CIVIC GROUP BACKS PROJECT; CHAMBER LAUDS RIVER CAMPUS

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's board of directors "put on its business hat" to endorse Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus project.

Chamber executive director John Mehner said the 19-member board voted unanimously to endorse the $35.6 million project to convert the Old St. Vincent's Seminary property into a school for the arts and performing arts center.

Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve an increase and extension of the city's hotel-motel tax to help pay for the project.

The proposal makes good business sense, Mehner said.

"We are spending less than 25 percent for a $35 million redevelopment project to spur redevelopment in that section of town," he said.

The proposal on the ballot calls for increasing the hotel-motel tax from 3 percent to 4 percent and extending the tax until 2030.

The measure would also extend, but not increase, the city's 1 percent restaurant tax until 2030.

The increase and extensions would raise $8.9 million toward the project.

The university plans to raise another $8.9 million in private donations and gifts, and university officials will ask the Legislature for $17.8 million to complete the project.

Mehner said the board considered the project "from an investment standpoint."

"That's something that has not been focused on," he said. "One of the ways we look at this is from a chamber standpoint is as an economic development project, and realizing that this is an area of town that we have been talking about redeveloping and enhancing for a long time, and there has not been a lot of private money going into this area."

"We look at this as a very good return on the investment, when you look at the state money coming in, the university money and the local money," he said. "We just feel like it could be a catalyst for redevelopment in that whole section, which could benefit the entire city."

Southeast President Dr. Dale Nitzschke was "absolutely delighted" at the chamber's decision.

The chamber will be important in garnering public support for the River Campus project, Nitzschke said.

"Our big job is going to be to get the word out to everyone who votes of the significance of this project so that they know that their vote will benefit the city and the entire Cape Girardeau area once it's passed," he said.

The chamber of commerce and the city are responsible for holding public information meetings on the project, Nitzschke said.

Mehner said the chamber has asked Vision 2000 to help sponsored two public meetings. Informational meetings will be announced as they are scheduled.