MID-AMERICA MOTEL TOPS CITY'S LIST

Mid-America includes restaurant, construction, administration and hotel workers, including the Holiday Inn and Victorian Inn in Cape Girardeau.

The Southeast Missourian's "Top 60" industries, based on number of employees, started as a "Top 25" a decade ago, but due to growth, expansions and new industry, the list went to "Top" 40 in 1995 and to the "Top 60" in 1996.

Going into the new millennium, the list has been expanded, to include:

* A "Top 60" on manufacturing, industry and product-related companies in Southeast Missouri. (See Top 60).

* A "Top 20" employers in Southern Illinois (see Illinois employers).

* And a "Top 15" list of employers in the City of Cape Girardeau .

In compiling top employers, we consulted with the Directory of Manufacturing and Basic Industry for Missouri, the Directory for Southeast Missouri Region, various county economic and development groups.

For the Cape Girardeau list, we checked with the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. Numbers here are from 1999 and may have changed somewhat.

We may have missed someone. Business and industry representatives are urged to check the various lists. If people or companies were omitted, contact us. Submit the company name, type of product, how long in business, and total employment to: B. Ray Owen, Strictly Business, Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.

Procter & Gamble Paper Products Co., manufacturer of disposable diapers, towels and feminine hygiene products, is the largest manufacturing employer, with the highest payroll in Southeast Missouri, with 1,700 workers and a $40 million-plus payroll.

The largest employer is Mid-America Motel Corp., headquartered in Cape Girardeau. Mid-America includes motels, restaurant, construction and administration workers in a number of locations. The company employs 1,850 workers.

Top employers in the City of Cape Girardeau:

1. Mid-Amerca Motel Corp., 1,850.

2. Southeast Missouri Hospital, 1,600.

3. St. Francis Medical Center, 1,469.

4. Southeast Missouri State University, 1,112.

5. Thorngate Ltd., Manufacturer of sportswear, 750.

6. Drury Industries, real estate and development, 598.

7. Cape Girardeau Public Schools, 577.

8. VIP Industries, employs disabled, 375.

9. Dana Corp., 360.

10. Concord Publishing, newspaper and printing, 250.

11. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, 250.

12. Spartech, plastics, 230.

13. Lone Star Industries, cement manufacturer, 180.

14. Ameren-UE, electric company, 135.

15. Horizon Music Mfg., Co., 120.