MORE GROWTH

Announcements that a number of new businesses will create more than 600 jobs before the year is out comes as good news to the Cape Girardeau region. It is proof that the local economy is as robust as ever and that Cape Girardeau continues to serve as the retail hub of the area.

Opening this year:

-- Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield's customer-service center, which will add 200 jobs, 170 of which will be new hires from the area who will be paid from $15,000 to $17,000 annually.

-- K's Merchandise, which will provide 100 full-time jobs and another 75 to 100 part-time jobs through the Christmas holiday season.

-- Shoe Carnival, Staples Office Supply, Factory Card and Dollar Tree, all of which will be opening in Cape West Business Park this month. Combined, they will offer about 100 new jobs.

-- Staples Inc., which will employ about 35 people.

-- D&K Wholesale Drugs Inc., which is relocating from Cairo, Ill. It will bring 100 employees to Cape Girardeau from Cairo and will hire another 40 people in the near future.

-- Sam's Warehouse, which is being built. When it opens in 1977 the popular discount retail business will employ another 100 people.

-- Wehrenberg's 14-Cine Theater in Cape West Business Park, which is expected to open by spring of next year.

Cape Girardeau Mayor Albert M. Spradling III termed the growth "phenomenal." He pointed out that the city enjoyed superb growth in 1995, and the trend is continuing into the upcoming year.

Residents of Cape Girardeau County can consider themselves fortunate to live in an area that attracts new businesses. The county has enjoyed low unemployment rates for many years, and the current growth will help assure that those rates remain low.