KINDER OFFERS PROGRAM FOR JOB CREATION

Republican state senatorial candidate Peter Kinder unveiled a program for jobs Friday which he said will use tax incentives and cooperative programs to increase employment opportunities in rural areas.

"This is an exciting program we want to advance to bring jobs to rural areas," said Kinder.

The program, known as Project Job Harvest, would provide business incentives to attract employment in growth industries. These fields include biomedical and health care technologies; environmental recycling, ecological treatment, and alternative fuels; telecommunications and information transmission; and distribution and product transportation.

Speaking at a press conference at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office, the Republican candidate was accompanied by U.S. Sen. John Danforth who praised Kinder's plan.

"I think it is a very, very exciting proposal," said Danforth.

In particular, Danforth said he likes the idea of tax incentives because they do not cost anything until they are used. "On paper, it costs revenue only when it produces revenue," he said.

Danforth and Kinder agreed that this area has a lot of offer industries with its central location, the Mississippi River, Southeast Missouri State University and a quality work force.

Kinder noted that Project Job Harvest "has a lot of potential to reverse the decline of small rural communities." In addition, the program addresses both social and economic issues.

"We've heard a lot of talk about family values this year, but you can't have family values if there aren't any jobs for the family," said Kinder.

"Many of our young people in Southeast Missouri do not see long-term employment opportunities in rural communities and are forced to leave and seek jobs in larger, urban areas," added Kinder. "If we don't develop businesses and jobs with potential for the future of Southeast Missouri, then we will be left with aging, declining communities."

Kinder explained that many of the tools are already in place to make his program work. Much of what remains is cooperation between state and federal programs, he said.

Job re-training is essential for rural economic development, said Kinder. The Missouri Department of Economic Development has a program already in place that could be utilized.

Kinder also noted that when Dana Corp. located in Cape Girardeau, providing 200 new jobs, the company entered into a contract with the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School to train workers.

"We need to do more of that," said Kinder.

Another example is the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority, where Kinder serves as vice chairman of the board of commissioners.

"The infrastructure we are creating is the first step to building new business," said Kinder. "Now, we want to make sure the businesses of the future come to Southeast Missouri."

Using Project Job Harvest to focus on new technology fields is important because of their long term growth potential, he said.

"We have an educated, hard-working and eager labor force, land available at reasonable prices and improving transportation systems. With appropriate assistance from government, we're convinced that the private sector will see the great advantages of locating here," explained Kinder.

"There isn't any value in providing government-sponsored programs to businesses who want to take quick advantage of incentives and then close or leave."

Danforth recalled that 100 years ago his grandfather, William H. Danforth, left Mississippi County in this senatorial district and moved to the St. Louis area because the opportunities were not here.

"There is no doubt that government policy relates to the kind of decisions people make," said the senator.

"We need to give young people the confidence that stable, growing jobs are coming to their communities."

Danforth said Kinder's jobs plan would work and benefit rural areas. "We need to give our young people confidence in the future of the communities where they have grown up. Peter Kinder truly has what it takes to help build a solid, vibrant future in rural America," said Danforth.

After the press conference, Danforth met with the chamber's board of directors and governmental affairs committee.