SMALL TOWN FIGHTS BACK; PIEDMONT OPEN FOR BUSINESS

PIEDMONT -- Piedmont is open for business

"The table is set and we're ready for the feast," says Piedmont Mayor Gaylon Watson, who worked the past three years to help this Ozark foothills community overcome an industrial disaster in April 1994.

At that time, Brown Shoe Factory closed, eliminating more than 400 jobs.

Watson, who is in his sixth term as mayor, started operating a radio station here in 1965 and is broker-owner of a real estate company. He was elected to his first term as mayor in 1983 and served two years. He was elected again in 1993.

Piedmont is one of a number of small area communities that became victims of shoe-factory closings in the past decade.

Watson didn't want to see his community die, so he and community leaders created a planning process.

"We were already working on one major industrial asset when the shoe-factory closed," said Watson.

This led to a new industrial park -- the city's second -- two miles north of town on Highway 49. The Highway 49 Industrial Complex is now home to Corlair Corp., which employs about 65 workers.

Nudel Corp., a company that manufacturers plastic picture frames and other plastic items, has expanded, adding 25 new employees in the past two years. The company now provides jobs for 65 workers.

Specialty Brands, which is located in the city's industrial park at the Piedmont Airport, employs about 180. The food company makes onion rings and other prepared items for restaurants.

In the process of being built are two major companies within six miles of Piedmont -- GS Roofing at Gad's Hill and Willamette Industries, a wood-processing facility off Highway 49 near Mill Spring.

Duncan Ready-Mix Concrete of Piedmont is pouring concrete for both of these companies, and Lee Roach Construction, also of Piedmont, has been awarded the contract for construction of the metal buildings that will house the equipment at the Willamette facility, which will make wood chips.

The facility itself will employ six people but could support another 50 jobs in the area's logging and transportation industries, said Steve Galliher, Willamette's Southern Missouri wood procurement forester.

The facility expects a late August start.

GS Roofing owns roofing granule plants in South Carolina, Arkansas and California and has acquired Quality Aggregate Plant at Gad's Hill, where the new facility will provide eight to 10 new jobs.

"Both of these companies will benefit a lot of people and the community," said Watson.

Since the demise of Brown Shoe and its 400 jobs, Piedmont has battled back. Though some former shoe workers are still driving to Farmington, Poplar Bluff and Cape Girardeau to work, the town's economy is growing in new companies, jobs and business.

"I am proud of what has happened in Piedmont," Watson said.

The accomplishments of Piedmont over the past three years speak for themselves:

-- The city has received four major grants -- for industrial infrastructure, housing infrastructure and other projects.

-- City voters have been responsive with requests for two sales taxes, a half-cent for transportation and a half-cent for capital improvements. The city, in turn, abolished personal property taxes and city automobile stickers.

The mayor described the sales tax as the fairest and least painful tax.

"Everybody pays," he said. "Tourists and those who live outside Piedmont will help the city's progress.

Funds from the transportation tax are used to pave streets, work on curbs and finish other city projects. The capital improvements are used for city purchases and repairs.

The city has a million-dollar-plus budget ($1.1 million for fiscal year 1996 -- July 1996 to June 1997).

-- The voters passed a $500,000 bond issue, for a new industrial building.

"This enables us to be competitive when bargaining for potential industry," Watson said. "Until the bonds are issued, there will be no debt for Piedmont. Interest will not be accumulating on unused funds."

A new building to a prospect's specifications could be erected within 60 to 120 days. The building will be available on a lease basis, with the rent to cover principal and interest on the bonds. The city will retain ownership of the building until the bonds are retired.

"We're talking with some industrial prospects" that could provide 15 to 35 new jobs, said Watson.

-- The city has initiated a number of capital improvements to make good business impressions.

"We have a new city hall, we're putting new surfaces on the streets, and there have been other improvements," said Watson.

Two major improvements include a new footbridge over McKenzie Creek, and the grant for a new subdivision is enticing to new home owners.

The housing infrastructure grant is a new grant that provides affordable housing, said Watson. The grant was used to purchase 21 acres of land and provide it with sewer, streets, lights and other infrastructure.

Watson said, "Our goal is 10 new houses a year over the next three years."

"We're near Clearwater Lake, Sam A. Baker State Park and a number of smaller rivers -- the Current, Black and St. Francis -- for camping and fishing," said Watson. '

The downtown area has become an antique-collectibles-flea market center.

Piedmont also features a fall festival that attracts more than 10,000 people to town.

The only downside in this era of Piedmont economy is the seven miles of Highway 34 from Piedmont to Patterson, said Watson.

"No major highways run through town," said Watson. "The highway from here to Patterson needs widening and other improvements."

But Piedmont is back in business.