CHAMBERS FOCUS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH

A special economic development task force is expected to report its findings and recommendations on future funding for the department to the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce next month.

"Economic development is one of the big subjects for the chamber in 1992," said Robert Hendrix, president of the chamber. "The economic development office has been in operation for nearly three years, funded by contributions from chamber members and subsidized by chamber funds."

Chamber officials say the chamber can't continue to fund the $75,000-a-year economic development office by itself.

The voluntary contributions ran out in December," said Hendrix. "But, the chamber agreed to continue the funding out of chamber reserve funds for a 90-day period."

The 90-day extension will run out March 31, said Hendrix. "At that time, we have to do something," he said. "We appointed a special task force to look into the situation during our annual retreat in December."

Meanwhile, the chamber has completed what Hendrix refers to as a good year, and is looking to better things in 1992.

Chamber officials in Jackson and Scott City are also looking to a good year in 1992. Paul Sander, president of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, said construction is under way for a new industry in the Jackson Route PC Industrial Park, and that a new expansion at Lee-Cowan will add another 90,000 square feet to that operation.

Cherie Hillman, new president at the Scott City Chamber, said the chamber would be working more closely with city officials and various organizations this year.

"We had a lot of successful programs," said Hendrix. "Many of the industries who have located here in the past three years expanded their employment totals, our annual membership drive netted 180 new members and we're holding strong at 1,150 members, we met with several prospects in 1991, and we're talking with a couple of the prospects now which could prove good for us."

Other items which are still on the agenda for the chamber include the old Florsheim Shoe Factory site on N. Main, a "speculation building," seminars, and the 6-cent motor fuels tax which recently passed both houses of the state legislature.

Miltenberger and Willing (M&W) Packaging U.S.A., Inc., officially opened its manufacturing facility in May of 1991, and has 185 full-time employees while Saueressig Engineering, which has opened a branch facility at the M&W site north of Cape Girardeau to provide printing cylinders for the M&W operation, added four new employees during the year. Dana Corporation, which opened its manufacturing facility off Highway 74 in Cape Girardeau in 1990, added 30 employees during the year.

"Our office completed the annual update on the Manufacturing Directory in March of last year," said Hendrix. "We found at that time there was a net gain of 312 employees in Cape County."

Other positive business and industrial news during the year includes:

Arkansas Freightways in process of building a new facility in Nash Road Industrial Park.

Lone Star Industries constructing a new energy production facility.

Bluff City Beer, new warehouse in Cape West Business Park, and currently building a new office building to move headquarters from Poplar Bluff to Cape Girardeau.

Cape West Park is also the site for a new U.S. Postal Distribution facility and Wal-Mart Superstore.

Magnetic Collectibles, building a new facility on West End. Blvd.

The property which formerly housed the old Florsheim Shoe Factory has been discussed more than five years.

"We have donated about a half-acre of the site to the city for widening of N. Main at that location," said Hendrix. "We're keeping the remainder of the property about six acres available for a commercial or retail operation which would enhance the downtown Cape Girardeau area."

Hendrix said plans for a "speculation" building were on hold at the present time.

"A speculation facility has not been forgotten," he said. "But, we need concrete financing for such a building."

Hendrix said he was pleased to see the legislature pass the fuel tax.

"This will create a lot of new jobs in the area, and give us better roads," said Hendrix.

The Scott City Chamber of Commerce will establish its goals during the February board meeting said Hillman.

"We'll be working to increase our membership," added Hillman. "We're already working on plans to hold a candidates' forum in March, for city and school election candidates."

Hillman noted that in its goal to work closer with city officials and various organizations the chamber has been working with the Scott City High School FBLA on a `buy local' program.

"We're really happy to see the Southeast Missouri Regional Port moving forward," said Hillman. "We're looking to a good year for the chamber here."

Other officers of the Scott City Chamber include Edith Davidson, vice president, and Don Roth, secretary-treasurer.

There is plenty of activity in Jackson.

Construction is under way for a new industry in the Jackson Route PP Industrial Park, and a new expansion at Lee-Rowan is on schedule.

"The American Linen Service, headquartered in Madison, Wis., could be open in April," said Sander.

The new commercial laundry distribution center, which has locations in DuQuoin, Ill., Jackson, Tenn., and in Northeast Arkansas, is expected to start operations with about 20 new employees.

"Lee-Rowan is adding another 90,000 square feet to its operation," said Sander. The firm, which expanded from St. Louis to Jackson in 1964, has expanded through the years and now has more than a half-million square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space under cover.

"Midwest Sterilization is another expanding company at Jackson," said Sander. "The company currently occupies a previous `spec' building in the industrial park. This firm is a state-of-the art operation here."

Sander added the chamber, which has more than 200 members, is especially proud of its annual ag-business tour.

"We had one of the largest ag-business tours ever last year," he said. "We had 147 people on the tour, which visited Gilster-Mary Lee Industries at Perryville, and the East Perry Lumber Company's handle factory."

The chamber is also planning to install a couple of `Welcome to Jackson' signs in the near future.

"Sign sites are north Jackson toward Fruitland, and Highway 61 East, near Kohlfeld Distributing," said Sander.

Officers of the Jackson Chamber include Sander, president; Steve Popp, vice president; and Jim Maevers, secretary-treasurer.

Anyone with questions concerning the chamber is urged to contact Sander, or Patty Reisenbichler, executive secretary of the chamber.