Third of companies planning to hire

Southeast Missouri area employers expect to hire at a sound pace during the second quarter of 2007, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

From April to June, 33 percent of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 13 percent expect to reduce their payrolls, according to Manpower spokeswoman Debbie Glenn. Another 54 percent expect to maintain their current staff levels. In the first quarter of the year, only 20 percent of the companies interviewed intended to add staff.

For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in wholesale/retail trade and public administration. Those in durable and nondurable goods manufacturing and services voiced mixed hiring intentions. Hiring in construction, transportation/public utilities, finance/insurance/real estate and education is expected to remain unchanged.

Speaking of jobs, John T. Johnson, president of Mid-South Wire Co., said everything's on schedule with the Scott City plant. The machinery's been moved into the Main Street location, and wire production should start before the end of the month, according to Johnson. The hiring process will begin this week.

"We hope to be at 25 before the year's over," said Johnson, adding that its goal is to double the number of employees within two years.

Mid-South, based in Nashville, Tenn., converts raw low-carbon steel to wire for a variety of uses, including appliance-making, material-handling and the automotive industry.

Last week Gov. Matt Blunt announced the creation of 130 new jobs in three Missouri companies, assisted through the Quality Jobs Act, according to Keener Tippin, communications specialist from the Department of Economic Development. One of them is Telecommunications Management, doing business as New Wave Communications in Sikeston, Mo., which is supposed to create 20 new jobs over three years.

Over the past two months, I have often heard people talking about the great workforce in Southeast Missouri. At a First Friday meeting at the Cape Chamber of Commerce last month, Mayor Jay Knudtson said he would like more college graduates to stay in the area. Unfortunately what I've heard is the workforce doesn't only need more jobs for them to stick around, but higher-paying jobs.

• One thing that Southeast Missouri does not lack is specialty businesses. It seems like people are bringing in a lot of different concepts to the area. Of course, some work out and some do not.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a car service called Hi-Riden that installs lift kits. Now there is a business coming in three weeks that specializes in tires and rims.

Greg Dennis is opening Waymaker Wheels at 236 S. Sprigg St. in Cape Girardeau. "It's kind of the in thing now," he said, adding he sees more and more rims that light up or spin in St. Louis, Memphis, Tenn., and Paducah, Ky. He said he has a couple of suppliers and that the choices are going to be almost unlimited. Customers could order something in one of his catalogs and he'll have the supplies within three days, he said.

"I think they've got rims between 30 and 33 inches now. It's kind of outrageous," Dennis said, laughing.

• Lupe Betts has been painting nails for 24 years, but this will be the first time she's had her own business. Hands Down A Nail Salon by Lupe is opening at 1940 Golden Eagle St. in Cape Girardeau on May 7. I had to have the process thoroughly explained to me and I still don't know if I understand, but basically she invented her own technique. Betts creates an artificial nail by using two colored acrylic powders so that the nail looks natural and healthy, she said. Then she puts on a gel overcoat that is cured with ultraviolet light. "This is a very important factor. It's not going to wear with daily use," she said.

Lupe will specialize in spa pedicures and manicures. She moved here from California 13 years ago.

I believe I'm developing a pretty strong case for business owners in Southeast Missouri from the West Coast.

Tim Krakowiak is the business editor at the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0699, tkrakowiak@semissourian.com or (573) 335-6611, extension 137