Posts by John Mehner

Vaccine Mandate and Area Businesses Big changes are contained in the new vaccine mandate released by the Biden Administration late last week. The new rule from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with at least 100 workers to ensure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly…

Supply Chain Issues and Holiday Shopping Should you really start your holiday shopping now? We are aware of the worker shortage facing our country. And now, supply chain issues are also prominent. During the pandemic, consumers shifted much of their spending habits away from services to more tangible products. As a result of issues related…

September Jobs Report The recently released September jobs report showed U.S. job growth fell to the slowest pace in 2021. The economy added 194,000 jobs representing the smallest monthly gain since December 2020. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.8% as many workers exited the workforce. A decline in public sector jobs, primarily in schools, was…

It’s Fair Week! This is certainly one of the largest regional events in the area drawing tens of thousands over an eight-day period. Yes, it’s fair week in Cape Girardeau. After last year’s event was cancelled, this marks the 166 Annual SEMO District Fair. The United States was an agricultural nation in its infancy and…

Cape County Has Been Growing According to 2020 Census Data It is mandated by the U.S. Constitution, happens every ten years, and the results are used for many purposes. Of course, I’m talking about the U.S. Census. The Census Bureau just released the raw numbers for the 2020 count. This data is used to determine…

Another Record and a BIG Win This past week brought another record and a big first for our area. And the two are tied together. The latest monthly hotel/motel tax numbers for the city of Cape set a record – again – for monthly receipts. In fact, it shattered the previous record by 10%. Strong…

Are There Intrapreneurs In Your Business? What are Intrapreneurs and are they good for your organization? In the last several years, the term “Intrapreneurs” has become more widely known. Intrapreneurs are employees within an organization who are not likely to start their own enterprise, but who apply the essential principles of entrepreneurship to their positions…

The Impact of Educational Institutions on Cape Girardeau Area It’s that time of year and a perfect opportunity to recognize the importance of this local delivery system. It’s back to school month and of course I’m talking about education. We are so fortunate to have a dynamic and effective education system in place for pre-K…

Update on Generational Construction Projects in Cape/Jackson Metro Granted, it is hot outside. But there are some pretty cool things going on in the area. Summer is a time when many people are enjoying vacation and doing things to take a break from school and other activities. But some major construction projects are still underway…