Weaver Dickerson no longer employed at Watch Me Smile

Weaver Dickerson is out as president and CEO of a proposed Cape Girardeau medical clinic that lost $2 million in state aid last month when it was discovered that he allegedly lied about his criminal background on the application.

"As of Dec. 29, he is no longer employed with the company," said Angie Kapp, the company's former district manager who has replaced Dickerson as president and CEO.

When asked if Dickerson resigned or was terminated, Kapp said, "I have no comment on anything further."

The project made statewide headlines last month when Gov. Jay Nixon came to Cape Girardeau to announce $2 million in state assistance for the $10 million Watch Me Smile dental and vision cooperative. But the state Department of Economic Development rescinded its aid authorization the next week when it was learned Dickerson was on probation for writing more than $90,000 in bad checks in 2007. Dickerson had signed documents claiming that no owner of the company had committed a felony or was on probation.

The DED also referred the case to Stoddard County to investigate possible probation violations. Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver said Friday his office was still investigating the matter. Dickerson paid off his restitution late last month to the tune of about $80,000, though he had a spotty payment record before that.

The loss in funding has put the future of the Watch Me Smile project in doubt, though economic development officials say company executives are trying to put the situation behind them.

"I think they are trying to re-establish their direction and go back to their plan of what they wanted to do originally," said Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Magnet. "They're trying to regroup and move forward. Whether or not they'll be able to do that, that's a hard question."

The project's original plan called for using three properties near the corner of Broadway and North Fountain Street totaling 90,000 square feet for the clinic, and office and retail space.

The company wants to "regain that initial momentum," Robinson said.

The company's goals are good, he said, especially considering the venture was expected to employ 135 people with an average salary of $56,000 per year.

The clinic has been touted as a means to provide affordable access to top-quality dental and vision care to its members without the limitations and cost associated with traditional insurance. People who join the cooperative would become part owners and pay dues to get basic services such as checkups, cleansings and comprehensive exams.

Robinson said funding is now a problem for the company, without the state's $1.3 million in Missouri Quality Jobs funding and the $750,000 loan through its Community Development Block Grant program. A lot of the government assistance is incentive-based, meaning they wouldn't get certain payments until requirements were met.

Re-applying for that state aid is one of many options the company is considering, Robinson said.

"Would the state ever come back and look at this? It would be a very difficult battle," Robinson said.

But Magnet does support the endeavor, Robinson said, and will work to get the project up and running. Robinson pointed out that any state funding, such as they applied for before, is not up-front money and would only be paid as the company reaches milestones.

"We want it to work," Robinson said. "It's a good project for downtown."

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

325 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, Mo