NATIONAL SURVEY NOTES CAPE'S POTENTIAL

A survey that examined the nation's cities comparable in size to Cape Girardeau and their immediate surrounding areas showed the Cape Girardeau area has good growth potential based on a number of economic and other factors.

The survey, which ranked the Cape Girardeau area 53rd among 183 other areas in terms of potential growth, didn't really offer any new information as far as local economic conditions are concerned. But it did give those who promote the area's economics to potential businesses an additional marketing tool.

American City Business Journals, with publications in 35 cities across the country including St. Louis, conducted the survey of what it called micropolitan areas -- cities with populations of 15,000 to 50,000 and at least 40,000 in the entire area surveyed. The survey looked at such things as population growth, per capita income and population density.

Only Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City and Warrensburg made the Missouri list of micropolitan areas with growth potential. Jefferson City ranked 33rd and Warrensburg 88th.

It is important when considering the Cape Girardeau area for its economic potential to include the Scott City area, which lies just inside Scott County to the south of Cape Girardeau County. The survey didn't include Scott City; therefore, its contribution to the Cape Girardeau micropolitan area wasn't considered.

Buz Sutherland, director of the Small Business Development Center at Southeast Missouri State University, and Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association, recognized that fact. Surtherland said the survey didn't give an accurate picture, and had Scott City been included the Cape Girardeau micropolitan area would have ranked a whole lot higher.

Scott City particularly is significant because it includes the Southeast Missouri Regional Port, a joint industrial operation of Cape Girardeau and Scott counties, and a number of businesses south of Nash Road that are in the vicinity of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The port is a developing industrial complex, which coupled with the airport area and Greater Cape Girardeau Industrial Area along Nash Road contributes dramatically to the Cape Girardeau area's economy.

The last few decades have seen Cape Girardeau and Jackson grow together along U.S. 61 into practically one unit, and that growth will continue. The Fruitland area to the north is developing, and will continue to do so. The northerly and easterly growth of Jackson and Cape Girardeau's expansion to the west and north will bring additional development in the years ahead. And Scott City and Cape Girardeau no doubt will continue to creep toward each other.

The survey was correct in that the area is a developing one, but it overlooked the real potential for development that the Scott City area offers.