HEARING ON ACTION FUND GRANT IS HELD

JACKSON - The Cape Girardeau County Commission Monday held a "close out" public hearing on an Action Fund Grant to Sanders Enterprises Inc.

The grant, which amounts to a low-interest loan for working capital and the purchase of equipment, was provided to the company by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The grant is being overseen by the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, with the support of the Cape County Commission.

The grant provided a $175,000 loan to Sanders Enterprises and $4,000 to the county commission to administer the grant.

Cape County's role will be to continue monitoring the company to insure that terms of the grant are fulfilled. The company agreed to provide 18 jobs and provide a certain level of private investment.

Harry Sanders, the former vice president of M&W Packaging, opened the plastics recycling facility in Scott City on Nash Road earlier this year. The company's main product will be a Recy Wall, which was developed about 10 years ago in Germany and is made with recycled plastics products.

One of the main uses for the Recy Wall is along highways. The wall has barriers that contain growing plants and the wall absorbs high-volume traffic noise. The wall also filters out traffic pollutants and dust, requires no maintenance, and is more attractive than normal traffic barrier walls.

The structure is made of 100 percent recycled materials. Crushed glass is used for the drainage, and compost is used as a filter for the wall.

Initially, the company will use about 75 percent industrial scrap and 25 percent post consumer scrap, but may eventually use 100 percent post consumer scrap. Sanders plans to contract with large cities in the Midwest that are trying to get rid of plastic materials recycled at curbside.

Sanders explained Monday that so far he has hired six employees, but once some contracts are finalized will expand quickly.

"As soon as we get some contracts signed, I feel we will meet those 18 employees by the first quarter of next year," explained Sanders.

The Recy Wall material will likely be used heavily in urban areas, where noise pollution is a growing problem, Sanders said.

Sanders' product has an advantage over existing sound barrier designs made out of concrete, metal, wood or even plastics. While all of them will reduce some of the noise level, the Recy Wall is the only design that effectively will absorb the noise rather than reflect it back.

Within one year, Sanders expects to have about 25 employees working at his Nash Road facility.