2018 was a dynamic year for change and development. What will 2019 bring? Yes, Missouri has a new Governor and elected a new Senator. Cape Girardeau has a new mayor and two new council members. Scott City has a new mayor and a new city administrator. The SEMO Port has a new director. Many local manufacturers either added or are adding jobs as we wrap up 2018. Several areas of both Cape and Jackson are seeing significant retail activity. The health care sector continues to thrive and the

A BIG Christmas came early for the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority. Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt and U.S. Representative Jason Smith announced in early December the SEMO Port will receive a $19.8 million dollar grant through the United State Department of Transportation. The grant is part of the BUILD program which stands for better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development. The money will be coupled with some additional funding to finish the loop track terminal. What is a loop

Have you taken the necessary steps to safeguard your company and secure your physical assets? Every business should have a plan. We’ve all heard the scary numbers relative to the number of small businesses that don’t recover from a major disaster. But today, I want to talk specifically about some small steps you should take to protect yourselves from smaller events that could still be devastating to the unprepared. Review Insurance Coverage: Make sure you understand what is covered and what isn

Well, the new statistics are out and we are at or below record numbers for our area. We recently received October unemployment numbers as they always run about 30 days behind. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), Cape County has a 1.9% unemployment rate. We have a workforce of 40,925 and 40,135 of them are working. Scott County has dropped to 2.4% and Perry County is at 1.7%. Now I completely understand the discussion concerning the accuracy of defining the

It is a difficult thing to define but a very important component of a vibrant community. Quality of life is a much used phrase in the marketing materials of just about every area. But exactly what is quality of life and how do you measure it? And are there basic components that matter to everyone? Several indicators are widely recognized in determining quality of life. They are: education, the economy, public safety, natural environment, health, social environment, government, and recreation /

Redevelopment is a very important piece of an area’s economic development success. In many ways, the Cape area is experiencing a renaissance. Certainly everyone is familiar with the redevelopment of the former Marquette Hotel, H&H building, and the old car dealership adjacent to the north. Those buildings now are home to a Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Baristas, the Chamber of Commerce, the CVB, Old Town Cape, Codefi, and many other businesses. But have you noticed what’s happening at the

Who was it that said so many people ….so little time. This week we celebrate Thanksgiving and I want to take this opportunity to offer my thanks. First, thank you to our membership. Because each of you are so committed to your role in your businesses and professions you make this place special. Thank you for your investment in our community, your growth in jobs, and your desire to always go the extra mile. Next, thank you goes to all our new area investors and project creators. You have made

The Mission of the Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET is to foster a strong economic environment resulting in the retention, expansion, creation, and attraction of jobs and new investment in the area. The Cape Area MAGNET is a regional economic development organization funded by five different groups: the cities of Cape, Jackson, and Scott; Cape Girardeau County; and the Cape Chamber. It is governed by a seven person board of directors and housed in the offices of the Cape Chamber. MAGNET has a full

Holiday shopping season is upon us. November and December are huge months for the retail industry. You play an important role in the success of our retail businesses. I realize it is very easy to order from Amazon or some other mega online retail source. But before you do so, please consider what the local shops have to offer. A wide array of products and specialty items are available in the Cape/Jackson metro area. We have many national retailers and a tremendous mix of local, one-of-a kind

The newest segment of economic development is alive and well in the Cape Girardeau area. For a long time, economic development was all about recruitment of new business and industry – period. Then the importance of business retention and expansion was realized and tourism entered the discussion resulting in economic development efforts being described as a three legged stool. In the last decade, a fourth major area of prominence has made its way into these conversations. Entrepreneurship is a