I-66 Project Inc. owes the Cape Girardeau Regional Commerce and Growth Association $68,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to a draft financial statement.

The funds are listed as RCGA operating expenses for the group, I-66 Project Inc., that is promoting the idea of a new coast-to-coast interstate highway.

Walt Wildman, executive director of RCGA and the president of I-66 Project Inc., said Tuesday that an additional $30,000 owed to RCGA for I-66 promotional efforts in previous years, already has been forgiven.

Aside from the financing from the RCGA, the draft statement showed the I-66 national task force was able to raise only $6,282 from groups along the corridor.

A final financial statement on I-66, prepared by Norman Glaus, a local accountant, will be ready in a few days, Wildman said. Glaus also is drafting a financial statement for the RCGA.

Wildman said the lack of financial support from other parts of the country is a concern to him and RCGA board members. Over the past three weeks, Wildman said he has travelled along the corridor trying to generate both grassroots support for the project and financial support.

"We've gotten some good interest and a lot of promises, but now we are watching the mail to see if it worked," said Wildman.

The concept of I-66 originated with the RCGA, and was unveiled at a national meeting in St. Louis in April 1989. Initially, proponents of I-66 attempted to raise funds from city and county governments and economic development groups along the corridor.

Over the past few months, since the I-66 office was moved from Wichita, Kan., back to Cape Girardeau, Wildman has been trying to re-direct fundraising toward corporations that would benefit directly from the project.

Wildman acknowledged that for the past two years, most I-66 activities have been financed by the RCGA.

In May, the RCGA board of directors told Wildman that he could only travel on I-66 business when there were enough funds in the I-66 account to cover the costs.

Ron McCulley, who recently completed a two-year stint as chairman of the RCGA board, said the board has been fully aware of the level of support provided to I-66.

"It is something we discuss monthly," said McCulley. "We are fully committed to the project."

McCulley said the decision to limit the debt of I-66 was reached because board members wanted to devote more attention to other RCGA priorities. They decided the debt was high enough.

However, until I-66 funds start coming in, the debt likely will increase from office expenses and salary.

The I-66 and RCGA offices are in the same place at 1021 Kingsway.

"We had been hoping that the task force of I-66 will come up with money from the regions of the country to help support the project, but unfortunately that has not happened yet," McCulley said.

Although RCGA is owed a considerable amount of money by the I-66 group, Wildman said the "real expense is a lack of attention paid to RCGA."

The RCGA has a current membership of 233, which Wildman said is down slightly from the group's high of 252.

The draft financial statement shows the I-66 group with assets of $2,973.14 as of June 30, all deposited at Capital Bank.

Operating expenses listed on the statement: salaries reimbursement $26,500; administrative charges $15,000; travel and lodging $7,078; rent $6,000; office equipment lease $3,000; telephone $2,256; auto lease $2,100; auto expense $2,000; promotional expenses $733; supplies expense $64; and taxes and licenses $1.