Perryville company behind Kentucky distillery

Robinson Construction Co. in Perryville, Mo., completed the design and construction of a $9 million distillery for Alltech Beverage Division LLC in Lexington, Ky., this fall.

This is the first distillery to be built in Lexington in more than 100 years. The distillery houses production for Alltech's Town Branch Bourbon, Pearse Lyons Reserve malt whiskey and bourbon-infused coffee drink Bluegrass Sundown.

The 20,000-square-foot facility features a pre-engineered metal building with architectural sandwich panels and a glass curtain wall area to showcase its two copper stills. Kentucky limestone was used to compliment the glass curtain wall and achieve a traditional distillery look and feel. A full basement was included below the main distillery area to house the process piping and process tanks.

Town Branch Distillery was accepted as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The trail was created in 1999 and visitors come from all over the world to experience the bourbon- making process, view the facilities and enjoy bourbon tastings at seven of Kentucky's distilleries including those such as Maker's Mark, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey.

The project required about 50 construction jobs and created about 45 additional jobs for Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co.

Robinson has its headquarters in Perryville, with a regional office in Hopkinsville, Ky.

* Cloud Nine Maternity Boutique is now open in the Town Plaza Shopping Center in Cape Girardeau.

Glendon and Erica Stroup recently opened the retail store that handles all types of apparel for expecting mothers along with a line of baby furniture and accessories. The store features specialty items not found between St. Louis and Memphis, Tenn. The 2,105-square-foot space is near H & R Block in Suite 196. The business is on the west part of the Cape Girardeau shopping center owned by Greater Missouri Builders based in St. Charles, Mo.

* A report from the Missouri Hospital Association found that in 2011, Missouri hospitals provided $1.1 billion in uncompensated care to Missourians -- a record level.

The report underscores the central role hospitals play in supporting Missourians' health and the economic health of communities throughout the state. "In 2011, hospitals provided 22 percent more charity care than in 2010," said Herb B. Kuhn, MHA president and CEO, in a news release. "For the first time in the state's history, charity care and bad debt exceeded $1 billion. Since our first report in 2004, charity care has increased 404 percent."

The report found that the 129 participating hospitals provided $622.8 million in charity care in 2011. Hospitals' total uncompensated care is comprised of both charity care and bad debt. When they are added together, hospitals reported $1.1 billion in uncompensated care.

Southeast Missourian Business Editor Melissa Miller can be reached by email at mmiller@semissourian.com or by phone at 388-3646.