P&G GIVES $500,000 TO CAPE, JACKSON SCHOOLS

Prospects for improved technology and computer centers for the Jackson and Cape Girardeau school districts got better Tuesday.

The two school districts received a total of $500,000 from Procter & Gamble Co. Tuesday. Funds are to be devoted to technology training.

The Jackson district received the lion's share of the special P&G grant, $335,000. Cape Girardeau received $165,000.

The donation is in response to negotiations that led to a $350 million expansion to the P&G plant north of Cape Girardeau for the manufacture of paper towels and toilet tissue. It was announced by P&G earlier this year.

Kathy Brown, manger of the plant, presented the two checks during a reception honoring Mitch Robinson, executive director of Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association for Robinson's recent honor of being selected Missouri Professional Economic Developer of the Year.

On hand for the presentation was Cape Girardeau County Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones.

"We wanted to make these check presentations when both Jones and Robinson were present," said Brown. "Both were instrumental in negotiations which led to the expansion project for P&G."

The checks to the two school districts were a result of those negotiations.

P&G is in the Jackson School District, and about 40 percent of the workers at P&G are from that school district. About 22 percent of the workers at the plant, which currently employs about 1,250, are from Cape Girardeau.

"This comes at a great time," said Jackson superintendent Howard Jones. "Two of our current priorities concern expansion of technology training and expansion of our computer labs."