CHAMBER CONCERNS RATED

A recent member survey by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce yielded a list of concerns nearly identical to those of a year ago. Economic development, creation of new jobs, retention of existing ones, K-12 education, availability of skilled workers and crime issues are the six top concerns. In the list, the top two are flipped from last year. These issues were followed by the new Mississippi River bridge and transportation issues, health issues and city growth.

Further, the survey asked members to rate the performance of the chamber. These responses had to be gratifying to hardworking chamber president John Mehner and other leaders: 40 percent rated it excellent, 57 percent rated it good 2 percent fair and a minuscule 1 percent poor.

One finding that stands out is that respondents simultaneously are concerned about attracting new industry and decry the lack of an available work force. In part this reflects our area's extremely low unemployment rate.

However, it has obvious implications for education of the work force. In this regard it is good to see education and community leaders renewing their focus on vocational-technical education, including even traveling to Paducah, Ky., to view a successful adult education center.