. Plastene Supply, Portageville, manufacturer of plastic products, 950; 7. Briggs & Stratton, Poplar Bluff, producer of air-cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, 900; 8. Hudson Foods, Dexter, poultry processing, 800; 9. Emerson Electric Co., Kennett, manufacturer of electric motors, coils and other electrical products, 700; 10. Mississippi Lime Co., Ste. Genevieve, manufacturer of crushed stone and high calcium lime, 600.

Others with between 400 and 500 employment: Thorngate Ltd., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of sportswear, 575; VIP/Heartland Industries , Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Marble Hill and Fruitland, 570; Park Hills Glass Co., Park Hills, manufacturer of glass pharmaceutical and cosmetic containers, 540; Arvin Automotive, Dexter, manufacturer of mufflers and tail pipes, 515; Huffy Co., Farmington, manufacturer of bikes, 500; Delta Companies Inc., contractors, Cape Girardeau, 400 to 500; Florsheim Shoe, Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of shoes, 400; Fru-Con Corporation/Engineering Inc., construction, engineering and technical services to industrial and other clients, including Procter & Gamble and M&W Packaging U.S. Inc. in Cape Girardeau County, 400 employees in Southeast Missouri.

Top Employers in Cape County

In compiling top employers in Cape Girardeau County, we consulted with the Directory of Manufacturing and Basic Industry for Missouri, the Directory for Southeast Missouri Region, and made personal contact with a number of firms. The top five: 1. Southeast Missouri Hospital, Cape Girardeau, 1,480; 2. St. Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, 1,469; 3. P&G Paper Products Co., manufacturer of disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, 1,325; 4. 5. Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, 1,112; and, 5. Lee-Rowan Co., Jackson, manufacturer of closet organizer items, 1,025;

The next five: Thorngate Ltd., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of sportswear, 750; Drury Industries, real estate and development, 598; Cape Girardeau Public Schools, 577; Jackson Public Schools, 450; Heartland Industries (VIP), Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Marble Hill and Fruitland, 500 (the company hires the handicapped and assembles, packages and mails car parts, comics, hangers and other products).

Others include: Florsheim Shoe, Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of shoes, 500; Dana Corp., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of components for center section of driving axles for vehicles, 320; D-W Tool, Wahlco, Quality Packing, 285; Blair Industries, Cape Girardeau and Scott City, audio-video cassette albums, 255; Southwestern Bell, 250; Concord Publishing, printing, including the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, 200; Spartech Cos., Cape Girardeau, 185 (Includes Spartech Alchem Plastics, 125, and Spartech Resin Exchange, 60); Mildenberger & Willing, Cape Girardeau, 185; Lone Star Industries, Cape Girardeau, cement and masonry manufacturer, 170; Pensel Construction, general contractor, 150.

And, Union Electric, gas, electric, 135; ACF Industries, Jackson, 130; Arkansas Best Freight, 127; RAPCO, Jackson, 125; General Sign, Cape Girardeau, 110; and, Horizon Music Mfg. Co., Cape Girardeau, 100.

The Southern Illinois list, which includes the region's largest employers at a single site from Mount Vernon south, is headed by an educational facility -- Southern Illinois University, at 5,600.

One of Southern Illinois' largest employers is also mentioned on the Southeast Missourian's "Top 60." Gilster-Mary Lee Corp., headquartered at Chester, is third on the current Southern Illinois list with 1,500 employees in Illinois. The company also has two manufacturing facilities in Missouri, at Perryville and McBride, where it manufactures and packages cake mixes, stuffing mixes, hot cocoa drink mix and popcorn.

Second on the Southern Illinois list is General Tire Co. of Mount Vernon, with 1,900 employees. Rounding out the top five are Menard Correctional Center at Chester and Southern Illinois Hospital Service of Carbondale, each with 1,100 employees.

The second five from a year ago were: SSM Health Care System, Mount Vernon, 850; Maytag Corp., Herrin, 820; Southern Illinois Riverboat Cruises (Players International), Metropolis, 800; Choate Mental Health Center, Anna, 640; and Kerr-McGee Corp., Galatia, 610.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.