BUSINESS RETENTION, MORE JOBS HEAD LIST OF CHAMBER PRIORITIES

Employment projections for industry and business continued to increase in 1994, with expectations of the highest employment surge in 10 years during the first half of 1995.

Jobs are a major issue on two surveys conducted by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

It is no big surprise that the local chamber's priority is keeping existing businesses. The surprises may be the Nos. 6 and 12 items on the list, that of addressing a problem that has emerged during the past year -- the lack of an available workforce.

Business retention received a rating of .742 on the chamber's 1995 "Three-Minute Survey," Chamber President John Mehner said. Economic development was also high on the list, with a .738 rating.

"Chamber members were asked to rate a list of the 22 issues provided by the chamber," Mehner said.

Rounding out the top five list, were the new Mississippi River bridge, education and crime. The No. 6 item is finding available skilled workers."

Jobs also were important in a second survey.

"On this list, we asked members to tell us what their friends, relatives and workers were talking about," Mehner said, and most were talking about jobs.

The second list also mentioned crime, public school dissension, high medical care cost, lack of available labor force, city hall building problems, gambling and taxes, in that order.

The three-minute survey of the chamber membership also rated the overall performance of the chamber as 26 percent excellent, 62 percent good and 12 percent fair, with top ratings in business services, newsletter and communications.

"A community's economy is built on existing business," said Jim Rust, 1995 chairman of the chamber board. "Existing industry and business generate the majority of new jobs in an area. You can look around our area and see evidence of that."

Missouri statistics reveal that 85 percent of the state's new jobs come from existing businesses.

"We have to look at both the existing and new industry," Rust said. "We have to take care of both, and sometimes that's a tough chore."

Mehner agrees.

"The economy has been good throughout the nation," Mehner said. "This has resulted in expansions of existing industries and businesses, creating a need for workers."

In Missouri and Illinois, statewide unemployment rates are less than 4.5 percent. Nationally, the rate is slightly more than the 5 percent mark, at 5.1.

"It is not just our area," Mehner said. The Springfield area had a 2.8 unemployment rate in November, and the St. Louis metropolitan area was less than 4 percent."

The local chamber is developing strategies to bring new workers to the area. In addition to working with the Cape Girardeau Area Personnel Association, the chamber board has approved the Community Based Economic Development Plan, which will go into effect this year to help existing and new industry.

"One thing that was not on the survey list is the search for a new facility," Rust said. "We are looking for a new building."

The chamber building, at 601 N. Kingshighway, has been sold. A building committee has been formed and his headed by Harry Rediger, a former chairman of the board.

Business survey results

Issues of importance to local businesses in order and including their rating

1. Business retention .742.

2. Economic Development .738.

3. New bridge .571.

4. Education (K-12) .559.

5. Crime .485.

6. Availability of skilled workers .458.

7. Infrastructure, .395.

8. Gangs/youth violence .367.

9. Transportation .288.

10. Education (higher) .275.

11. Workers' compensation .230.

12. Availability of unskilled workers .228.

13. Downtown vitality .223.

14. Health care .142.

15. Governmental affairs .141.

16. Growth management .129.

17. Solid waste -.004.

18. Housing -.008.

19. Waste water problems -.011.

20. Flood control -.087.

21. Interstate 66 -.150.

22. Park space -.255.