The Missouri Senate recently passed Senate Bill 844 unanimously, which would make it possible for state businesses to continue using the Shared-Work Program.

In the event of temporary declines in business, the Shared-Work Program allows participating companies to reduce hours of their permanent employees, and those employees are able to collect partial unemployment payments to make up for lost wages, according to a news release from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is in favor of the bill.

The program has helped businesses avoid layoffs during temporary work slowdowns and allowed them to retain skilled workers, the release said.

Unless the bill is passed and enacted by Aug. 22, the program will end in Missouri, according to state labor officials. The bill still must pass the Missouri House of Representatives before the legislative session ends May 16.

An emergency clause in the bill allows it to immediately take effect upon the governor's signature, the release said.

Minority, women-run businesses topic of seminars

The Institute for Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University will present a two-part training seminar to help minority and women-owned businesses identify where they fit in the "business life cycle" -- from startup to becoming a publicly traded company. The seminars also will help such businesses identify important resources to support growth.

The seminar is called Positioning, Planning and Profiting: A Life Cylce Apporach to M/WBE Business Growth, and will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. Wednesday and July 31 at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau.

The seminars will teach minority and women business owners what is necessary to position them for growth of their business. Attendees also will learn of practices that may help move an existing business strategy to the next level by enhancing or re-engineering a business approach.

There is no cost for either seminar, but space is limited. Contact Glenna Ervin at gervin@semo.edu or call 651-2929 to register.

Business roundup

* The Southeast Missouri University Foundation has purchased the building at 1034 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, previously Dino's Pizza. Asbestos abatement will take place in the building over the next few weeks, and demolition of the building will begin the week of May 19. The property then will be seeded and become green space.

* SoutheastHEALTH and the Southeast Cancer Center established a new oncology outreach clinic in Dexter, Mo., in Doctors' Park, Suite 6, 1300 North One Mile Road. Dr. Andrew Moore, who is affiliated with Southeast Hematology/Oncology in Cape Girardeau, will see patients at the clinic every Thursday beginning this week.

* Bagby Investment Consultants in Dexter, Mo., changed its name to Bagby Wealth Management. A new look will accompany the name change and the business's offerings to serve financial needs of its clients also have been updated.

* Pho 8, 3036 William St. in Cape Girardeau, to be a Vietnamese noodle shop, filed a business license application with the city of Cape Girardeau.

* C&G Motor Co., 618 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, a used-car lot, filed a business license application with the city of Cape Girardeau.

* The Discovery Playhouse, 502 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate the opening of its new exhibit with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at its location.

* Montgomery Auto Sales, 1218 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate its new ownership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday at its location.

USDA establishes investment fund for rural business growth

The United States Department of Agriculture recently announced the creation of an investment fund it says will help further the growth of small businesses across rural America.

The fund was established as part of the Obama Administration's "Made in Rural America" export and investment initiative, according to a news release from the USDA. The fund is being formed under the department's Rural Business Investment Program.

USDA programs currently exist to provide loans or loan guarantees to help rural businesses grow, the release said, but many small businesses also need equity support in addition to or instead of borrowed funds.

The new fund allows the USDA to facilitate private equity investments in agriculture-related businesses.

Advantage Capital Partners will manage the new fund, and its eight farm credit institutions partners have pledged to invest nearly $150 million into the new effort, according to the release.

"This new fund will allow innovative small businesses throughout rural America to access the capital they need to grow and create jobs," said agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack. " ... This new partnership will allow us to facilitate private investment in businesses working in bio-manufacturing, advanced energy production, local and regional food systems, improved farming technologies and other cutting-edge fields."

Watch out for farm vehicles on roadways

Now that planting season is in full swing, the Missouri Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be on the lookout for farm equipment traveling on state roadways.

Tractors, trucks and other farm equipment are slow moving and may surprise motorists on highways, said a news release from MoDOT. Missouri's 33,000 miles of state roadways pass along the fields of more than 100,000 farms, according to the release.

Motorists are asked to slow down when approaching farm vehicles, and to be patient while farmers make their way to field entrances. The department asks that motorists wait until it is safe to pass farm vehicles at a safe distance and speed in passing zones.

ashedd@semissourian.com

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