EXISTING INDUSTRY GENERATES MAJORITY OF NEW JOBS

New industries often grab the headlines, but existing businesses generate the majority of new jobs.

"Existing industry and businesses generate up to 85 percent of new jobs in Missouri," said John Mehner, president and CEO of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. "You can look around our area and see evidence of that."

The local chamber is compiling a written plan on community-based economic development.

"We've always focused on retention and expanding of existing businesses," said Mehner. "What we have submitted to the chamber board is a written plan that people can see."

Mehner added that once the plan is approved, businesses will be contacted.

"We want to see what we can do to help existing business grow and expand," added Mehner.

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce started recognizing existing industries six years ago with its "Industry of the Year" award. Industries honored over the past six years are General Sign, Lone Star Industries, Procter & Gamble, Biokyowa, Concord Publishing Co., and Dana Corporation.

Expansions and new jobs

Expansions and new jobs are evidenced among many of Southeast Missouri's "Top 40" industries, based on employment figures compiled by the Southeast Missourian.

The Top 40 itself is an expansion from the "Top 25" of a year ago.

The manufacturing and industry sector is a big one in the state of Missouri. A total of 8,485 facilities provide employment to 461,632 employees statewide.

Cape Girardeau County is 11th among 114 counties in manufacturing facilities, with 132, which provide employment to a total of 7,001 workers, more than a fourth of them at two plants -- Procter & Gamble Paper Products (1,325) and Lee-Rowan (about 800).

Lee-Rowan is observing its 30th anniversary in Jackson and has grown from a small operation of 25 people in 1964 to its current employment of more than 800 people.

The manufacturer of closet organizer items, Lee-Rowan has undergone 10 expansions at Jackson and now has more than 600,000 square feet under roof.

Biggest employer

P&G, the top employer in the Southeast Missouri area in both employees and total payroll -- 1,300 employees and a $50 million-a-year payroll -- is observing its 25th year here.

When P&G opened north of Cape Girardeau in 1969, it employed about 400 people in the manufacture of Pampers, a disposable diaper.

The firm, with 1,304,758 square feet under roof, now manufactures Pampers, Pampers Trainers and Luvs disposable diapers and Always, a feminine hygiene product.

Briggs & Stratton, the world's largest producer of air-cooled gasoline engines, has shown great growth during its five years at Poplar Bluff. The firm opened with 200 employees in 1989, increased the workforce to over 500 the first two years and now employs 850.

Another big employer is the Gilster-Mary Lee Co., which operates three plants in the Perryville area.

The firm, headquartered in Chester, Ill., manufactures and packages cake mixes, cereals and popcorn. The company's operations were interrupted by the flood last year, but about 1,200 workers are utilized in the Missouri operations at full strength.

Noranda Aluminum, situated about 55 miles south of Cape Girardeau along Interstate 55 near Marston, employs between 1,150 and 1,200 people.

Some new names on the "Top 10" list include Plastene Supply of Portageville, a plastic products manufacturer, and Arvin Automotive of Dexter. Both employ about 750 workers.

There are other large employers in the Cape Girardeau area Southeast Missouri Hospital, with over 1,400; St. Francis Medical Center, with over 1,300; and Southeast Missouri State University, with about 1,000 but the focus here is on manufacturing, industry and product-related companies.

The "Top 10"

Following are the "Top 10," by employment.

1. Procter & Gamble, Cape Girardeau, 1,325, manufacturer of disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products.

2. Gilster-Mary Lee Co., Perryville and McBride, 1,200, manufacture and packaging of cake mixes, stuffing mixes, hot cocoa drink mix and popcorn.

3. Noranda Aluminum Inc., Marston, 1,170, produces aluminum for sale throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

4. Briggs & Stratton, Poplar Bluff, 850, producers of air-cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment.

5. Lee-Rowan, Jackson, 1,200 employees total, with more than 800 at the Jackson facility. The company produces ventilated wire shelving and storage-related products.

6. Arvin Automotive, Dexter, 750, manufactures mufflers and tail pipes.

6. Plastene Supply, Portageville, 750, a manufacturer of plastic products.

8. Emerson Electric Co., Kennett, 650, manufacturer of electric motors, coils and other electrical products.

8. TG-USA of Perryville, 650, manufacturer of parts for Toyota Motors and for domestic automakers.

10, Thorngate, Cape Girardeau, 600, manufacturer of sportswear.

The "Next 10"

11. Florsheim Shoe, 1600 S. West End Blvd. in Cape Girardeau, 550, manufacturer of shoes.

11. Heartland Industries (VIP), Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Marble Hill and Fruitland, 500. The company hires the handicapped. It assembles, packages and mails a number of products -- car parts, comics, hangars and others.

13. Sabreliner, Perryville, 375. Sabreliner, headquartered in St. Louis, is a diversified service, modification and manufacturing company for a variety of military and commercial aircraft. Employment depends on current contracts and fluctuates from 45 to 300. Current employment is about 375.

14. Perculator Products Inc., Dexter, 350, manufacturer of oil, gas and air filters.

15. Hudson Foods, Dexter, 340. Approximately 175 new workers are expected to join the staff of 350 following an $8.6-million expansion at Hudson's existing facilities this year.

16. Tri-Con Industries, 334A Broadview, Cape Girardeau, 315 workers, manufacturer of auto seat covers.

17. Rowe Furniture Manufacturing, Poplar Bluff, 315.

18. Gates Rubber, Poplar Bluff, 300.

19. Solar Press, Perryville, 275.

20. Blair Industries, Scott CIty, audio-video cassette albums, 255.

21 to 30

21. Spartech Companies, Cape Girardeau, 150, includes Spartech Alchem Plastics (150), and Spartech Resin Exchange (100).

22. Paramount Headware, Marble Hill, 225.

22. Gold Bond Ice Cream, Sikeston, 225.

22. National Lock, Sikeston, 225.

25. Cap America, Fredericktown, 220.

25. Super Value (previously Wetterau Co.), Scott City, 220.

25. Malone & Hyde, Sikeston, 220.

25. Dana Corp., Cape Girardeau, 220.

29. Havco Wood Products, I-55 and Airport Road, Cape Girardeau, 200, laminated oak flooring.

29. Concord Publishing, Printing, including the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, 200.

31 to 40

31. Mildenberger & Willing, Cape Girardeau, 185.

32. Smiley Container Corp., Poplar Bluff, 180, makes boxes for major candy brands.

33. Lone Star Industries, Cape Girardeau, 175, cement and masonry manufacturer.

34, UARCO, Kennett, 170.

35 RAPCO, Jackson, 170.

36. Triangle PWC Inc., Sikeston, 155.

37. Headrick Concrete, Sikeston, 150.

38. Missouri Industries, Dexter, 130.

39. Tetrapak Materials, Sikeston, 120.

40. Sportswear Inc., Sikeston, 110.

And, others

Others with employment of about 100 workers included Gates Rubber, Charleston, 105; Horizon Music Mfg. Co., Cape Girardeau, 100; U.S. Poly Enterprise, Dexter, 100; Biokyowa Inc., Nash Road, L-Lysine, 95; and Kan Tek Industries, New Madrid, 90.