BUSINESSES COME AND GO IN CAPE GIRARDEAU

Each year more than 150 businesses open here, ranging from retail and wholesale operations to manufacturing and industry.

That's the up side. The down side is that during the same period as many as 150 businesses may close.

A total of 183 new-business permits were issued by the Cape Girardeau Finance Department in 1993. A total of 165 businesses closed, leaving a net gain of 18.

This is not unusual, said an official in the finance office. "A lot of businesses open, a lot of businesses close ever year here."

The situation is the same throughout Southeast Missouri.

New businesses, expansion of existing ones and closings are common occurrences, said Ron Steele, regional economic development planner for the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission.

"The business scene throughout the area, especially in Cape and St. Francois counties, is a busy one, and that's a good economic indicator," said Steele, who keeps tabs on business openings and closings in the commission's seven counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Iron, Madison, Perry, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve.

"The past year was a challenging one for businesses in this region," said Steele. "Flooding conditions caused severe human and economic hardships."

Despite those challenges, business growth continued in Southeast Missouri, with a total of about 300 business starts reported during the 12 months. A total of 24 businesses reported expansions, while more than 175 businesses closed.

Overall, the region posted a net gain of about 100 businesses during the year. This compares to 1992 totals, which show 180 new businesses in the same area, with a net gain of about 140.

Cape Girardeau County collected the lion's share of new businesses during 1993, with more than 200 -- 183 of them in the city of Cape Girardeau. Cape County also counted the most closures, about 180, most of them in the city of Cape Girardeau.

St. Francois County was second on the list of new businesses, with 33 for the year. It lost only five businesses. Perry County totaled 16 new businesses and Ste. Genevieve County added a dozen new businesses.

Overall, the seven-county area gained more than 1,500 jobs from new business starts and expansions. Business closings resulted in the loss of an estimated 755 jobs. A year ago, in 1992, more than 1,800 jobs were created by new businesses and expansion, while only 300 jobs were lost to closings.

Meanwhile, employment totals have been impressive in some of the counties. More than 95 percent of the work force had jobs in Cape Girardeau in January. The annual average reveals a work force average of about 36,280 workers, with an average 34,714 working. The average jobless total was 1,566.

More than 93 percent of workers were employed in Perry County the first month of the year. Bollinger and Ste. Genevieve counties reported more than 92 percent employment.

St. Francois, however, reported 11.2 percent unemployment for January, and Iron and Madison counties were each over 10 percent unemployment.

The employment situation could improve in these areas later this year. Huffy Corp., a bicycle manufacturing firm based in Dayton, Ohio, will open a facility in St. Francois County, creating about 500 jobs.

Huffy selected a site near Farmington over four other states, and will renovate and expand an existing 105,000-square-foot building that previously housed the FMA Co.

A manufacturing facility also opened in Fredericktown during the fourth quarter of 1993 -- Magnetic Collectibles, headquartered at Cape Girardeau. The new Madison County division employs 22 full-time people.

A boost to Cape County employment during the first quarter of 1994 was the opening of Lowe's Home Center in Cape Girardeau. The center employs about 150 people.

Cape Girardeau and Jackson have grown in population over the past two years.

The Census Bureau has released the latest figures for Cape Girardeau County, indicating a 2.7 percent increase countywide.

The city of Cape Girardeau, which listed 34,438 residents April 1, 1990, had an increase of 609, to 35,047 on July 1, 1992. During the same period, Jackson went from 9,256 to 9,722, an increase of 466.

Cape Girardeau County had an increase of 1,685, from 61,633 in April 1990, to 63,318 in July 1992.

Lyn Muzzy, the second director of the Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau and later a convention and tourism consultant for the city of Cape Girardeau, has announced his retirement.

The CVB will host a retirement celebration Friday at 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce building.

Muzzy joined the CVB in September 1987, as the group's second director. Donna Hanschen was the first director from 1984 to 1987.

Muzzy joined the city as a travel consultant in July 1993, when Mary Miller accepted the CVB directorship.

Muzzy, who has been involved in Missouri tourism a number of years, will retire March 31.

Muzzy came to the CVB from the Convention and Visitor's Bureau at Springfield. He was director of sales for its bureau and Fountain Head Lodge and Convention Center in Branson for more than five years.

While at Cape Girardeau, he was named to the Governor's Conference Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors for a person involved in Missouri tourism.

"Muzzy has been involved in Missouri tourism a number of years," said Majorie Beenders, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism. "He has always been committed to his work. He not only promotes Cape Girardeau and the River Heritage area, but he supports all of Missouri promotions."

He is active with the National Tour Association, American Bus Association, Ontario Motorcoach Association, American Society of Association Executives and Midwest Travel Writers.

Drury Inns Inc. will build a new motel and renovate a motel at Sikeston.

The new motel, an 82-room Drury Inn with indoor-outdoor pool, will be constructed near the intersection of Interstate 55 and Highway 62. The corporation will renovate the old Drury Inn near that intersection and make it into Holiday Day Inn Express.

The Man of the Year award at Sikeston will become the Citizen of the Year award, the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce announced.

Two new awards have also been added for the chamber's annual banquet -- Small Business of the Year and Business of the Year.

Other awards to be presented at the banquet and awards ceremony April 21 will be Law Enforcement Officer of The Year and Jaycee Young Man awards.

Sam Harbin is director of the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Two large retail operations opened at Paducah, Ky., last week.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opened its newest Sam's Club Tuesday and Dillard's opened Wednesday.

Mini-Sam's opened in a former 75,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store at Kentucky Oaks Plaza, adjacent to Kentucky Oaks Mall. Dillard's has opened at Kentucky Oaks Mall in space previously occupied by Hess Stores.

Tourism conferences are scheduled in Missouri and Illinois.

Majorie Beenders, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, will present the keynote address at a daylong tourism workshop March 31 at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

University of Missouri Extension will host the Cape Girardeau meeting, to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Speakers include Glen Weaver of the University of Missouri Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism; Barbara Shelly, a marketing consultant from Paducah, Ky.; and Jean Adams-Fiquet of the Missouri Arts Council.

"Celebration Spring: Destination Southern Illinois" is the theme of the annual tourism expo to be held April 16 at University Mall in Carbondale, Ill. It will include business and tourism exhibits. Show hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.