INDUSTRIAL RECRUITER SEEKS FUNDS FOR BUDGET INCREASE

Industrial recruiter Mitch Robinson has been using his business-attracting skills to lure more money from Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association members.

His budget is $140,000 yearly for two salaries, equipment, marketing, project development -- everything. Robinson would like Cape Girardeau County and the cities involved with the association to give 10 percent more each.

He pitched the idea to the county commission and Cape Girardeau City Council this week. The Jackson Board of Aldermen and Scott City Council will hear from him soon.

Robinson has been taking money from marketing funds to pay for increased telephone bills, office supplies, health care costs and other expenses. When money comes out of marketing, advertising and market, consulting for the Cape area must decrease.

If the various governmental bodies vote for the 10 percent increase, the association will receive $12,500 more a year.

"It isn't much of an increase," Robinson said. "Compared to similar organizations, our budget is average or below average. We want to expand our marketing efforts."

Right now, Cape Girardeau is using conservative radio and television personality Rush Limbaugh for one advertising campaign. The Cape Girardeau native gave permission for his name and face to be association with the city.

Robinson said people in the business community are usually conservative, and when they see Rush Limbaugh, they take a second look.

The recruitment association has several other projects going, too. They are looking into construction of a 60,000-square-foot or 48,000-square-foot shell building on Nash Road, and Robinson may have approval to bid the project by this time next month.

He is also working to attract high-paying industries. While the county's low 3.5 percent unemployment rate sometimes stands in the way of recruitment, Robinson stays busy searching for leads.

"There is a continual cycle of companies going out of business and others moving in," he said. "We try to stay on top of that cycle."

It looks as though he will get his additional funding from the county commission and Cape Girardeau City Council.

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said he would be willing to vote for the extra $5,000 a year if Robinson can justify it.

"We were surprised to see a request for $55,000 instead of $50,000," he said. "We need to look at their budget and our budget before we make a decision. I'm sure it will fly if he has good justification."

Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III said he thought the request wasn't unreasonable for the association's level of work.