Jackson economy not hurt by Sept. 11, leaders say

JACKSON, Mo. -- Last year's Jackson Chamber of Commerce Picnic was scheduled for the evening of Sept. 11. It was canceled, of course. One year later, the wounded U.S. economy is struggling. But the consensus at Tuesday night's return of the picnic is that Jackson appears to be little affected by post-Sept. 11 economic troubles.

City sales tax revenues were up in 2001 and are on a pace to increase this year as well -- by as much as 10 percent.

"The business climate is confident," said Ken Parrett, executive director of the chamber.

About 150 people came to City Park Tuesday to socialize and eat ribs and bratwurst catered by Jackson's own Ole Bavarian Sausage.

Two measures

Mayor Paul Sander uses sales tax revenues to gauge how the city is doing economically. High Street is the barometer Parrett looks at. It is the uptown business district similar to Broadway or Main Street in Cape Girar-deau. High Street has no vacancies.

A few Jackson businesses have foundered during the past year. The biggest and most shocking failure was the closing in August of Sander Hardware, a business that had operated in Jackson for more than 100 years.

The Book Bug also is closing, and Cross Creek Antiques is for sale. But Parrett estimates 15 businesses have opened since the terrorist attacks.

Last April, Diane Hinkebein opened Gifts, Baskets and Candles Extraordinaire on South Hope Street in a strip mall her husband, Dennis, built. He had no trouble finding tenants for the five slots in the mall. Diane Hinkebein said business hasn't been as good as she'd hoped when she moved the store from Cape Girardeau to Jackson.

"It's slower right now. I don't know if that's because of the time of year," she said.

Most of her business is dependent on holidays such as Christmas and Mother's Day. She said she isn't disheartened.

Sander pointed out that no Jackson companies are laying off workers.

Banker John Thompson says Jackson's continuing robust housing market and refinancing are leading its economy. "It pours over into more spending."

He thinks the fact that the city's major industries distribute their goods globally has helped. "I guess they aren't impacted," he said.

Higher premiums

The terrorist attacks have touched Jackson's economy and everyone else's in one respect, he says: Increased insurance premiums.

Like most cities, Jackson wants to attract more industry. Sewer and water lines recently were completed to the Jackson Industrial Development Corporation tract on the city's south side, and work is imminent on running sewer and water lines to the city-owned industrial park on the north side. Parrett said one unnamed city industry has been waiting on the latter project before it expands.

With the recent opening of Reflections, the city now has an upscale sit-down restaurant.

Both Sander and Parrett said the city still needs a store that sells men's and women's clothing.

Parrett admits the city comes up short in one other area.

"Breakfast," he said.

Since Jer's restaurant closed a few years ago on High Street, Jackson has had nowhere to eat breakfast aside from the burger chains.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182