LORD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES

Gene Huckstep is Presiding Commissioner of Cape County.

The following is from an Aug. 11 conversation between County Commissioner Gene Huckstep and Perspective editor Jon Rust about economic development in Cape Girardeau County.

First of all, it is important to understand that economic development and industrial development are two separate things. Economic development generates economic activity within the community by stimulating what is already here. Tourism, for example, does this. Industrial development, on the other hand, attracts new industry new employers and taxpayers to the area.

This county-wide group has not worked out which one will be its focus. But economic development is and will remain the main priorities of the Chambers (of commerce) of Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Industrial Development

In the past, the Chambers have also worked with industrial development. But it has been handled by donations. Something of this large a scope just couldn't fly this way. This new group will be a three-year commitment, starting in January. Funding will come from the County, Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Scott City and the Cape Girardeau and Jackson Chambers. It will be directed by a seven-person governing board.

I'm sure there will be a lot of people in the county skeptical about a $150,000 budget. But on what the potential return is, it's a bargain. And if we don't take some risks and expend some effort, we're not going to progress.

We in the county have been involved and certainly interested in development. We worked with the Missouri Veterans Home and the Missouri Conservation Commission Nature and Wildlife Trail, the second which is more of economic development. The M&W plant was a Cape Girardeau county project. It was brand new ground for us. And we're very pleased that between M&W and the Saueressig tool and dye company, there are 175-200 new jobs here. In the history of Cape Girardeau County government, this was a first. Of course, we worked hand in hand with the Cape Chamber.

End of Isolationism

We're all hungry. And we want jobs for our citizens, whether it's Cape County, Scott, Bollinger, Perry, etc. We're a very mobile society today. Look at the two hospitals and their employees' home base. Forty percent of their employees do not live in Cape Girardeau. Of the first 120 jobs at M&W, 18 were from Bollinger County. I think we have to get off of this old isolationist attitude. Thankfully, the historic conflict between Cape and Jackson is diminishing.

We're starting to realize that if we take a position that we don't want Cape, Jackson or Scott City to have a plant because we're not going to have one, we're fooling ourselves. We have to put aside petty jealousies of who will win more you or I, this place or that. We all win. With this new group, all parties have been in a good, cooperative mood. Maybe that's because of the economy, we all want to help our citizens find good jobs. We all know, when in a canoe together, you have to pull the same way or you fail.

With the group, we're still drawing up the by-laws and rules. But I'm proud to say that all the other entities wanted to try to locate it under a county government umbrella. County government has had a good relationship with all the other cities. Of course, I'd like to see Scott City invest more. The most important task immediately before us is to make sure all the funding is there and to hire a director. We don't have anyone in mind at this point; it's still too early.

If we are going to acquire industry and increase economic development, though, this group will be the tool to do that. There's no doubt in my mind. If we don't go out to market Cape County to blow our own horn no one else will go out and do it for us.

Three years will be a fine test. Accidentally, we'll get some industry now and then because of rail transportation in the area, the river, the Port Authority and our location. But we need to do more than sit and wait. We've got to sell Cape County.

Worker Productivity

What we've got to sell here, especially, is a high worker productivity level. Workers in this area are some of the most productive in the nation. Procter and Gamble and others will readily admit that. You can bring in all the tax increment financing you want; but if you can't produce a quality product at a worthwhile cost it won't mean much.

I can really see this group marrying up with the Port Authority at sometime. Port authorities are notoriously slow in their return. They're hard to develop and hard to fund. But once the infrastructure is in place, industries will come. Thankfully, the citizens of both counties agreed on the investment, and the return will come because it's being done right.

It all boils down to one thing, though. Will we get off our ass and sell our own product? Like it says in the Bible, the Lord helps them who help themselves. So I guess you could say we're kind of on a divine mission.