CAPE COUNTY COULD BENEFIT FROM URBAN AREA CHANGES

Changes proposed for the definitions of urban areas by the U.S. Census Bureau could be positive for two areas in Southeast Missouri: Cape Girardeau and St. Francois counties.

One of the primary changes proposed by the Census Bureau is that the county would serve as the core base unit for calculation of population information in the urban area classifications.

Core-Based Statistical Areas would replace the current Metropolitan Statistical Areas classifications.

"We don't have all of the particulars of the new proposals," said Tom Tucker, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission headquartered in Perryville. "But we understand the new format calls for three categories instead of the current two."

Currently, the Metropolitan Statistical Areas have only two categories: Metropolitan and Urban.

The new list would contain three designations:

* Megapolitan Areas, defined around cores of at least 1 million population.

* Macropolitan Areas, defined around cores of 50,000 to 999,999 population.

* Micropolitan Areas, defined around cores from 10,000 to 49,999 population.

According to Census Bureau information, the counties containing the cores would become the central counties for the Census Bureau Statistical Area.

"At this point we could see Cape Girardeau becoming a Macropolitan Area," said Tucker. "And St. Francois County could quality for Micropolitan Area status."

John Mehner agreed. "If what I'm reading is correct, Cape County could become a Macropolitan Area," said Mehner, president and chief executive officer of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. "This could put us in the same categories as the St. Louis and Kansas City areas."

A Macropolitan Area designation could offer some valuable economic advantages, say Mehner and Tucker. That means the area could qualify for a number of federal block grants and economic development programs available only to former Metropolitan and Urban areas.

"We would receive more looks from businesses and industries seeking locations," said Mehner. Many companies, including industry, chain retailers and restaurants look at MSA listings when deciding where to locate.

Currently there are six MSAs in Missouri. They are at Columbia, Joplin, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis, and Springfield.

Currently an area can include portions of two counties with a continued population of at least 100,000 and two or three nucleus cities with a combined 50,000 population.

Cape Girardeau County qualifies on the population counts, said Mehner.

But the hitch has been the clause that the area must contain at least 1,000 people per square mile. This has been the big hitch for the Cape Girardeau region. Two county parks, Memorial Park Cemetery and the interstate separate Cape Girardeau and Jackson, and Nash Road Industrial Park is between Cape Girardeau and Scott City.

"People don't live in these areas," said Mehner. "That's where we get nailed -- on the 1,000-people-per-square-mile requirement."

But things get more positive with the county serving as the core of population.

Cape Girardeau and chamber officials have made the Census Bureau aware of the problem.

"We have appealed to the bureau," said Mehner. "But the bureau won't look at the situation until the next census."

The next census will be during 2000.

"With the new standards, things look more positive," said Mehner. "If they are adopted, we'll certainly have our name on the list."

The final standards will be announced by April.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget released recommendations for changes to the Urban Area standards in October. If adopted, this will be the first major revision of the concepts for these classification since 1970.

"Somehow we missed the comment period on the new proposals," said Tucker. "But we'll be keeping watch on what happens."