"We need employees."

This was the message Frank Adams relayed during a meeting of a Cape Girardeau Area Personnel Association subcommittee meeting Tuesday.

Adams, vice president and general manager of Thorngate's Cape Girardeau operations, which includes a facility at Chaffee, was critical of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association during a meeting held at the chamber office.

Adams questioned why emphasis was being placed on recruiting new industry, saying numerous jobs were already available in this area.

"Why go in that direction," asked Adams, who is looking to expand the Thorngate workforce. "Right now, we could expand 10 to 20 percent."

Thorngate currently employs about 900 -- 600 at Cape Girardeau and 300 at Chaffee.

Adams recently visited Puxico in search of employees who had worked at an apparel manufacturing company that closed.

"We hired nine people during that visit," Adams said. "And, we've hired another 10 to 15 since then due to publicity we have received in news media."

Barbara Lawson, manager of Manpower Inc., a temporary help firm, also cited the need for workers.

"I can use 100 new workers," she said.

Lawson and Adams each suggested "Job Fairs," to recruit new employees to the area.

"Industry in the Cape Girardeau area has outpaced all expectations," Adams said. "We don't need new business now, we need new workers."

Chamber President John Mehner agreed that good economic conditions had resulted in expansions by many existing businesses.

"Existing business is our number one priority," he said. The chamber has approved a Community Based Economic Development Plan to help new and existing business.

Recently, when apparel companies closed at Sikeston and Puxico, Mehner contacted four area industries, offering to set up a "job fair" in the two communities.

"Each of the four industries indicated they would make their own arrangements," he said.

Adams, Mehner and other members of the CAPPA committee agreed this week to discuss the current workforce problem with industry and business leaders.

"We'll invite a number of manufacturing and retailing people to a special meeting," he said.

"There are a lot of people out there who need workers," said Jim Rust, chairman of the chamber board. "And, working with existing industry is our top priority."

But, the community must look forward, too, he said, adding: ""We have to look at both existing and new industry. We have to take care of both, and sometimes that's a tough chore."