Cape Girardeau renews Contract with SEMO REDI

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The city of Cape Girardeau has renewed its partnership with SEMO REDI, agreeing to provide $68,000 through the end of the calendar year to support economic growth in southeast Missouri.

Shad Burner, the CEO of SEMO REDI, says the organization’s mission is focused on creating business success throughout southeast Missouri.

“Economic growth happens when private businesses succeed,” Burner says. “Our goal and our mission is always to clear the way for new business, for existing businesses to expand and grow, and to help recruit new businesses into our region that don’t currently have a presence here.”

Burner says the updated contract reflects changes and growth within the organization that have happened over the past few years.

“We’ve long had a relationship with the city of Cape,” he says. “This is a contract that’s existed for many years. It was time for the city and for SEMO REDI to step back and say, let’s ensure our contract reflects where the organization is today.”

Burner talks about how the organization uses these funds to help make a difference in the Southeast Missouri region. Noting that Cape Girardeau is one of 20 plus investors into the organization to work towards the success of the area.

“All of the funds from our investors go toward our annual operating budget,” he said. “It’s not necessarily earmarked to one specific thing, but it covers a variety of things to help us achieve our mission and strategic plan.”

Burner wanted to remind everyone that everything SEMO REDI does is centered around making it easier to do business in the region.

“There are a variety of ways we work on this on a day to day basis,” Burner said. “Ultimately, the goal is to make sure it’s as easy as possible for those businesses to do what they do.”

To learn more about how SEMO REDI is positively impacting the area, visit their website HERE.