Women First obstetrics and gynecology practice in Cape Girardeau partnered with Southeast Medical Group of SoutheastHEALTH, effective April 1.

Joining the medical group from Women First are Dr. Eric Morton, Dr. Chris Rosenquist, Dr. Heather Cugini and Marianne Cook, APRN, BC-FNP, according to a news release from SoutheastHEALTH.

"The addition of this well-respected specialty practice is in keeping with our commitment to provide our patients the best in women's health-care services," said SoutheastHEALTH vice president of physician services Matt Shoemaker, DO, in the release.

Women First of SoutheastHEALTH will remain at its location at 1111 N. Mount Auburn Road.

End of solar rebates could hurt state's economy

The Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association reported it expects its member companies will be forced to lay off thousands of employees after the loss of the state solar rebate.

According to a study by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, by the end of 2014, the Missouri solar industry will have created 3,700 jobs and added $415 million to the state's economy, according to a news release from The Polansky Group in St. Louis.

House Bill 142 became law in August 2013, and was to step-down the solar rebate for the following six years with a complete phase out in 2020. Regulatory filings shortly after the session ended the rebates for good, the release said.

Solar installations increased over the past two years in large part because of a 2008 voter-enacted requirement that Ameren Missouri and Kansas City Power and Light offer solar rebates, the release said.

Addition of fiber optic cable certifies Perryville business park

The Perryville Industrial Park now qualifies as an AT&T Certified FiberPark, after AT&T placed fiber optic cable in the park for businesses and industries.

The certification will help market the available space to companies wishing to relocate to the Perryville, Mo., area, according to a news release from AT&T.

John Sondag, president of AT&T Missouri, on April 17 will be in Perryville to speak with local leaders about the company's investment, as well as for a ribbon-cutting, the release said.

Farm bill provides millions for ag pest, disease protection

The United States Department of Agriculture on Thursday announced the allocation of $48.1 million, provided by the 2014 farm bill, to projects across the county that will help prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten American agriculture and environment.

Scientists estimate the total cost of all invasive species to be approximately $120 billion annually.

"The funds USDA is making available today will help partners and stakeholders develop strategies, products and treatments to safeguard our farms and natural resources from invasive threats," said USDA secretary Tom Vilsack in Thursday's news release.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the USDA is funding 383 projects in 49 states.

The projects approved for allocation will help states and other partners continue providing and strengthening protections against threats to agriculture, and also could allow reallocation of resources to other programs, the release said.

Examples of projects awarded funding include $2 million for protection against exotic fruit flies in California and $2.4 million to support the response to the recently detected coconut rhinoceros beetle infestation in Hawaii.

Prospective projects were evaluated by teams of USDA experts and industry representatives and were selected based on criteria that supported six goals, including enhancing plant pest/disease analysis and survey, enhancing and strengthening pest identification and technology, safeguarding nursery production, and conducting outreach and education about the issues.

The 2008 Farm Bill has provided funding for more than 1,500 projects over the last five years, according to the release.

Business Roundup

* Gaming Grounds, 709 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, opened April 1. This is the second location of the video game retail store and gaming hangout, its first being in Jackson.

* Lattitudes, 137 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau, filed a business license application with Cape Girardeau. The retail establishment is to sell fair-trade goods.

* Bug Zero, 2128 William St., Suite 108, in Cape Girardeau, purchased Right-Way Pest Control, based in Chaffee, Mo., on March 19. Right-Way was operated until February by the late Hubert Burton.

* Vintage Marketplace Shabby Chic, 129 S. High St. in Jackson, celebrated its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 3.

* Renaissance Beauty Academy, 268 S. Mount Auburn Road, will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. Thursday at its Cape Girardeau location. The academy will train cosmetology students a variety of salon professional services.

* SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, 755 S. Kingshighway, will celebrate the opening of its second Cape Girardeau location with a ribbon-cutting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

* United Access, 753 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting at 11:45 a.m. Thursday. United Access is a provider of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, driving systems, mobility seats, handicap lifts and other vehicle modifications.

* AT&T announced it will hire more than 3,000 retail sales and sales management employees nationwide in the next several months to meet increased customer demand in its retail business. The company is seeking about 240 employees in Missouri, including about 130 retail employees. There are more than 10 retail positions open in Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff.

* Regional Counseling and Employee Assistance Services, 5303 Old Cape Road in Jackson, recently celebrated 20 years of service in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area. The counseling center offers personal, marital, parent-child, phase-of-life and issues related to the workplace counseling.

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