Pepsi bringing expansion, jobs to Cape Girardeau

Pepsi MidAmerica has become the first company to take up tenancy at the Greater Cape Girardeau Business Park near Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau. The groundbreaking ceremony for Pepsi Depot took place Wednesday, and it is expected to open in late fall or early winter, bringing with it 74 new jobs -- certainly good news for our community. The project will include a $3.1 million customer service center with three buildings, and will distribute items such as Pepsi beverages, Starbuck's coffee and other snacks.

Pepsi MidAmerica is headquartered in Marion, Illinois, so we are thankful that it chose Cape for expansion. But why here? The city, which purchased the business park from Southeast Missouri State University in 2012, explained in a release that the company considered various other communities, but ultimately deemed Cape Girardeau the best fit. As the Southeast Missourian reported in April 2014, '"The strategic location of the new business park, a good potential workforce and collaborative community leaders are what led Pepsi MidAmerica's ownership group, the Crisp family, to choose the site,' said Larry Chambers, director of facilities for Pepsi MidAmerica, in the release."

We hope the job growth that the company will provide is only the start of good things to come. As Molly Hood, assistant city manager and director of development services, said, once one company opens up in the park, "the project becomes real," and others are more likely to follow.

City of Cape Girardeau Mayor Harry Rediger echoed that sentiment. He said city-provided streets, lighting and utilities should attract more business to the area.

The company's website states that it is "the largest privately owned Pepsi Bottler in the United States." We are excited that Pepsi is bringing its brand and employment opportunities.