Smucker shareholders OK merger plan, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, October 17, 2008
Orrville, Ohio—The proposed merger of the J.M. Smucker Co. and Folgers coffee passed another hurdle on Thursday as shareholders approved the deal. The move will result in adding 150 employees to Orrville operations, officials said.

Related story: Folgers deal on front burner for Smucker Co. investors, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 15, 2008

Bankruptcy sought by owners of Lima ethanol plant, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, October 17, 2008
Lima, Ohio—Citing construction delays and production problems, owners of a five-month-old ethanol plant in Lima have filed for protection from creditors. Officials of Greater Ohio Ethanol LLC blamed the financial crunch on construction cost overruns and plant problems that led lenders to tighten credit requirements.

Training begins at reborn Maumee factory, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, October 17, 2008
Maumee, Ohio—Forty-three former Ford Maumee Stamping plant employees have returned to their old plant on Illinois Avenue in Maumee for an extensive briefing on plans to reopen the 803,000-square-foot factory as Maumee Authority Stamping Inc., a partially employee-owned auto parts operation.

Ohio to create innovation hubs, by Dan Monk, Business Courier of Cincinnati, October 17, 2008
Cincinnati—Ohio Lt. Governor Lee Fisher identified the Ohio Hubs of Innovation and Opportunity program as one of his top priorities. He plans to work with local governments and business leaders in each of the state’s 12 economic development regions to identify at least one hub per region. Fisher said the first hub will be designated early next year.

GM merger talks with Chrysler said to intensify, by Bill Vlasic, New York Times, October 17, 2008
Detroit—The merger discussions, intended to be private, are gaining momentum as both sides want to reach an agreement within the next two to three weeks, according to people briefed on the discussions.

Related stories:

Lenders eager for GM-Chrysler deal, by John D. Stoll and Jeffrey McCracken, Wall Street Journal, October 17, 2008 (Subscription)

Sale rumors invoke fear of 'Jeep Curse' striking Chrysler, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, October 17, 2008

UAW chief opposes GM-Chrysler merger, Toledo Blade, October 15, 2008

GM-Chrysler deal doubted, by Mike Ramsey, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, October 14, 2008
Detroit—Analysts said General Motors and Chrysler probably wouldn't solve their financial problems with a merger or partnership.

Partnership in health: Three hospitals, UA and med school create BioInnovation Institute in Akron, a multimillion-dollar medical research program, by Cheryl Powell, Akron Beacon Journal, October 17, 2008
Akron—Akron's three hospitals, the University of Akron and the region's medical school announced the creation of a joint research and development initiative called the BioInnovation Institute in Akron. Within a decade, the partners plan to create 2,400 new jobs and attract at least $50 million worth of investments annually in area health-care companies.

Related story: Akron heavyweights plan $80M biomedical initiative, by Shannon Mortland, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 14, 2008 (Subscription)

BioOhio, BioJerusalem to formalize partnership, Akron Beacon Journal, October 16, 2008
Beachwood, Ohio—BioOhio, the state's bioscience company developer, and BioJerusalem will formalize an economic development partnership that includes 30 organizations, including the Akron Global Business Accelerator. The agreement could lead to more biomedical companies and jobs in Ohio, said John Lewis Jr., vice president for BioOhio.

Related story: Ohio and Jerusalem agree to share bioscience companies, by Mary Vanac, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 16, 2008

.Anti-counterfeit bill could protect Ohio manufacturers, by Stephen Koff, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 16, 2008
Washington—Stepping up safeguards against counterfeits, President Bush has signed a bill that could help old-economy manufacturers as well as modern software designers fight foreigners who hijack their designs.

Company drops Firestone name, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, October 15, 2008
Akron—The iconic, Akron-based Firestone name will disappear in January in many places, but the tire brand will live on as part of a major corporate restructuring for Bridgestone Group's North and South American subsidiaries.

Cleveland-Cliffs renamed Cliffs Natural Resources, by Sarah Hollander, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 15, 2008
Cleveland—Cleveland- Cliffs Inc. officially adopted its new name: Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. The new name represents the company's evolution from a 117-year-old supplier of iron ore to North American markets to a global competitor supplying a diverse range of minerals.

United Technologies drops bid for Diebold, Alison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 14, 2008
Hartford, Conn.—United Technologies Corp. on Monday scrubbed its attempted hostile takeover of Diebold Inc., complaining of Diebold's "extended refusal" to discuss the proposal.

GM to close plants, restrict lending, by Sharon Terlep, Wall Street Journal, October 14, 2008 (Subscription)
Detroit—General Motors Corp., now considering a tie-up with Detroit rival Chrysler LLC, will close a metal stamping plant in Michigan and a truck plant in Wisconsin sooner than previously expected.

Related stories:

GM gives two plants bad news, by Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 14, 2008

Lordstown looks safe amid GM shakeup, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, October 11, 2008

Great Lakes Regional Facilities Expo to focus on green' footprints, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 14, 2008
Cleveland—The Great Lakes Regional Facilities Expo on Wednesday and Thursday will include 14 hour-long educational sessions. The free conference at Cleveland's International Exposition Center will focus on environmental and green-building issues, and how existing building can be environmentally friendly and safe.

Metalworking companies see rough road ahead, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 14, 2008 (Subscription)
Independence, Ohio—According to the Precision Metalforming Association's October Business Conditions report, the next three months will be rough for companies that bend, stamp and fabricate metal parts for automakers and other industries.

Seville Bronze owner ready to retire, says manufacturer to remain area stronghold, by Kevin Brosien, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 13, 2008 (Subscription)
Seville, Ohio—David Banks, who bought Seville Centrifugal Bronze Inc. in 1980, has a new buyer for the manufacturer. He expects the deal to be done by the end of October, and assures its 80 employees and the village of Seville he carefully screened prospective firms to ensure the new owner will continue the $15 million business’ success.

Honda shifting some U.S. manufacturing operations, Business Courier of Cincinnati, October 13, 2008
Marysville, Ohio—To keep up with consumer demand for fuel-efficient cars, next year, Honda's U.S. manufacturing arm will shift production of its V-6 Accord sedan from Marysville to Lincoln, Ala., and increase production of four-cylinder Accords in Marysville.

RPM announces exec changes, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 13, 2008 (Subscription)
Medina, Ohio—RPM International Inc.'s former president and CEO, FRank C. Sullivan, succeeded retiring Thomas C. Sullivan as chairman, and former VP and COO, Ronald A. Rice, was named president and COO.

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port seeks tenants, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 13, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority is looking to lease some underused warehouse space to one or more manufacturers.

Manufacturers’ delay projects, hiring but credit spigot not yet shut off, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 13, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—While they’re feeling indirect effects from the nation’s credit crunch and economic gloom, Northeast Ohio manufacturers report they’re not seeing their credit lines dry up.

Running the show: My brain, your brawn, by Simona Covel, Wall Street Journal, October 13, 2008 (Subscription)
New York—With competitive pressures mounting and a need for a continual pipeline of new product ideas, some of the biggest consumer companies in the world, including Kraft, General Mills Inc. and Procter & Gamble Co., are increasingly looking outside their own corridors. The WSJ profiles a growing trend: small companies, or even lone entrepreneurs, that stand behind major brands' new products and technological enhancements.

Chrysler models create buzz, by Mike Ramsey, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, October 12, 2008
Detroit—Chrysler LLC used unmarked test cars, a secret budget and covert engineering to pull off last month's surprise unveiling of three electric vehicles, thrusting itself into the competition between General Motors and Toyota for fuel-efficiency bragging rights.

Recycling oil: Canton lands 'green' jobs at former brownfield site, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, October 12, 2008
Canton—Hydrodec is starting off green and hoping to make the world a greener place. The British-based company created more than 30 environmentally friendly jobs here when it began to operate an oil reprocessing plant on a reclaimed brownfield site.

Warren mill seen avoiding furloughs, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, October 11, 2008
Warren, Ohio—No layoffs are expected at the Severstal Warren steel mill due to an economic slowdown because scheduled repairs and maintenance will keep workers busy, a spokeswoman said Friday.

Embraer taps Eaton, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 11, 2008
Cleveland—Eaton Corp. said Friday that Embraer, the Brazilian business-jet manufacturer, has selected the Cleveland company to supply landing, steering and hydraulic systems for a pair of new aircraft.