Business Notebook 5/28/13

Marketing grants awarded

Tri-State Advertising & Marketing Professionals awarded Court Appointed Special Advocates and the SEMO Area Agency on Aging the $160,000 Advertising for a Cause grant established to provide advertising assistance, production and media placement for regional public service organizations. CASA juvenile justice advocates give support to children of abuse and neglect at no charge. The SEMO Area Agency on Aging provides a variety of free services to people ages 60 and older. Sixteen regional media companies donated $10,000 each for production or placement services to fund the grant, which will be divided between the two agencies and coordinated by Tri-State. Applications from 35 regional public service organizations throughout the group's three-state service area were evaluated. For more information, contact Boyce Holt at 429-8820 or email allmediaservices@tcmax.net.

Business training

* The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is hosting a seminar called "Affordable Care Act: What Your Business Needs to Know" on June 4 at Drury Lodge, 104 Vantage Drive. Four trainings will be held statewide, in Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield, Mo. Topics will include the history of the law, affected parties, timeline for implementation, employer requirements and fees, differences in eligibility and coverage, automatic enrollment, "Pay or Play" impact and analysis, small employer alternatives, changes in reporting, flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts administration, state exchanges, tax implications and penalty projections. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the event begins at 8:30 a.m. The program will adjourn at 2 p.m. Registration fee is $129 for chamber members and $149 for nonmembers, and includes lunch. Contact Lori Trepasso at 382-1555 to sponsor all four trainings for $500. For conference questions, contact Tracey Glenn, director of conference development, at 634-3511 or tglenn@mochamber.com.

* The University of Missouri Cape Girardeau County Extension Small Business Development Technology Center, in conjunction with the local office of the Small Business Administration, is holding a free class on small business financial management and obtaining small business financing at 6 p.m. June 17 at 684 W. Jackson Trail in Jackson. Refreshments will be provided. To register, call 243-3581.

Awards and recognition

* The Bank of Missouri was recognized at the Small Business Administration Lender's Appreciation luncheon May 6. Out of all community banks in the St. Louis region, The Bank of Missouri had the highest number of Small Business Administration loans closed during 2012, and was second in dollar value. The Bank of Missouri, based in Perryville, Mo., is a preferred Small Business Administration lender and has more than $1 billion in assets.

* Old Town Cape received its ninth national accreditation from the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center and the Missouri Main Street Connection as part of the National Main Street Conference in New Orleans held last month. Old Town Cape is one of seven Missouri programs to be recognized. "This accreditation is an indication to the community that the program is working according to proven principles of sustainable revitalization," said Marla Mills, executive director.

Main Street renovation contest

Benjamin Moore has launched a "Main Street Matters" program and has committed to repainting 20 main street areas across the United States and Canada. Old Town Cape announced Cape Girardeau has been chosen as one of the cities for which the public can vote to be selected. Vote by visiting paintwhatmatters.com. One vote per IP address may be submitted each day through June 30. Once the 20 main streets are selected, the public will be able to follow the progress of the painting. All the projects will be completed during the next year with the help of local Benjamin Moore retailers and painting contractors.

Acquisition complete

Enterprise Bank & Trust, the banking subsidiary of Enterprise Financial Services Corp., completed the acquisition, announced in March, of the operating assets of Gorman & Gorman Home Loans, a division of F&M Bank and Trust Co. Mark Gorman, founder and president of Gorman & Gorman, joined Enterprise as president of Enterprise Home Loans, the bank's mortgage lending division. Approximately 30 mortgage producers, underwriters and operations staff in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau and the Springfield, Mo., area also joined Enterprise. "I'm excited about the growth opportunities for Enterprise Home Loans that reach across the Enterprise footprint," Gorman said in a news release. "We have a formidable mortgage organization powered by our combination of talent and the financial strength of Enterprise Bank & Trust." Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The transaction is not expected to materially affect the company's 2013 earnings. Enterprise Financial operates commercial banking and wealth management businesses in metropolitan St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo., and Phoenix.

New businesses

* Fish and More is open at 402 Good Hope St. and serves made-to-order fried fish and chicken from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The carryout restaurant has two outdoor tables for dining. Menu items take 10 to 20 minutes to prepare and can be ordered in advance at 803-2500.

* The Men's Room, a "full service barbershop and spa," is opening soon at 705 William St.

Farewell

Readers, I am sad to say this is my last Business Notebook. I have enjoyed many things about this stint at the Southeast Missourian and have learned a great deal. I was welcomed into the business community and was surprised to discover a passion for agriculture and rural issues reporting. A little-known fact is that I was working part-time as a mental-health provider before adding the full-time business editor role. The economics of time management and missing the career I have spent the last decade developing have led me to move into my counselor position full time. It's just good business. Thanks for reading.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

104 Vantage Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

684 W. Jackson Trail, Jackson, Mo.

1622 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

418 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

402 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

705 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.