3 Things You Should Know About Small Business: Jan. 29

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- What's happening in small business today?

1. Hurricane Sandy aid finally coming. Late Monday, Congress approved a $51 billion emergency aid package for residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Sandy. According to the New York Times , the Senate approved the measure by a 62-to-36 vote. The House approved the bill two weeks ago, after initially refusing to act on it amid criticism over its size and impact on the federal deficit, the article says.

The package now heading to President Barack Obama for signing comes on top of a nearly $10 billion aid package for recovery efforts approved by Congress early this month.

The aid will provide assistance to residents whose homes were destroyed as well as businesses with heavy losses by Sandy. Included in the package is money set aside for replenishing shorelines and infrastructure repairs, such as "repairing subway and commuter rail systems, fixing bridges and tunnels, and reimbursing local governments for emergency spending," the Times says.

2. Organic soda company launches crowdfunding campaign to build momentum. Up against big soda conglomerates Pepsi (PEP) and Coca-Cola (KO), Oogavé, a Denver-based organic soda company is looking to raise $500,000 through a crowdfunding campaign on IndieGoGo.com. According to QSR Magazine, the small company will offer rewards to contributors, such as T-shirts, cases of soda and other offerings.

Separately, industry followers are getting increasingly impatient over the Securities and Exchange Commission's "foot dragging" over the JOBS Act implementation, according to TheStreet banking analyst Phil van Doorn.

3. Want to win a brand-new office? Businesses in select cities have until Feb. 10 to apply for an office makeover courtesy of Turnstone.

The company is making a 10-day, nine-state road trip designed to recognize the important contributions made by startups in the U.S. Heartland, while illustrating the connection between great office design and company growth. Companies based in Chicago, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City and Dallas are eligible for the office makeover.

The "Culture@Work in the Heartland" contest will give five small and emerging businesses -- companies with fewer than 100 employees -- a chance to win a $20,000 office makeover. Companies will be asked to submit photos and answer a few short questions about culture at their business and explain how an office makeover would take their venture to the next level. Turnstone will announce winners in person, one city at a time.

-- Written by Laurie Kulikowski in New York.

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