JACKSON GROUP SEEKS RETAILER: ONGOING SURVEY CITES CITY'S BUSINESS NEEDS

JACKSON -- The Small Business Recruitment Committee at Jackson is on a fast track.

"Our goal is to bring retail business to Jackson," said Marvin Wormington, chairman of the new committee.

In two months, the group has taken these major steps to carry out its goal:

-- Compiled a trifold, color brochure outlining 20 reasons for establishing a business to Jackson.

-- Established a list of retail businesses merchants would like to see in Jackson.

-- Discussed a retail upswing with an economic developer from a similar-sized city.

Nine members of the group were on hand Thursday morning to hear James Dismuke, economic developer and assistant administrator for Farmington, outline ways to attract new business.

"The retail upswing at Farmington started a few years ago when a Wal-Mart Supercenter opened," said Dismuke, "Wal-Mart generates a lot of traffic and becomes a mecca for some businesses, especially restaurants and small specialty shops."

A number of Farmington businesses have engaged in restoration and remodeling projects, said Dismuke.

Farmington, a city of about 11,500 residents, has more than 200 retail businesses and averages about $175,000 a month as its share of sales taxes.

Dismuke mentioned a Neighborhood Assistance Program, which creates funds for interest-free loans to property owners to restore buildings.

"Renovations create interest among people," said Dismuke, "and I think Jackson has some interesting buildings for possible restoration projects."

While driving around the city, Dismuke noted the absence of antique malls, arts and crafts shops, specialty shops, even karate operations, which have helped impact Farmington's retail scene.

Bob Adams, a real estate appraiser, agrees.

"When I go into a new town, I usually drive around and see what businesses are there that we may not have in Jackson," said Adams, a member of the business recruitment committee.

"We need more of a variety of retail establishments here," said Jeff Moore of Ross Furniture. "There are so many niches that we don't have here."

A recent survey conducted by the recruitment committee points out the needs and wishes of Jackson merchants.

Antiques, shoe stores, shoe repair shops, small appliance stores, restaurants and camera stores headed the list of "wanted" businesses.

More than 100 survey sheets were tabulated by Vanita Jones, who operates Precious Moments, a specialty shop.

"More survey sheets are in now, and we'll be doing a final tabulation soon," said Jones, who was at Thursday's meeting.

"What we want to do here is go from a `Mayberry RFD' setting to a retail explosion," said Wormington.

Jackson is already in the middle of an explosion. Plans have been announced for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter, a couple of new restaurants have recently opened, and the city is only a few miles from the Procter & Gamble Products Inc. Plant, which announced a $350 million expansion program earlier this year.

Procter & Gamble, which employs more than 1,200 people, will add an 850,000-square-foot paper towel and tissue facility, with 350 new jobs.

Jackson is also in the middle of a population explosion, rapidly approaching 11,000, up 1,700 more than the 1990 census of 9,256. Over the past three years, more than 100 new homes a year have been built.

"We're getting the population we need to provide them with more shopping," said Wormington.

The retail recruitment group, which weekly, has been a busy one since it formed more than two months ago.

The committee, which grew out of a Jackson Merchants Association meeting, is affiliated with the Jackson Chamber of Commerce and is made up of concerned Jackson merchants and business owners.

"We have about 15 members now," said Wormington, "but our doors are always open and we welcome anyone." The committee meets at 7 a.m. Thursdays.

The new brochure, entitled "20 Reasons to Locate a Business in Jackson, Missouri," will soon be available for distribution.

The brochure outlines a number of city statistics -- population (about 11,000), location (100 miles south of St. Louis, 180 miles north of Memphis), electric and water services available, schools, health facilities, city parks, libraries and churches.

"We'll be placing ads in the St. Louis Business Journal, the Memphis Business Journals, along with "Business Today," headquartered in Cape Girardeau and circulated throughout Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.

The group will also compile other statistics -- sales tax information, work force, housing data, etc. -- which will be available to potential businesses.

Jackson's share of retail tax for 1996 topped the million-dollar mark, at $1.135 million or an average of $94,580 a month.

A number of fund-raising events are planned to help with the committee's expenses. A barbecue cook-off contest is set for Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside the Cape Girardeau County Administration Building. The committee is also selling polo T-shirts printed with city logos.