Old Town Cape lobbies city council for support

Marsha Toll, the promotions committee chairwoman for Old Town Cape, addressed the city council Monday night, asking for continued financial support from the city.

The city has funded Old Town Cape, an organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown, with $20,000 per year for the last three years. The council will decide whether to continue that funding as part of its budget process, which officially begins tonight.

Toll pointed out that the downtown area has grown since the organization was established three years ago. A net total of four more businesses were developed and 12.5 more jobs were created in 2002.

In the past two years, more than $5 million has been reinvested in downtown, including $3.7 million in 2002.

"I'm absolutely in favor of continuing to support them," said councilman Hugh White. "Her presentation pointed out what I already knew, which is that they're getting a lot of bang for their buck and making strides in making everything better in the downtown area. I'm enthusiastic about their mission, their goal and the people involved."

Old Town Cape is funded through contributions from the city, Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau business community.

In other business, the council approved the adoption of minimum standards and rules and regulations for the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

Airport manager Bruce Loy said the rules and regulations were already being enforced at the airport, but they had never been officially adopted by the council. The minimum standards, which will apply to new businesses at the airport, are new, Loy said.

They were established to make sure all businesses would be treated equally, he said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

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