Business Notebook: Regional price index drops slightly in August

The Midwest's Consumer Price Index declined 0.2 percent in August, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The CPI measures the average change in prices over time of a fixed number of goods and services. In this case, it looks at all things people buy for daily living, such as food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation fare and medicine.

Stanley W. Suchman, regional commissioner for the agency, attributed the slight drop to fuel prices.

Also in August, energy costs regionwide were 2.6 percent lower than in July, while the index for food rose 0.3 percent.

From August 2013 to August 2014, the Midwest's CPI rose 1.6 percent, food prices increased 2.8 percent, and the energy index, which includes home and motor fuels, inched up 0.8 percent.

The BLS defines the Midwest region as Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Saint Francis to host annual Business Health Summit

Saint Francis Medical Center's Services to Business plans to host its seventh Business Health Summit from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the Saint Francis Conference Center.

Author, motivational speaker and productivity expert Andy Core is the featured speaker and will discuss "Wellness Engagement."

The conference is designed for human resource professionals, safety officers and risk-management personnel. Main topics are workers' compensation and employee health and wellness issues. Presentations will include:

* "The Healthy Weigh" by health educator Candice O'Hare and Dr. Philip E. Tippen;

* "ROI of a Worksite Wellness Program" by Sandy Duncan, manager of Health and Wellness;

* "Case Study: Effective Wellness Approach at Buzzi Unicem USA" by Eileen Sievers, registered nurse and wellness instructor;

* A panel discussion on "How to Get Started: The Full Spectrum of Worksite Wellness Opportunities."

SoutheastHEALTH's Cardiac Rehab program recertified

SoutheastHEALTH's Cardiac Rehab program has been recertified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. The certification lasts for three years.

Southeast's rehab program involves exercise, education counseling and support for patients and their families, according to a news release.

HUD offers rural development funding

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a new funding program called the Delta Community Capital Initiative to help with business lending and economic development in underserved areas, according to a report by the Delta Regional Authority.

HUD will make $1 million in technical assistance and direct development available to community development and lending institutions. The deadline to apply is Nov. 3.

DCCI is a collaborative effort between HUD, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development.

To apply or learn more, visit hud.gov or call 877-787-2526 or 202-708-2290.

Cape Corporate Games continues this week

The city of Cape Girardeau's Corporate Games, which began Sept. 14, continue through Friday.

Here is the rest of the event lineup for the competition, although it could change because of weather:

* Today: swimming relays at Cape Municipal Pool, 6 p.m.; darts at Long Shots Bar & Billiards, 2106 William St., Suite 400, 6:30 p.m.

* Tuesday: 3-on-3 basketball, Osage Centre, 6 p.m.

* Wednesday: 4-on-4 sand volleyball (Division 1), Arena Park Sand Courts, 6 p.m.; flag football (Division 2), Arena Park, fields 5 and 6, 6 p.m.

* Thursday: 4-on-4 sand volleyball (Division 2), Arena Park sand courts, 6 p.m.; flag football (Division 1), Arena Park fields 5 and 6, 6 p.m.

* Friday: Trivia night, Osage Centre, 6 p.m.; mystery event (after trivia); closing ceremonies (after mystery event).

Holderby assumes Red Cross top post

Nigel Holdersby

Nigel Holderby begins serving today as the interim executive director for the Red Cross in southern Missouri.

She replaces Debi Meeds, who takes over as president and CEO of United Way of the Ozarks.

Holderby began as a volunteer in 2007 and has been the organization's regional chief communications officer for the past three years. Holderby recently earned a master's degree in communication from Drury University. She is a member of the National Red Cross Advanced Public Affairs Team and has deployed to several disasters, including Hurricane Sandy, according to a news release.

Holderby started her career with AT&T, where she advanced from service representative to management during her seven years with the company. Before joining the Red Cross, she owned and operated a small business.

United Way welcomes development officer

Nicholle Hinkle

Nicholle Hinkle is the United Way of Southeast Missouri's new director of donor relations.

Hinkle has five years of experience in not-for-profit work, project management and customer relations. As part of her new duties, she will help plan, analyze, organize and build individual donor and corporate relationships.

BOLD Marketing Owner named 'Woman of Year'

Dana Hukel, owner of BOLD Marketing in Cape Girardeau, has been selected as a VIP Woman of the Year by the National Association of Professional Women.

VIP Women of the year are selected based on leadership, professional achievement and networking and community involvement in their chosen fields.

The New York-based NAPW has 600,000 members nationwide and 300 chapters.

Business licenses

n Southern Style at 823 Broadway, owned by Megan Parker, opened Wednesday.

* Celebrate the Seasons at 201 S. Mount Auburn Road, owned by Matthew Burgess, Chuck Bailey and Craig Kiser, is scheduled to open Thursday.

* Psychic Readings at 1028 N. Kingshighway, owned by Sophia Marks, opened Sept. 15.

Tyler Graef contributed to this report.