CAPE GIRARDEAU QUALIFIES FOR STATE GRANT TO RECRUIT MINORITY CONTRACTORS

Marnyce McKell would like nothing better than to come to Cape Girardeau Sept. 22 and have future minority entrepreneurs and contractors exhaust her resources.

"I've had enough work so far that it's wearing me out," said McKell. "But if I can recruit just one future minority business person or contractor in each city I visit, it will have been worth it."

McKell, who operates M.S. McKell & Associates Inc. of Kansas City, was chosen by the Missouri Department of Economic Development to become the consultant for the Community Development Block Grant's Minority and Women Business Enhancement Project. The grant pays only for McKell's services and is separate from Community Development Block Grants, such as the Locust-Maplewood Project in Cape Girardeau.

That project, which will finance the renovation of 35 homes in the Locust-Maplewood neighborhood, is in the second year of a two-year phase.

Cape Girardeau is one of five cities McKell will visit. The project is designed to educate minorities and businesses owned by women about contracting opportunities under the CDBG grant and improve Cape Girardeau's ability to attract qualified individuals to participate in local CDBG projects.

Funding for the CDBG Minority and Women Business Enhancement Project is received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

This marks the sixth CDBG Cape Girardeau has qualified for in the past 12 years. Community Development Block Grant programs are designed to renovate homes in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and to help cities involved in CDBG projects such as Cape Girardeau further their commitment.

The reason Cape Girardeau has been selected for the most recent CDBG grant is because the city has become such a frequent recipient of community development projects.

McKell said the project was initiated after an audit of various state CDBG programs showed a consistant lack of minority participation in Missouri.

"I was in Mexico (Mo.), and we drew 70 people at our town meeting," said McKell, who is the only one being paid to work on the project. "Of that total, 55 were minorities, which is a good number. That means someone got the word out."

The other four cities selected for the CDBG Minority Business Enhancement Project are Sikeston, Neosho, Sedalia and Mexico.

Cape Girardeau will host its town meeting Sept. 22, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 401 Independence.

Cape Girardeau Housing Assistance Coordinator Steve Williams was on the selection committee when McKell was chosen. Williams has a reputation for drafting compelling proposals and is credited with playing a critical role in bringing CDBG projects to Cape Girardeau.

"Marnyce McKell knew what she was talking about," said Williams. "I felt like she would do a good job recruiting and educating minorities and women who would like to start a business, expand their small business or just find out about contracting opportunities with CDBG porjects."

Williams will answer questions about contracting opportunities and the process of obtaining contracting work under the CDBG project at the Sept. 22 meeting. McKell will work with Cape Girardeau's newly formed CDBG task force to steer potential individuals who qualify for the program in the right direction.

Dorothy Hardy, who is with the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School, is on the committee along with Robin Tolbert of K&K Electric, Bruce Bird of the Carpenter's Union Hall, John Mehner of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, and Ross Conner, a local construction worker.

The project is designed to help cities receiving Community Development Block Grant assistance from HUD by educating them about small-business and contracting opportunities.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be somebody who is interested in contracting," said McKell. "They might be involved in a supply company that would sell to a contractor involved in the CDBG project."

McKell said she plans to call upon the Vo-Tech school for technical assistance for a training and information seminar in December.

"There will be some follow-up from the initial town meeting," said McKell. "We are hoping to do some pretest-type training and encourage people who are interested in getting involved to enhance their skills and knowledge."