SPECULATIVE BUILDING IN PERRY COUNTY IDA'S PLAN

PERRYVILLE -- Industrial development recruitment efforts in Perry County began in the early 1920s, when the Perryville Chamber of Commerce was formed to bring in industry and create more jobs in the region.

One of its first successes was construction of a shoe factory. With additions, International Shoe Co. eventually employed more than 1,200 people and pumped millions of dollars into the local economy.

In June 1954, the Perryville Development Corp. was created as an industrial recruiting arm of the Perryville chamber. Its primary objective -- then and now -- is to increase employment, payroll, and business volume within the city of Perryville.

To meet that goal, the corporation has raised thousands of dollars to purchase land for industrial expansion and has a large number of new plants and industries to show for its efforts.

In April 1980, the Perry County Industrial Development Authority was created by the county "to develop, advance, encourage and promote commercial, industrial, agricultural and manufacturing facilities in Perry County."

The IDA is funded equally by Perry County and the city of Perryville. Its annual budget of $68,000 is set by the authority's six-member board of directors.

Today, industry is thriving in Perry County. In 1991, more than 3,000 people were employed by the county's major employers. They include: Gilster-Mary Lee, manufacturer of cake mix, cereal and popcorn, more than 1,300 jobs; TG (USA) Corp., manufacturer of auto parts, 650 jobs; Solar Press, printing and mailing, 323 jobs; Sabreliner Corp., refurbishing and overhauling of commercial and military jet aircraft, 300 jobs; East Perry Lumber Co., hardwood products, 90 jobs; and Timber Exports, wood products, 45 jobs.

There are four major industrial areas in Perry County: the 72-acre Perryville Industrial Park at the northeast corner of town near Highway 61 and new Route 51; the 47-acre Perryville Municipal Airport Industrial Area, which is east of McBride and north of Highway 51 near the Mississippi River; various sites in the East Perry County towns of Frohna and Altenburg; and the Colonial Plaza Office-Industrial Park on Highway 51 west of I-55.

The Perry County IDA isn't resting on its laurels; it continues to seek new industry and care for existing businesses.

"We're proud of our success in the past, and with an aggressive attraction effort we will be successful in the future," said JoAnn Sumner, executive director of the Perry County IDA.

But Sumner said past successes are no indication of future ones.

"Statistics indicate that even with an aggressive industrial-attraction program, success in the future will be more difficult and less frequent as more communities continue to compete for smaller, downsized companies.

Said Sumner: "The changing economy has brought about a change in industrial development. No longer are communities just focusing solely on attracting business and industry. In order to maintain growth in these tough economic times we must also look within for ways to create more jobs.

"We must work with existing industry to insure they remain in the county and provide assistance with their expansion plans."

Sumner said the Perry County IDA's overall economic development plan includes four components: creation of new industry, attraction of new industry, retaining existing industry, and expansion of existing industry.

"The Perry County Industrial Development Authority is expanding its program to include these strategies," said Sumner. "A new program that we have instituted is a small-business incubator without walls. It provides assistance in business planning by securing financing and making sound operational decisions, but does not include an operating office or plant space."

Sumner said the IDA will continue its aggressive attraction campaign for industry through advertising, direct mail campaigns and marketing trips, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Missouri Industrial Development Council.

As part of the effort to attract new industry, the Perry County IDA sponsors job fairs. The first was held in April 1992, and had 31 exhibitors.

Sumner said the IDA recently received a $268,000 interest-free economic development loan for construction of a 40,000 square-foot speculative building that will be built in the southeast corner of the Perryville Industrial Park. The loan was secured through Citizens Electric Corp. from the Rural Electrification Administration.

In addition to the loan, the IDA will provide another $100,000, plus a site valued at about $80,000.

"We're now developing plans and specifications for the building, which will be a pre-engineered structure, 150 by 267 feet, and located on an 11-acre site," Sumner said. "We hope to advertise for bids in about four to six weeks."

Sumner said the newest industry in Perry County is a French company, Seguin Morau USA, Inc., of Napa, Calif. The company is headquartered in Cognac, France. When the firm begins operations next year it will manufacture wine barrels for aging wine.

"They have purchased an existing building on Highway 61, north of Perryville and are now buying and storing the wood staves for curing from the Perryville Stave Co.," said Sumner. "In about six to eight months, after the staves have been aged and cured, they will begin the actual milling and planing. The actual production of wine barrels should start in about a year from now."

Sumner said the IDA is also preparing to announce the opening of another new industry in the county that will initially employ eight to 10 people. Within a few years, it could create another 50 jobs, she said.