With Springfield's sales tax revenue down double-digits percentage-wise the city is in bad need of economic stimulation.

  And it's on its way; in fact some of it has already arrived.

  Three times a year until 2011 national tournaments for a variety of sports for home-schooled kids will be held in Springfield.

  Monday kicks off the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championships, and local businesses are the real champions.

  An 18% sales tax revenue decrease is certainly not a drop in the bucket.

  But this drop in the bucket has the power to make a positive impact on that dismal statistic.

  "We're probably using about 45 hotels," explains Tim Flatt, Executive Director of the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championships.

  That equates to nearly 9,000 rooms in just five days.

  The NCHBC is bringing almost 12,000 competitors to Springfield with winning- and spending- on the brain.

  "Today and tomorrow we do things. That's why we come up a couple days early."

  The Talbotts are here for the tourney, but financially speaking they are tourists from Oklahoma City, visiting attractions promoted by NCHBC- restaurants, stores, and host hotel the Ramada Oasis.

  "I talked to them the other day and they said they just had king rooms left- all the doubles have been taken," Kurt Talbott explains.

  The competition spent seven years in the Talbott's home town.

  "Oklahoma City used to say we brought about $12 million a year economic impact to their city," says Flatt.

  Springfield may not make quite that amount off families like the Talbotts, but the tournament is bigger than ever before.

  It's leasing nearly half a dozen local college gyms and paying locals to officiate.

  So no matter who tops the tourney on the hardwood this week Springfield comes out a winner.

  The home-schoolers will be back in may for track and field.

  Then again in November for soccer, volleyball, and cross country, but the basketball championship is by far the largest event, and all the events are free and open to the public.