On the Street

What is small business?

The U.S. Small Business Administration is changing its small business size standards used to determine what constitutes a small business. In doing so, SBA ofcials are collecting input from the small-business community. They seek suggestions on simplifying the size standards, calculating employment business size and using receipts to measure business size, among other rule changes. The SBA plans discussions in public meetings across the country; meeting details will be announced in early 2005.

Golng for charity

The nal scores are in. The real winners of the 2004 Price Cutter Charity Championship are area charities. The golf tournament generated $622,000 for 35 Ozarks charities. The John Q. Hammons Foundation distributed the monetary gifts, which also included a $40,000 home, at the Dec. 2 Celebration of Sharing luncheon at Highland Springs Country Club. Since its inception in 1990, the tournament has given away more than $4.4 million to children's charities in the Ozarks.

Generous labor

Members of the Springeld Labor Council, AFL-CIO Dec. 11 covered 23 of the 36 Salvation Army bell-ringing stations throughout the city. The unions, in their 10th year of volunteering, are the largest volunteer group for The Springeld Salvation Army. Participating unions include the local Teamsters, Plumbers & Pipe Fitters, Sheet Metal Workers, Carpenters, Steel Workers, Fire Fighters and IBEW.

The Art of Getting Money'

Area nonprot organizations have access to grants next year worth approximately $3 million from the Missouri Arts Council. To educate nonprots about obtaining such funding, MAC will present a free grant information workshop, "The Art of Getting Money," in Springeld Jan. 11, 2005. The Springeld Regional Arts Council, 411 N. Sherman Parkway, is host for the 7-9 p.m. workshop, which will offer the latest grant application guidelines and tips and a section on what organizations are eligible. The workshop is free, but reservations are requested; call 417-862-2787 or e-mail marty@springeldarts.org.

Slice of Nice

Community Blood Center of the Ozarks' 10th annual Miracle of Giving blood drive runs through Dec. 31 at donor centers in Springeld, Joplin and Springdale, Ark. Despite a current code green status, which indicates adequate supplies, blood shortages often occur during the holidays. Miracle of Giving participants receive a gift of their choice: a mitt ice scraper or a T-shirt, while supplies last. CBCO, a nonprot, provides blood and blood products to 37 medical facilities in southwest Missouri, northwest Arkansas and southeast Kansas. For more information on giving blood, call 1-800-280-5337 or go online to www.cbco.org.