Regional marketing effort proposed to Sikeston council

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Sikeston City Council on Monday heard a pitch for participation in a regional marketing effort to attract business.

Steve McPheeters, Sikeston VISION Executive Academy committee member, presented information to the Sikeston City Council about a joint economic development marketing effort proposed for communities along the Interstate 55 business corridor.

Community members who have visited with officials from Paragould, Ark., "because they've experienced a lot of growth" have noted that while the city historically had a competitive or even adversarial relationship with the neighboring community of Jonesboro, Ark., "today they're working together on economic development issues," McPheeters said.

Locals interested in using the regional approach have in the past tried forming organizations such as Southeast Missouri Economic Development Alliance to coordinate efforts with poor results.

McPheeters said what is working, however, are joint economic development marketing efforts focusing on interstate corridors.

He presented as an example of seven communities in a four-state area pooling efforts to market the "East Texas I-20 Corridor."

Like the Interstate 20 corridor, the I-55 corridor is "a place with a very good business climate located just outside large metro areas," McPheeters said.

A regional marketing effort "draws more attention from site selectors and is not very expensive," he said.

McPheeters estimated the cost to be about $20,000 split up among participating communities.

"Sikeston is right at the heart of the I-55 corridor," he said.

"I think our next objective is to find more land we can add into our industrial park," Mayor Jerry Pullen said.

Pullen said the city also has "one of the best economic development directors" in Ed Dust.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, Mo.