QUALITIES OF LIFE, CAPE GIRARDEAU; SPECIAL REPORT: COV'T & POLITICS; CAPE GIRARDEAU SITS ON VERGE OF A BOOM

Leading economic indicators show that Cape Girardeau County could be in the midst of one of its most sustained periods of economic growth in recent years.

The foundations are in place, and now is the time to build on them.

Manufacturing continues to grow and prosper, agriculture production continues to provide a cornerstone for many local economies, and the retail sector is growing in the hub city of Cape Girardeau.

A new Chamber of Commerce report, "Quality of Life" Indicators for Progress, has been compiled to address quality of life issues in Cape Girardeau.

The eight areas selected by the QOL Committee are education, economic, public safety, natural environment, health, social environment, government-politics and culture-recreation.

Today, in one of a series of articles on the QOL Report, the Southeast Missourian looks at economics on Page 12B.

Among the latest "foundations" for the economics of the city and county was the recent announcement by the Procter & Gamble Co. for a $350 million expansion project to its Cape Girardeau County plant. The expansion will enable P&G to increase its production of tissues and paper towels.

Other foundations include the recent the passage of a $14 million bond issue -- by a 65 percent margin -- for public school improvements and the announcement that a new Notre Dame High School will be built.

Other notable foundations include: continued construction on the Emerson Memorial Bridge to span the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois, new retail stores opening, low unemployment and new construction of homes in a number of subdivisions.

Another major indicator is the increase of jobs in the county over the past few years to more than 34,000.