Chamber changes Scott City Chamber of Commerce adds website, Sikeston chamber hunting for interim director

Cape Girardeau may have the biggest population in Southeast Missouri, but there's a thriving business scene with its neighbors to the south in Scott County.

The Scott City Chamber of Commerce stepped up its efforts this year by adding a new event, the Scott City Wine Festival, and creating a website at www.scottcitymochamber.com and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/scottcitymochamber.

The chamber's signature annual events include the Winter Wonderland Festival, an annual golf tournament, a citywide yard sale and a washer tournament at Summerfest. The chamber's first-ever wine festival on June 23 featured tastings from 11 area wineries, hors d'oeurves and live music. The festival was such a success that the chamber has already decided to add it to its package of annual events.

"We are always looking for new ideas that our chamber can get behind to help our community. We try to be a good partner to any organization in our community that is trying to make a positive impact," says chamber president Steve Jordan, owner of Rams Car Wash in Chaffee, Mo.

Scott City has seen a lot of activity in the industrial area north of town, says Jordan, with both new tenants and new construction taking place. When businesses do close, it's not long before replacements move in, he adds.

Susan Glasgow Lawrence

"I think the biggest opportunities are ahead of us for growth due to some of the future changes in exits and the completion of the Ramsey Creek bridge," says Jordan.

The community is also working to build an amphitheater in the city park.

"We have a fairly full schedule of events for a volunteer group of our size," says Jordan. "In the future, our goal is to move toward a storefront with the eventual goal of having a paid staff working full time to promote the interests of the business community."

Meanwhile, in Sikeston, Susan Glasgow Lawrence stepped up to the top spot at the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce on June 4. Glasgow Lawrence is serving in the director role on an interim basis, in addition to her regional economic development duties. Missy Marshall, who previously held the position for more than 11 years, accepted a new job as director of the Three Rivers College Center in Sikeston.

Rebecca Steward, first vice president for the chamber, says the board has just put together a job advertisement and is ready to get the process rolling in the search for a permanent executive dirctor. The board hopes to fill the position by early December, says Steward.