Event shows support for Poplar Bluff industry

Dozens turned out last week for a special event at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce designed to recognize the region’s manufacturing industries.

“This is the industrial outing we started many, many years ago, probably back in the late ‘80s or early ‘90s, and it’s morphed into the industrial appreciation dinner,” said Chamber President Steve Halter.

Halter explained the annual event is a show of appreciation for those factories and businesses which keep Poplar Bluff’s economy going.

Productive Staffing's Angela Jones goes through the food line at the Industrial Appreciation Dinner.DAR/Paul Davis

“It’s the one time a year we try to pull all the manufacturing folks together and just let our membership show their appreciation for them,” Halter explained. “We just want to keep showing them on a regular basis that we appreciate the part they play in our economy.”

The event was catered by Maya’s Mexican Restaurant, Halter noted, and several chamber members stepped up as sponsors for the event.

Corporate sponsors included Express Employment Professionals, Productive Staffing, The Dermatology Office, Sterling Bank and Aire Solutions, while other sponsors included Bronze Owl Brewing, Century-21 American Realty, Colton’s Steakhouse, Commerce Bank, First Missouri State Bank, Kurt Knodell PB Realty, Maya’s, Pepsi Mid-America, Sartin’s Towing, Bank of Missouri and Will Fischer Distributing.

“We’ve got some great sponsors that make the event possible,” Halter said.

Door prizes also were given away during the event.

Local manufacturers, Halter noted, are a key part of the local economy, and their number actually is increasing as other regions are seeing signs of decline.

“A lot of communities are struggling with manufacturing, and we continue to do well with it. All of our manufacturers are doing well right now. We actually have gotten a couple new ones recently, and we’re excited about that,” Halter said.