PROGRESS AT PORT AUTHORITY

The Southeast Missouri Port Authority is on the receiving end of more than $4.1 million in grants that will allow completion of vital improvements in sewers, water lines, grading for roads and railroad tracks as well as some paving. Money came in from the Economic Development Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce and from the community Development Block Grant program for flood-related improvements, as well as from the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department.

Port director Dan Overbey says the impact of planned improvements will be noticeable. "When you don't have the infrastructure in place, it's hard to attract industry. People don't want to come in if you don't have the railroad in place and you also have to say, `Put in your own septic system.'"

It is good to see the most being made of our promising port development, which is a cooperative arrangement between Cape Girardeau and Scott counties. Down this road, we hope, lie more jobs, more businesses and solid economic opportunity.