The Small Business Development Center will conduct counseling sessions at Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Perryville this month.

The counselor, Gil Degenhardt, will be available Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce office. The counseling sessions (about one hour) are free. Call 335-3312 for appointment.

He will conduct sessions at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce Oct. 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. Appointments are available by calling 471-2498. He will hold sessions at the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning office in Perryville Oct. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are available by calling 547-8357.

Sessions will be held Oct. 15, at the Malden Chamber of Commerce office, from 9 to 11 a.m. Appointments are available by calling (573)-276-4519.

The Small Business Development Center represents a "Partnership for Economic Development" between Southeast Missouri State University, the U.S. Small Business Administration, local financial institutions, area utility companies and Southeast Missouri municipalities. The goal of the center is to stimulate diversity and growth in small-business by assisting new and existing businesses to become more productive and more profitable.