Overheard

It appears Springfield’s clout on the Missouri Housing Development Commission is paying dividends. The city was chosen to hold this year’s Governor’s Conference on Housing, a regional event typically held in St. Louis or Kansas City. Springfield’s own Rob Fulp of Signature Bank and Loren Cook II of Loren Cook Co. are among the commission’s six members. The Sept. 28–29 event at University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center is expected to bring about 500 housing professionals to Springfield.

“This is a great opportunity for the people of Springfield to showcase our own downtown revitalization efforts and highlight what our city has to offer,” said Fulp, MHDC vice chairman, in a news release.

National housing expert Nicolas Retsinas, who is director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, will give a keynote address. The Governor’s Awards for Affordable Housing also will be presented. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.mhdc.com.

Area Personal Income: $28,075

The Springfield metropolitan area ranked 244 out of 367 metro areas in per capita personal income growth, according to a recent report released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Per capita personal income in the Springfield metro area rose to $28,075 last year from $27,012 in 2004, according to the report. Total personal income rose 5.9 percent during the same period. On average nationally, personal income increased 5 percent in 2005, down from 6 percent in 2004. Here’s how the state shaped up: St. Louis was No. 55 at $36,174, Kansas City was No. 60 at $35,859, and Columbia was No. 148 at $31,309.

Positive Sign for SLS?

Ozark-based SLS International Inc. has signed a vendor agreement with the country’s largest consumer electronics buying group. As a vendor for The Nationwide Group, SLS consumer product lines are being sold to more than 2,700 independent retailers in more than 7,000 U.S. locations. SLS manufactures premium sound systems for professional, cinema and home entertainment markets.

This is welcome news for investors, who watched SLS’ stock plummet to 14 cents a share following receipt of a noncompliance notice from the American Stock Exchange due to company losses. SLS reported a $2.2 million net loss for second-quarter operations despite a 218 percent increase to $2.7 million in earnings for the quarter. SLS has until Sept. 27 to submit to AMEX a plan of action that would achieve compliance with listing standards. Company shares (AMEX: SLS) closed Sept. 13 at 28 cents, compared to a 52-week range of 14 cents to $1.99.

State Sales Tax Record

Missouri recorded its highest-ever monthly collection of sales tax revenue in August, according to the state’s office of administration. The $216 million in net collections last month pushed year-to-date net general revenue collections to $1.1 billion, up 6.4 percent compared to the same period last year. August revenue collections were up 7.1 percent compared to August 2005, at $649.7 million.