Business memo 12/27/04

Business development center offers counseling

The Small Business Development Center of Southeast Missouri State University will be conducting counseling sessions for area small business people and people planning business ventures. The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available on Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. Call 335-3312 for an appointment. The one-hour counseling sessions are free.

State job growth among highest in the nation

While Missouri's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a point to 5.8 percent, the state's employment had another strong showing in November, adding 7,800 jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis. That ranked Missouri sixth in the nation in job growth between October and November. November's seasonally adjusted rate of 5.8 percent matches the rates reached in the summer months of 2003.

-- From staff, wire reports