MEMOS

A coalition of chambers of commerce has been formed in Southern Illinois.

The primary goals of the Southern Illinois Coalition of Chambers is to strengthen the region's voice in the state legislature and to boost economic development.

Stephanie Boen, executive director of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, is chairperson of the group. Sue Douglas, executive director of the Herrin chamber, was elected vice chairman, and Jim Prowell, executive director of Carbondale's chamber, is secretary-treasurer.

Other chambers involved are Anna-Jonesboro, Cairo, Benton, Carterville, Chester, Pinckneyville, Carmi, Christopher, DuQuoin, Eldorado, Harrisburg, Jefferson County, Murphysboro, Nashville, Massac County, Sesser and West Frankfort. The coverage area also includes Pulaski County.

The St. Louis District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking nominations for the 1994 Small Business-Person of the Year.

The St. Louis district covers the eastern half of Missouri, including Southeast Missouri. It will accept nominations from the 54 counties that comprise that area.

In addition to Small Business-Person of the Year, nominations are sought in the following categories:

Accountant Advocate of the Year; Financial Services Advocate of the Year; Media Advocate of the Year; Minority Small Business-Advocate of the Year; Women in Business Advocate of the Year; Veteran Small Business-Advocate of the Year; Small Business-Exporter of the Year; Young Entrepreneur of the Year; and Entrepreneurial Success Award.

Nominations are due to the SBA by Nov. 15. Additional information concerning nomination guidelines are available by calling LaVerne Johnson, (314)-539-6600.

PADUCAH, Ky. - Revenue from McCracken County's motel-room tax is at its highest level ever, apparently a result of tourists' interest in a nearby casino.

Some of the increase may be attributable to higher room rates, but the bulk is the result of an increase in visitors to the region, said Me Me Wiley, director of the Paducah-McCracken County Tourist and Convention Commission.

This year's second-quarter room-tax receipts were the highest in the 13-year history of the tax, Wiley said. The second quarter was the first full quarter that the Players Riverboat Casino in nearby Metropolis, Ill., operated.

Figures released Monday show the tax brought in $108,000 in April, May and June - about $20,000 more than in the same three months of last year.

Revenue from the 3 percent tax pays for local efforts to draw tourists and conventions to Paducah and McCracken County.

Drury Inns Inc. is expanding again.

Plans for construction of two 118-room Drury Inn hotels were announced last week for Houston, Texas, and Memphis, Tenn.

The Memphis hotel will be at Interstate 40 and Sycamore View. The Houston location will be at Interstate 10 and Highway 6.

Drury Inns Inc., which opened a hotel at Paducah, Ky., recently, owns, operates and, or, manages more than 60 Drury Inns, Pear Tree Inns and Hampton Inn hotels in 11 states.

No. 2 toy-marketer Mattel has acquired No. 4 marketer Fischer-Price in a $1.1 billion stock swap that is expected to be complete by year's end.

The combined revenues of both companies will total $2.4 bilion. One of the large Fischer-Price factories is at Murray, Ky.

Edward D. Jones, a financial-services firm headquartered in St. Louis, has announced the five winners in its Downtown Revitalization Contest.

They are Frankfort, Ill.; Plaquemine, La.; Rutland, Vt.; San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and Staunton, Va.

Robert N. Etherton, a Cape Girardeau representative of the firm, said the communities will receive matching grants toward assessment visits to be conducted by a National Main Street representative late this month.

WASHINGTON - Mercedes Benz has decided to build its first U.S. assembly plant in North Carolina, according to a published report.

The Washington Post quotes unidentified company sources in a recent edition as saying the plant will be somewhere in North Carolina but declining to specify where.

Mercedes-Benz Project spokeswoman Linda Paulmeno said the company had not yet informed local officials of the final selection. She said Mercedes would neither confirm nor deny reports of the site, which will be announced this week.

Mercedes-Benz AG owns Freightliner Inc., which has three plants in North Carolina.