Good for business

A business development specialist soon will be hired to run the new Cape Girardeau office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

SBA officials say they are intent on finding "someone who knows the community."

The SBA previously served the region from its St. Louis regional office. The new office in Cape Girardeau recognizes that the business growth in Southeast Missouri is significant enough to warrant an office here.

The only other local offices in the state are in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.

The Cape Girardeau office is located in Southeast Missouri State University's new business innovation center on the first floor of the former First Baptist Church on Broadway.

The SBA's purpose is to nurture entrepreneurship, primarily by guaranteeing loans through local banks. These are businesses that can be expected to succeed and grow.

Small businesses need help getting started.

Small businesses generate half the non-farm private output and employment in the U.S, but starting one is like launching a ship. It's good to have the SBA nearby when help is needed.

In addition, the SBA's emphasis on entrepreneurial enterprises is expected to have a long-range impact.

By finding ways to help businesses with growth potential to succeed, there will be bigger businesses and more jobs in the future.