DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION HEAD LIST OF CHAMBER PRIORITIES

Economic development, recruitment of new industries, business retention and expansion, an availability of competent workers and educational opportunities head a list of Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce priorities.

Streets, sewers and utilities, as well as crime issues and health care also are among topics that emerged from the chamber's annual three-minute survey of members.

The top two priorities -- economic development and recruitment of new industries -- are the same as those in 1997.

"We look at the results of these surveys two ways," said John Mehner, president and chief executive officer of the local chamber. "We use the results to build our priorities and formulate our business plan for the coming year, and it gives every chamber member an opportunity to provide input on what directions we take."

More than 300 of the 1,100 surveys mailed were returned.

Members also rated the chamber's performance on a number of items in the annual survey.

More than 90 percent of those casting ballots believed the chamber's overall rating ranked good to excellent. Thirty-eight percent rated it excellent and 55 percent good.

The highest rating came in business services. The chamber received an excellent rating from half of the votes; 43 percent said it did good.

"We were happy with the results of the survey," said Mehner. "We also realize there is room for improvement in other issues.

"We also asked members to tell us what their friends, relatives and co-workers have been talking about the past year," Mehner said.

Most were talking about public schools, said Mehner. The second list also mentioned availability of workers, heath-care costs, crime issues and downtown vitality.

Economic development has been the No. 1 or 2 priority of chamber members since the survey was initiated five years ago.

"We've worked with Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Industrial Recruitment Association, the past few years," said Mehner. "The results have been good. People have experienced a taste of that success and want it to continue."

With Cape Girardeau County unemployment at or below 4 percent in recent years, a concern for Cape Girardeau businesses is the labor force.

"The chamber continues to work in this area," said Mehner. "We're partnering with the Southeast Missouri Regional Training Group and urge members to get more involved with that organization.

More than a dozen employers, including some of the area's larger industries -- Procter & Gamble Paper Products, Dana Corp., Lee-Rowan Co. and Loan Star Industries -- have embarked on employee-training programs to provide their own skilled labor force, via the SEMO training group.

Members rated a list of 14 issues provided by the chamber.

CHAMBER SURVEY RESULTS

Community issues by priority

1. Economic development, recruiting new industry

2. Business retention and expansion

3. Availability of competent workers

4. Education, K-12

5. Crime issues

6. Infrastructure: streets, sewers, utilities

7. Health care: affordability, quality

8. Higher education

9. Transportation, including airport

10. Governmental: legislative affairs, local, state, national

11. Downtown vitality.

12. Growth: Population, annexation

13. Housing: diversity, affordability

14. Workers' compensation

Local Talk-About Issues

1. Public schools

2. Availability of workers

3. Health care costs

4. Crime issues

5. Economic development

6. Growth

7. Downtown vitality

8. Traffic congestion

Chamber Performances

Business performances: 50 percent, excellent; 43 percent, good; 6 percent, fair; 1 percent, poor.

Community based economic development: 31 percent, excellent; 57 percent, good; 10 percent, fair; 2 percent, poor.

Governmental affairs: 23 percent, excellent; 56 percent, good; 19 percent, fair; 2 percent, poor.

Leadership roles: 29 percent, excellent; 56 percent, good, 15 percent, fair; 0 percent, poor.

Newsletter, communications: 31 percent, excellent; 55 percent, good; 13 percent, fair; 1 percent, poor.

Overall rating of chamber: 38 percent, excellent; 55 percent, good; 7 percent, fair; 0 percent, poor.