The main goal of Old Town Cape is to revitalize downtown Cape Girardeau -- to create an environment where businesses want to move and consumers want to go.

In July, the not-for-profit organization presented its annual report to the Cape Girardeau City Council, informing the city of its progress from year to year and setting a trajectory for the future.

Downtown Cape Girardeau has seen a considerable amount of activity in the last two years. In 2015, $3,329,711 in private and public improvements were made in the district. A total of 25 businesses opened doors in downtown, and the region saw an increase of 95 new jobs, according to the report.

While the report indicated changes and improvements throughout the last 18 months, these efforts are only part of the story.

The number of jobs in downtown Cape Girardeau is likely to increase considerably by the time the next annual report is released as businesses prepare to move into the Marquette Tech District. Earlier this month, it was announced national company Health Check Inc. would open a branch within the new offices of Codefi and bring 50 to 60 new jobs to downtown.

A look at downtown Cape Girardeau from the top floor of the Marquette Tower, which has seen a lot of business activity in recent weeks.Glenn Landberg

Though Old Town Cape was not directly involved in the revamping of the old Marquette building, Old Town Cape executive director Marla Mills said the efforts of the organization helped make the area an ideal spot for the venture.

"Big developments are exciting for us, but it's the little building blocks that make them possible," she said.

The report pointed out positive changes, both recent and ongoing, within the district to make downtown more appealing.

"Our efforts are comprehensive. We build an environment where businesses want to be," Mills said.

Everything Old Town Cape does is geared toward bringing new businesses to downtown in the form of new shops or foot traffic.

"It all plays into creating an environment that makes downtown vibrant and active," she said.

The public-arts committee, on which members of Old Town Cape sit, brings large-scale sculptures along the Broadway corridor.

The organization just completed its first year of management of the Downtown Cape Girardeau Community Improvement District. Improvement efforts include enhanced litter cleanup, pedestrian police patrols, additional cameras for police use, and additional marketing efforts for downtown.

The report also highlighted community events such as Cape Riverfront Market, Tunes at Twilight and Parade of Lights, as well as business development programs.

All the efforts, Mills said, collect and contribute to the appeal of downtown, draw businesses and encourage developments such as the Marquette Tech District.

With such a large development underway and the prospect of new jobs, Old Town Cape is developing a downtown-living survey to identify the needs of those moving to the region and inform developers, real-estate professionals and the like of those identified needs. The results of the survey will be released soon, Mills said.

In addition, Old Town Cape facilitates a grant process through the National Association of Realtors for a $15,000 grant to enhance the organization's strategic planning process to include a more in-depth housing component.

"That district and what they're doing there is bringing new businesses to our community," Mills said, "and almost all of them bring new people to our community in some way, shape or form. So we believe downtown housing is becoming more critical."

In its report, Old Town Cape highlighted a number of items the organization is anticipating. Old Town Cape is in the middle of a rebranding effort for the district and organization. It also has partnered with the city to update its strategic plan, which was last done in 2009.

Mills said the guiding principle of Old Town Cape is that change is deliberate.

"For it to be sustainable, it has to be incremental," Mills said.

And though such change is frustrating, because it's not always noticed or recognized, it's necessary.

"It's that cumulative effect I'm most proud of," Mills said. "Being where we are today because of where we've come from."

Auctioneer graduates from appraisal school

Joe D. Newell of Zalma, Missouri, has graduated from Continental Auctioneers Appraisal School of Mankato, Minnesota.

Joe D. Newell

Newell received instruction on appraiser responsibilities and ethics, valuations, client responsibility, legal aspects of appraisals, research methods and professional appraisal formats.

Newell also was awarded the designation of a certified auctioneer, graduating with the knowledge and skills to recommend the auction method of marketing to obtain the best price possible for a client in the shortest period of time.

State's jobless rate sits below U.S. average

Missouri's unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a point to 4.5 percent, according to an announcement by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

For the 25th consecutive month, the state's unemployment was below the national rate, which was 4.9 percent in June.

Missouri's total number of payroll jobs in June remained unchanged.

Cape Board of Realtors added to MLS

MidAmerica Regional Information Systems announced Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors as part of the regional Multiple Listing Network.

The Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors spans Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Perry and Scott counties. This conversion adds almost 300 new members to the regional MLS and pushes MARIS to nearly 11,300 members.

Area Realtors attend education sessions

Several Southeast Missouri Realtors recently attended education courses hosted by Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors.

The courses focused on managing the expectations of millennials, representation agreements, common transactional mistakes to avoid, the Dodd-Frank Act, economic expansion and the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics. In addition to community involvement and property owner advocacy, professional development is a top priority for Realtors.

Business licenses

• ON'2, doing business as Lorkan Sales, is a wholesale retailer owned by Agan Alkan. The business opened in 2005, but a new location at 521 Silverado Trail opened in 2016.
• ON'2, doing business as CTI Distributing, is a wholesale retailer owned by Agan Alkan. The business opened in 2005, but a new location at 521 Silverado Trail opened in 2016.
• LM Fitness, doing business as Anytime Fitness, is a fitness center at 1131 Kingshighway, Suite K, and owned by Derek Lewis and Jill Mills. The business previously was owned by VCP Anytime. The anticipated opening date was July 7.
• Select Comfort Retail Corp., 157 Siemers Drive, Suite 108, is an adjustable airbed store owned by Select Comfort Retail Corporation. The store opened Jan. 1.
• On Cue Performing Arts Studio, 16 N. Spanish St., is a performing-arts school owned by LaKrisha Moore. It was owned by Mike Araf. The anticipated opening date was July 18.
• Young's Cleaning Service is a home-based cleaning and janitorial service. Nealy Young applied for the license, and business began July 13.
• Dilato is a home-based print brokerage. Theresa Hampton Connell applied for the license, and business began in 2016.

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630