Local business among 18 honored at capitol

EDITOR'S NOTE: Misspellings of Harley-Davidson have been corrected.

Infinity Recycling Solutions of Cape Girardeau will be among 18 small businesses honored by members of the Missouri Legislature on Wednesday at a business showcase in Jefferson City, Mo. The Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers and the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers are sponsoring the event.

Infinity Recycling Solutions, owned and operated by Paul Hoeflinger, provides a variety of plastics conversion and recycling features for its customers including consulting, material sourcing, logistics support, general recycling and toll processing, as well as, recycling equipment sales and equipment installation services.

Owners and managers of each of the 18 businesses will discuss their products and services at the capitol and receive legislative resolutions from their respective state senators and representatives honoring the impact of their enterprises on the economic development of the state.

The University of Missouri Extension's Business Development Program, oversees the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers and the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.

* New ownership at motorcycle dealership: The former Minor's Harley-Davidson is now Black Diamond's Bootheel Harley-Davidson. The dealership was purchased in December by Rob Hocking, Rodney Cabanes and Shad Zimbro of Marion, Ill. The group also has operated Black Diamond Harley-Davidson in Marion, Ill., for four years. Jason Butler of Cape Girardeau is now serving as marketing and public relations administrator at the dealership, 2100 E. Outer Road, Scott City. Since it has been under new ownership, the dealership has tripled its inventory of motorcycles and doubled its motor clothing offerings as well as remodeled the inside of the building, Butler said.

* New bakery business: Martha Brown recently opened Ms. Martha's Cookies, featuring homemade gourmet cookies and other baked goods. Brown, who has been baking cookies and other treats for years, and said because her friends kept raving about and asking for them, she decided to start selling them. Brown is also the city planner with the City of Cape Girardeau. For more information, visit www.msmarthascookies.com.

* Investment presentation scheduled: The Educational Investment Club of Cape County will be sponsor an investment seminar open to the public at 7 p.m. Feb. 7, at the community room of Kimbeland Country Club, 2175 East Jackson Blvd. The featured speaker will be Dan Frank of BlackRock. Frank has been in the investment industry for more than 20 years. He will discuss the financial crisis of 2008 and also the current state of the stock market. BlackRock is the largest private risk management firm in the world, presently managing more than Three Trillion Dollars of private funds. This seminar is informational only. A question-and-answer session will occur at the end of the presentation. For more information call Gary A. Kamp, 243-0062.

* Seeking applications: The Southeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission continues to seek applications for projects to be funded under the 2010 State DERA Clean Diesel grant. This program, using funds provided by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is designed to promote cleaner air through grants to public and private sector operators of diesel-powered equipment. Past projects have included funding for Auxiliary Power Units on over-the-road trucks, engine replacements, the installation of Diesel Oxidation Catalysts in exhaust systems, and early vehicle replacements. Approximately $70,000 is available under this program. The deadline for applications is Feb. 1 All applications received will be reviewed for completeness. Those that are complete will be assigned a number. Funds will be awarded based on a lottery to be held February 15. All projects will be completed by July 1. For more information call David Grimes at 573-547-8357, extension 306 or e-mail dgrimes@semorpc.org.

Southeast Missourian business reporter Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.