The dedicated efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, the Perryville Development Corporation, and many City offi- cials led to the development of the Perryville Industrial Park and the establishment of an “Enterprise Zone.” Since its opening, the Perryville Industrial Park has thrived and is now home to a diverse mix of industries. “The foundation of faith is very much a part of who we are.” “In the first half of the 19th-century, Perryville had a Johnny Poultry’s chicken factory and a couple of shoe factories. At that time, even that many years ago, the town leaders thought that they needed to diversify,” Buerck points out. “And when the Perryville Development Corporation started, it was a for-profit corporation. They went door-to- door selling shares to residents. The idea was, if you buy a $10 share in the Corporation, it was going to invest in some jobs and opportunities that everyone could benefit from.” Buerck continues to explain that some key investments by the Development Corporation has had a lasting effect on the City of Perryville. “Several years later, the Development Corporation started working with a company called Gil- ster-Mary Lee. It was an investment, and they thought that the company would do well and therefore the Corporation would do well, and the shareholders would get a return on their money. Well, Gilster-Mary Lee now has 1,600 employ- ees in Perryville. And they make over 200 different types of food. For example they make the store brand cereals and noodles for Walmart and other large chains, and are also the exclusive provider for the Chick-fil-A chicken coating.”
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JUNE 2018
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