TOP 50: MORE THAN 600 MANUFACTURING FACILITIES EMPLOY MORE THAN 33,786 IN 14 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI COUNTIES

Southeast Missouri counties have experienced industrial growth over the past five years.

More than 600 manufacturing facilities throughout a 14-county area provide about 35,000 jobs, up from the 532 industries and about 32,000 jobs in 1992.

Cape Girardeau, the area's largest city, has increased its manufacturing facilities from 87 to 96, up 11 percent, from 1992 to 1996.

Cape Girardeau County ranks eighth in manufacturing -- up three notches from 1995 totals -- among Missouri's 114 counties.

The 145 Cape County plants provide employment to more than 7,500 workers, with almost a third of them at Procter & Gamble Paper Products, north of Cape Girardeau, and Lee-Rowan Co. at Jackson.

P&G and Lee-Rowan are prime examples that existing businesses create jobs.

P&G, a manufacturer of disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, opened here in 1969 with 400 employees. The plant has grown to more than 1,300 employees and is the area's largest employer.

When Lee-Rowan started at Jackson in 1964, it was with 25 people. Ten expansions later, the firm employs 1,025 people in the Jackson facility and has more than 600,000 square feet under roof,

Lee-Rowan fluctuates in total employees, ranging from 1,000 to 1,300. The company, a manufacturer of closet items, is one of the area's top five employers.

Today's Top 50 employers is the first of three top-employer lists to appear in the Southeast Missourian. The Top 60 list was established by the Southeast Missourian newspaper six years ago, as a Top 25.

Due to growth, expansions and new industry, the list went to "Top 40 in 1995 and Top 60 last year.

The 1997 "lists" have been redesigned. This year, three lists will be presented -- A Top 50 Southeast Missouri list on manufacturing, industry and product-related companies; a Top 25 Cape Girardeau County list including all employers -- manufacturing, retail, medical, education and others; and a Top 10 list of largest employers in Southern Illinois.

Companies eligible for the latter two lists may still submit entries , listing company name, type of product or business, and total employment to:

B. Ray Owen, Strictly Business, Southeast Missourian, 301 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701. These lists will appear within the next month.

And if your company has been "left out" of the Top 50, it was not intentional. Call or write.

There are other large employers in the Cape Girardeau area -- Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center, each with more than 1,400 employees, and Southeast Missouri State University, with about 1,000. But the focus of the Top 50 is on manufacturing, industry and product-related companies. Retail, medical and educational businesses will be included in the county's Top 25.

Sandwiched between P&G and Lee-Rowan on the newest Top 50 list are Gilster-Mary Lee Co., with plants in Perryville, and Noranda Aluminum Inc. at Marston.

Gilster-Mary Lee Co., headquartered in Chester, Ill., employs from 1,200 to 1,500 in its plants in the Perryville area, which manufacture and package cake mixes, cereals and popcorn. Employment is 1,200.

Noranda Aluminum, situated about 55 miles south of Cape Girardeau along Interstate 55 near Marston, employs 1,170.

Rounding out the first five manufacturers in the area is TG-USA of Perryville, and Plastene Supply of Portageville, each with 950 employees.

TG-USA, which moved up from the No. 8 position a year ago, has expanded over the past two years. The company manufactures parts for Toyota Motors and a number of domestic automakers.

Plastene, which moved up from the No. 11 position a year ago, manufactures plastic products.

Others in the Top 10, include Briggs & Stratton at Poplar Bluff, producer of air-cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, with 900 employees; Hudson Foods of Dexter, which expanded to include cooked foods during the past year; Emerson Electric Co. and Mississippi Lime Co., Ste. Genevieve.

Existing industry and businesses generate up to 90 percent of new jobs in Missouri," said John Mehner, president and chief executive officer of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. "You can look around our area and see evidence of that."

The Cape Girardeau Chamber recognizes existing industries each year with its Industry of the Year Award. Industries honored over the past seven years were General Sign, Lone Star Industries, P&G, Biokyowa, Concord Publishing Co., Dana Corp., Florsheim Shoe Co. and Spartech Corp., all included in this year's Top 50 list.

Manufacturing and industry are big in Missouri. More than 8,500 facilities provide employment to about 500,000 employees.

The Top 10

1. P&G Paper Products Co., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of disposable diapers and feminine hygiene products, 1,325.

2. Gilster-Mary Lee Co., Perryville, and McBride, manufacture and packaging of cake mixes, stuffing mixes, hot cocoa drink mix and popcorn, 1,200-1,500

3. Noranda Aluminum Inc., Marston, producer of aluminum for sale throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, 1,170.

4. Lee-Rowan Co., Jackson, manufacturer of closet organizer items, 1,025.

5. TG-USA of Perryville, manufacturer of parts for Toyota Motors and for domestic automakers, 950.

5. Plastene Supply, Portageville, manufacturer of plastic products, 950.

7. Briggs & Stratton, Poplar Bluff, producer of air-cooled gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, 900.

8. Hudson Foods, Dexter, poultry processing, 800.

9. Emerson Electric Co., Kennett, manufacturer of electric motors, coils and other electrical products, 700.

10. Mississippi Lime Co., Ste. Genevieve, manufacturer of crushed stone and high calcium lime, 600.

THE REST OF THE TOP 50

11. Thorngate Ltd., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of sportswear, 575.

12. VIP/Heartland Industries , Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Marble Hill and Fruitland, 570. The company hires the handicapped and assembles, packages and mails car parts, comics, hangers and other products.

13. Park Hills Glass Co., Park Hills, manufacturer of glass pharmaceutical and cosmetic containers, 540.

14. Arvin Automotive, Dexter, manufacturer of mufflers and tail pipes, 515.

15. Huffy Co., Farmington, manufacturer of bikes, 500.

16. Delta Companies Inc., contractors, Cape Girardeau, 400 to 500.

17. Florsheim Shoe, Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of shoes, 400.

18. Fru-Con Corporation/Engineering Inc., construction, engineering and technical services to industrial and other clients, including Procter & Gamble and M&W Packaging U.S. Inc. in Cape Girardeau County, 400 employees in Southeast Missouri.

19. Biltwell Co. Inc., Farmington, manufacturer of men's clothing, 350.

20. Trimfoot Co., Farmington, manufacturer of infant and children's shoes, 300.

21. Sabreliner, Perryville, headquartered in St. Louis, is a diversified service, modification and manufacturing company for a variety of military and commercial aircraft. Employment depends on contracts and fluctuates from 45 to 300. Current employment, about 375.

22. Dana Corp., Cape Girardeau, manufacturer of components for center section of driving axles for vehicles, 317.

23. Rowe Furniture Manufacturing, Poplar Bluff, 315.

24. Good Humor -- Breyers Ice Cream, Sikeston, 308.

25. Gates Rubber, Poplar Bluff, 300.

26. Cap America, Fredericktown, 300.

27. Solar Communications Perryville, 275.

28. National Lock, Sikeston, 225.

29. Paramount Headware, Marble Hill, 225.

30. Super Value (previously Wetterau Co.), Scott City, 220.

31. Malone & Hyde, Sikeston, 215.

32. HAVCO Wood Products, Cape Girardeau, laminated oak flooring, usually about 200,

33. Concord Publishing, printing, including the Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, 200.

34. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., New Madrid, power generation plant, 195.

35. Blair Industries, Scott City, audio-video cassette albums, 190.

36. Penzel Construction Co. Inc, Jackson, 187.

37. Spartech Cos., Cape Girardeau, 185. Includes Spartech Alchem Plastics, 125, and Spartech Resin Exchange, 60.

38. Mildenberger & Willing, Cape Girardeau, 185.

39. Smiley Container Corp., Poplar Bluff, makes boxes for major candy brands, 180.

40. Lone Star Industries, Cape Girardeau, cement and masonry manufacturer, 170.

41.UARCO, Kennett, 188.

42. Parker Hannifin Industrial, auto hoses, 175.

43. Triangle PWC Inc., Sikeston, 155.

44. Headrick Concrete, Sikeston, 150.

44. Ceramo Co. Inc., red clay flower pot manufacturer, Jackson, 150.

45. Horizon Music Mfg. Co., Cape Girardeau, 150.

46. ACF Industries, Jackson, 130.

47. Missouri Industries, Dexter, 130.

48. RAPCO, Jackson, 125.

49. Tetrapak Materials, Sikeston, 120.

50. Miss Elaine Inc., Ste. Genevieve, 126.

A number of companies employ about 100. They include:

Horizon Music Mfg. Co., Cape Girardeau; NPS Corp., Perryville; U.S. Poly Enterprise, Dexter; Tinnin Garment Co., Fredericktown; Biokyowa Inc., Cape Girardeau; Kan Tek Industries, New Madrid.