CAPE COUNTY ECONOMY ROBUST

Cape Girardeau County is in the midst of one of its most sustained periods of economic growth in recent years with advances in many major industrial and business sectors.

And the area is poised to grow even stronger.

Manufacturing continues to grow and prosper, agriculture production continues to provide a cornerstone for many local economies, and the retail sector continues to grow in the hub city of Cape Girardeau.

The results of economic activity have been significant over the past year.

-- Construction is under way on the $87.7 million Emerson Memorial Bridge, which will span the Mississippi River between Missouri and Illinois.

-- Unemployment in the county is at a low level and has hovered around the 4 percent mark throughout the year.

-- More people are working. Latest statistics show more than 33,300 Cape Girardeau countians with jobs.

-- Manufacturing and giant retail companies from out of state have expressed interest in becoming a part of the growing economy.

This was evidenced even further this week with the announcement that Procter & Gamble Co. will make one of the largest industrial investments in the history of the area. P&G will build a $350 million tissue and towel manufacturing plant adjacent to its plant north of Cape Girardeau.

The new facility of more than 850,000 square feet will be constructed in front and to the east of the 1.3-million-square-foot building.

Sam's Wholesale, a 100,000-plus-square-foot store, will open in West Park Business Park next week. Later this year a new 14-screen theater will open near Sam's.

Another multimillion dollar project was announced earlier this year. A Dallas-based land-development and house-building corporation -- Holigan Family Investments Inc. -- announced its intentions for a number of home subdivisions and a modular-home factory, which will result in a $75 million investment shared in four communities -- Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Fruitland and Sikeston, with a Holigan Home factory at the latter.

Much of the growth can be attributed to luck of geography. Cape Girardeau is near the crossroads of the nation and is unique in having a transportation network that includes river, air, rail and highway.

In addition to Interstate 55, the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport ranks among the best of non-metropolitan facilities. The area enjoys one of the largest inland waterways -- the Mississippi River -- and includes one of a number of port facilities between Memphis and St. Louis.

"We are fortunate in our location," said John Mehner, president of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. "We have a diverse economy, including everything from high-tech to heavy manufacturing, agricultural and retail."

In addition the Southeast Missouri work area is favored with a work force that is consistently ranked high in the state, with a strong work ethic and level of productivity.

"The spirit and commitment of Missouri workers, both to their jobs and communities, are well known throughout the nation," said Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Area Recruitment Association.

Distribution of jobs in the county reflect the diverse economy.

-- Educational and medical institutions provide more than 9,000 jobs.

-- More than 8,000 jobs are in the retail sector.

-- Over 7,500 employees are involved in manufacturing.

-- More than 2,100 jobs are in wholesale distribution, 1,950 in transportation, 1,500 in construction and over 1,200 in financial and real estate.

The work force was a key consideration in P&G's decision to locate its new plant here, agreed Mehner and Robinson.

Retail jobs have grown during the past two quarters and will continue to grow with the opening of Sam's Wholesale in Cape West Business Park, which already boasts such retail giants as Wal-Mart Supercenter, Lowe's Home Center, Target and Staples.

The immediate area, along with the state of Missouri, offers a number of areas conducive to new and expanding manufacturers -- technology, access to capital, job training, marketing, community development and infrastructure.

The area's commitment to jobs and economic growth remains strong.

This is evidenced by the passage of school bond issues in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, said Robinson.

In addition to Southeast Missouri State University, another big plus is the SEMO Regional Training Group, which provides valuable employee training.