Business Notebook: Old Town Cape receives nominations in state competition

Old Town Cape has been notified that its six nominations submitted for awards at the state level have received semifinalist status. The nominations include the following: Broadway Prescription for Business Excellence; Broadway Corridor for Streetscape and Public Space Improvements; Bill Dunn for Volunteer of the Year; Cape Riverfront Market for Top Special Event; Julius Vasterling Building for Best Large Scale Project; and Old Town Cape for Greatest Achievement.

Awards will be presented Thursday at the Missouri Main Street Downtown Revitalization conference in Kansas City, Mo. For more information, visit oldtowncape.org.

Southeast physicians and teams win awards

Southeast Hospital physicians and service teams have won Top Performer awards and Five-Star awards in the 2013 Excellence in Healthcare Awards. The awards are for exceptional patient-satisfaction scores and are sponsored by Professional Research Consultants of Omaha, Neb. Accepting Five-Star awards on behalf of their service teams and associated physicians were: Mike Griffin, director of Physician Practice Management; Cathy Raines, Southeast Obstetrics/Gynecology office manager; Susan Lewis, nurse manager of Cardiac Progressive Care; and Tony Jamerson, director of Respiratory Therapy. Griffin also accepted the Top Performer Award on behalf of Southeast Pediatrics.

Missouri electric companies to receive $89 million in loans

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced funding for projects in an effort to strengthen the efficiency and reliability of the rural-electric grid. The Central Electric Power Cooperative, with headquarters in Jefferson City, Mo., will receive $59.1 million in loans to build two new substations, to improve 21 miles of transmission line and to make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $13.8 million for smart grid projects. Citizens Electric Corporation, with headquarters in Perryville, Mo., will receive $30 million in loans to serve 1,654 consumers, to build 89 miles of distribution and 13 miles of transmission lines and to make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $357,420 for smart grid projects.

Leadership Conference at LaCroix United Methodist Church

The 2013 Global Leadership Conference at LaCroix United Methodist Church will begin at 8 a.m. Aug. 8 and 9 at the Summit. The conference will be telecast live from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, and various speakers during the two days are expected to inspire and sharpen the leadership skills of attendees. Speakers scheduled to appear during the simulcast include Pastor Bill Hybels, founder of the Global Leadership Conference; former U.S. Army general and Secretary of State Colin Powell; executive producer and Emmy-award winner Mark Burnett; and best-selling business author Joseph Grenny. Check-in is at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, and the conference runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. To register, visit lacroixchurch.org or contact Susan Leming at 339-0302.

Missouri among top 10 pro-business states

The State of Missouri has been rated ninth in the Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2013, an annual study considered the most comprehensive in the economic development industry. Among other factors, the state received "A" grades from Pollina for its corporate tax index, unemployment insurance and electricity costs. This is the fourth consecutive year the state has been ranked in Pollina's top 10.

Cape, Jackson place in Top 10 pharmacist cities

The Cape Girardeau-Jackson area placed fifth in valuepenguin.com's Top 10 Cities for Pharmacists. The area consisting of both cities scored high on the website's three study factors, which included pharmacist salaries, cost of living and the concentration of pharmacists in the area. Pharmacists employed in this area earn a median salary of $128,580, according to the website, and the area has relatively low cost of living index. Gadsden, Ala., topped the website's list of cities for pharmacists, ahead of Rochester, Minn., Greenville, N.C., Anderson, S.C., and the Cape Girardeau-Jackson area. For more information on the rankings, visit valuepenguin.com.