Business briefs

NEW MARKET OPENS IN POPLAR BLUFF

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Bill's Market opened at 408 Poplar St. on Jan. 8. The location was formally occupied by City Cab. After Bill Morgan sold the cab company, he decided to open the market, which offers basic grocery items.

GYM OPENS, STUDIO RELOCATES

SIKESTON, Mo. -- MSPA Fitness Women's Gym opened Feb. 1 at 1024 Linn St. The gym, owned and operated by Melissa Seiler, offers equipment and training for women of all ages and fitness levels. Additionally, Melissa's Studio of Performing Arts relocated to the same address.

HEAD START RECEIVES TWO GRANTS

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The South Central Missouri Community Action Agency received federal stimulus funds totaling $1,315,962 to expand the Head Start program in Poplar Bluff. The two-year grants were received through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, said Ann Smith, Head Start program director for SCMCAA, based in Winona, Mo. To accommodate the expansion, the agency is purchasing the former Family Counseling Center building, 1140 Herschel Bess Blvd., which will be renovated into one classroom for Head Start and eight for Early Head Start. Jodi Rice was hired as full-year center director. The expansion will allow the agency to serve an additional 20 preschoolers in a full-year program. Head Start currently serves 156 children in a program at Karen West housing project.

FARMINGTON LICENSE OFFICE AWARDED

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Following a competitive bidding process led by Gov. Jay Nixon, the Farmington license office was awarded to Alternative Opportunities Inc. The corporation's bid was one of four submitted, and a 5 percent ($11,093) return to the state was included. Incumbent agent Tom Burcham did not bid. The office will remain at its current location, 103 Walker Drive.

COMMERCE BANK IS ONE OF NATION'S BEST

UMB Financial and Commerce Bancshares, based in Kansas City, Mo., made No. 2 and 3 of Forbes magazine's top 10 American banks. Commerce has five branches in Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson.

JACKSON GETS TREE GRANT

The city of Jackson received $2,043 from the Missouri Department of Conservation to assist with removal of tree debris in Jackson City Park as part of the department's Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) program. TRIM, administered by the department and the Missouri Community Forest Council, provides reimbursement to assist government agencies, public schools and not-for-profit groups with management, improvement or conservation of trees on public land. So far, TRIM has funded 41 projects in Missouri. In the department's Southeast Region, Jackson, Poplar Bluff and Sikeston have been assisted. Department of Conservation forestry field program supervisor Justine Gartner said the department anticipates expending approximately $367,033 statewide, of which $15,000 will likely be expended in the Southeast region.

INSURANCE AGENCY ADDS JACKSON OFFICE

Modern Woodmen of America opened a location in Jackson. District manager Bruce Qualls and Bob Houchins, who will soon become a manager, are at 810 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite B-1. Houchins said the agency has room for at least two more agents at the Jackson office.

OUTDOOR PRODUCTS STORE OPENS IN CAPE

Gray Goose Products, a company offering outdoor home decor and specialty gifts online, opened its first retail outlet in Cape Girardeau Jan. 18. Thomas Lowe owns the store at 821 Broadway.

FINANCIAL OFFICE HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

The Jackson Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting Jan. 12 for Ameriprise Financial, 5303 Old Cape Road East. Agent Tom Novak said he opened the new office to meet a growing demand for financial advice and planning from another Jackson-area Ameriprise.

PEST CONTROL BUSINESS OPENS IN CAPE

Bug Zero opened at 2128 William St., Suite 108, Cape Girardeau. The Springfield, Mo.-based business offers pest control for residential and commercial clients.

LOCAL COMPANY GETS NATIONAL EXPOSURE

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Products from BiltBest Windows and Doors of Ste. Genevieve were featured in the Jan. 10 episode of ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." The episode took place in northern Indiana.

CENTER FOR INNOVATION GETS GRANTS

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University will expand its programming with about $850,000 in grants from the WIRED Initiative of Southeast Missouri and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The funds will spur three new programs within the center. An administrative assistant and two program coordinators were hired to support the new responsibilities. The center will receive $346,510 from WIRED to continue a professional development program for teachers and start vocational and agriculture programs throughout the region. The federal grant, $500,000, will start a program to revitalize distressed rural communities.

CAPE CHAMBER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTINGS

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce held ribbon cuttings Jan. 11 for Select Physical Therapy, 155 Siemers Drive, Suite B; Jan. 15 for Soto Property Management, which has a new location at 1213 N. Kingshighway; and Jan. 21 for Cape Air, 860 Rush H. Limbaugh Jr. Memorial Drive.

CAR BUSINESS ENTERS PRESTIGIOUS AUCTION

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- Fredericktown-based Mowear Motorsports entered two cars in the Barrett-Jackson car auction Jan. 17 to 24 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The classic car restoration business consigned a 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS and a 1925 Ford T-Bucket Roadster. The event was televised on the SPEED Channel. Lee Miller of Farmington, Mo., manages the business, which opened in June.

HAYTI RECEIVES DEVELOPMENT GRANT

HAYTI, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Economic Development announced approval of state tax credits for a Hayti business under the enhanced enterprise zone program to assist in creation of new jobs and investment. The Loxcreen Co. Inc. was approved for $94,289 in EEZ tax credits over five years for the creation of 49 new jobs and new investment of $1.5 million. Business operations will be an aluminum products manufacturer.

WONDER BREAD SHOP CLOSES

The Wonder Bread Hostess Shop at 870 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau has closed. According to an e-mail from Hostess' corporate office, the outlet was no longer a profitable location.

SEMO TO CUT 24 JOBS

Southeast Missouri State University has eliminated 24 management and support jobs, three faculty jobs and will likely announce additional faculty cuts soon, university president Ken Dobbins said Jan. 15. The announcement was made Jan. 14 in a letter from Dobbins distributed through the university's internal newswire. Of the 24 positions, 18.5 are now filled, including one executive, 5.5 professional and 12 clerical, technical or service positions. Dobbins said the cuts are part of an effort to find almost $6 million in cuts to keep the university budget balanced in anticipation of reduced state support over the next two years. Faculty cuts are part of that review, which will be completed in February and presented to the board of regents in March. Most faculty positions cut will be what Dobbins described as "temporary" or non-tenure track instructors. While there may also be some reduction in tenured faculty, those cuts will be made by not filling the jobs of people who retire or leave the university for other employment. The 24 job cuts announced will save the university about $1.1 million in personnel costs, said university spokeswoman Ann Hayes. Additional savings could be realized from other expenses associated with the jobs. The cuts take effect May 31.

EVENT CENTER HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING

DEXTER, Mo. -- A ribbon cutting was held Jan. 14 at Dexter Schools' new Bearcat Event Center on Grant Street.

BLAIR ENDS CAPE OPERATIONS

Since the January 2009 ice storm damaged the roof of Blair Packaging in Cape Girardeau, reconstruction is nearly complete -- but the building will no longer be used for manufacturing. Spokesman Joe Bullock said the company will use part of the building for warehouse storage and increase its efforts at the Scott City location.

CAPE CHRISTIAN RECEIVES GRANT

Cape Christian School of Cape Girardeau received a $2,900 Ronald McDonald House Charities grant. Funds will be used to purchase document cameras, LCD projectors and accessories to enhance classroom technology.

CHAMBER RECOGNIZES DAVIS PHARMACY

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- New Madrid Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Week for Jan. 18 to 24 was Davis Pharmacy. Chamber director Christina McWaters complimented the staff's compassion and helpfulness.

BUSINESSES HONORED BY missouri legislature

DEXTER, Mo. -- S&D Grocery Outlet of Dexter, Renovation Hardware of Portageville, Mo., and Xtreme Stereo of Kennett, Mo., were three of 19 businesses honored by the Missouri Legislature at a business showcase in Jefferson City, Mo. The January event, sponsored by the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers and the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers, highlighted achievements of some of the top-performing clients of the two programs. Representatives of each business discussed their products and services at the showcase and received resolutions from their respective state senators and representatives.

RUNNING STORE OPENS IN CAPE

The Cape Girardeau Ghisallo Running store will open Feb. 15 at 1131 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau. The store specializes in shoes and other running products. This is the third store the Ghisallo company owns, with a running store in University City, Mo., and a bicycle store in Chesterfield, Mo. Delbert Marriott, a former professional triathlete, is manager of the Cape Girardeau store. A grand opening is scheduled for Feb. 27.

3 R'S PLUS CLOSES

3 R's Plus Supplies, 837 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, closed at the end of January. Owner Jody Borgfield cited decreased revenue and approaching retirement as reasons for closing the teaching supplies business.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICE MARKS 35 YEARS

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri Transportation Service celebrated its 35th anniversary Feb. 6 at the Ste. Genevieve County Nutrition Center.

CAPE APPROVED FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP GRANT

The city of Cape Girardeau was approved for a $648,000 grant for acquisition, rehabilitation and resale of foreclosed homes to low-income people. The city of Cape Girardeau, in partnership with 4-Sight Counseling, will implement this federally-funded Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

UPDATES/DEVELOPMENT

BID AWARDED FOR CONVENTION CENTER

MINER, Mo. -- The Miner Board of Aldermen signed a contract with Sides Construction Co. of Cape Girardeau to build the city's new convention center. The board accepted the general contractor's bid of $2,103,343, plus $73,500 for a power generator and associated wiring during a meeting Dec. 30. Construction began in January and is expected for completion in August. The 16,000-square-foot, single-story building will be located east of the new Drury Inn and will include rooms for city offices and convention center facilities.

KID2KID CHANGES NAMES

Cape Girardeau's Kid2Kid children's and maternity store changed its name to Kid Biz. Owner Sharon Ebersohl said that because of an increasing amount of Internet business, she is now using the online tool to sell more items.

PASTA HOUSE OPENS AT NEW LOCATION

On Jan. 15, Pasta House opened at 2406 William St., Cape Girardeau. In early December, Edward Goergen, a partner with Primo Restaurants, announced the restaurant would relocate from West Park Mall to the former Jimmi's Restaurant location, which had been vacant since March 2009.

AMC TO ACQUIRE TOWN PLAZA CINEMA

Kansas City, Mo.-based AMC Entertainment announced plans to acquire 93 theaters owned by Kerasotes Showplace Theatres, including Town Plaza Cinema in Cape Girardeau. According to a news release from AMC, the company will purchase all but three of Kerasotes' theaters. Kerasotes will retain and continue to operate theaters in Chicago, Minneapolis and Secaucus, N.J.

GOSPELAND MOVING BACK TO MALL

Six years after moving out of Cape Girardeau's West Park Mall, Gospeland Christian Outlet is planning to move back to its former home. Now at 245 Broadview St., the store will be near J.C. Penney. Gospeland will fill the spot formerly held by Kitchen Collection, a seasonal store that closed Dec. 31.

FIRST STATE ACQUIRES JEFFERSON CO. BANKS

First State Community Bank, with branches in Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Mo., and Sikeston, Mo., entered an agreement to purchase two Jefferson County banks. The Truman Bank branches are in Shady Valley, Mo., and Imperial, Mo. The acquisition is expected to be complete by March, giving First State Community Bank $1 billion in assets.

BUD'S VACUUM OPENS SISTER LOCATION

Cape Sew and Vac held a grand opening Jan. 30. The store, which merged with Cottage Quilts in Jackson, is an authorized dealer for Babylock sewing, quilting and embroidery machines and a dealer for Simplicity vacuums. Cape Sew and Vac is a sister store of Bud's Vacuum Sales and Services on William Street in Cape Girardeau.

JASPERS DEMOLISHED

On Jan. 18, crews began demolishing the Jaspers at 1008 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. Keith Boeller of Pajco Inc., which owns Jaspers, said the convenience store will not be turned into a Rhodes 101. He said the company will repurpose the site but declined to comment further. This is the second Jaspers to close for a makeover. In early January, crews began demolition of the Jaspers at 3618 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson, which will reopen as Rhodes 101 this spring.

SMOOTHIE KING COMING TO CAPE

Smoothie King will soon open at 97 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau. Entrepreneur magazine has ranked the Smoothie King franchise No. 1 in the juice bar category for the past 17 years.

JACKSON FLORIST CLOSES

Sweetheart Florist, 119 S. High St. in Jackson, has closed.

MEDI-SPA OPENS IN CAPE

Sikeston, Mo.-based Skin Medics Medi-Spa opened an office at 1353 N. Mount Auburn Road, Suite C, Cape Girardeau. The business offers medical supervised spa services such as Botox, chemical peels, acne treatment, photofacial and laser hair removal. Formerly operating out of Belladona Salon Spa and Boutique at 201 S. Mount Auburn Road for a few months last year, the business outgrew its space.

TIRE STORE CLOSES

Best One Tire and Service, 5308 U.S. 61 in Fruitland, has closed.