Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland pushes for federal bailout of auto industry, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 30, 2008
Columbus—Gov. Ted Strickland and the governors of five other states are encouraging federal officials to use some of the $700 billion federal banking bailout package to prop up the auto industry.

Related stories:

Six governors seek help for automakers, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, October 31, 2008

Hope and fear in Motown, by Micheline Maynard and Nick Bunkley, New York Times, October 30, 2008
Detroit—The consulting firm Grant Thornton predicted that if the GM/Chrysler merger happens, half of Chrysler’s 14 manufacturing plants might close in a merger and hundreds of parts makers could go out of business.

Ford to add 1,000 workers at Michigan F-150 factory, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, October 31, 2008
Dearborn, Mich.—Ford Motor Co. is predicting pickup truck sales will bounce back enough for it to add 1,000 workers to its Dearborn F-150 factory in January.

Ford says it can make it without a merger, by Bill Vlasic, New York Times, October 30, 2008
Dearborn, Mich.—While its Detroit rivals General Motors and Chrysler wrestle over terms of a possible merger and seek help from Washington to survive the steepest downturn in the industry in decades, Ford says it can survive, and thrive, on its own.

Smucker jampacked with plans; Orville company expanding, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, October 31, 2008
Orville, Ohio—With next week's pending merger of the J.M. Smucker Co. and Folgers Coffee, the company will be growing by employees and in size. The food company, best known for jams and jellies, will need the extra space as it adds 150 to 200 employees at its headquarters in the next year.

Timken pledges $1 million to project, Canton Repository, October 31, 2008
Alliance, Ohio—The Timken Foundation of Canton has made a Drive for Distinction Campaign pledge of $1 million to Mount Union College for the Health and Wellness Center project.

GO Ethanol faces shutdown next week; Plant, BP haven't reached deal to keep plant running, by Bart Mills, Lima News, October 30, 2008
Toledo—The future of Greater Ohio Ethanol is in the hands of the banks and British Petroleum and as of Thursday, neither seemed willing to step up to help, a situation that could force the plant to shut down as early as Tuesday.

Interstate Bakeries gains in bankruptcy exit, Toledo Blade, October 31, 2008
Kansas City, Mo.—Interstate Bakeries Corp. can begin seeking creditor approval of a plan that would allow the maker of Hostess Twinkies and Wonder Bread to emerge from more than four years of bankruptcy court protection, a judge ruled yesterday. The company operates a Wonder Bread plant in the Toledo suburb of Northwood.

Western Reserve Port Authority: Specialist sought to create jobs, by Ed Runyan, Youngstown Vindicator, October 31, 2008
Vienna, Ohio—With funding commitments finally in place, officials are taking steps to hire an economic development professional for the Western Reserve Port Authority. The port authority, which has worked in conjunction with the Regional Chamber on economic development activities, oversees operation of Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport here.

The greening of technology, by Melanie Martella, Sensors Magazine, October 31, 2008
Boston—A panel session at the Embedded Systems Conference here this week dealt with the growth potential in clean tech (environmentally conscious technology, including but not limited to alternative energy) which, according to Bruce Rayner of Tech Insights, has the potential to dwarf the impact of semiconductors.

Earnings Reports

Steris Corp. second-quarter income up 80 percent, by Mary Vanac, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 31, 2008

Diebold's quarterly earnings skyrocket, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, October 31, 2008

Lubrizol maintains 2008 adjusted profit outlook, AP via Forbes.com, October 30, 2008

Olympic Steel 3Q profit jumps as steel prices rise, AP via Forbes.com, October 30, 2008

Brush Engineered posts flat third-quarter net income, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 30, 2008 (Subscription)

Newell quarterly profit falls 68%; Manufacturer narrows full-year expectations, by Ashley Heher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, October 31, 2008

Ohio to take applications for advanced energy loans and grants, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 30, 2008
Columbus—Ohio's $150 million advanced energy job stimulus fund will begin taking grant and loan applications in November. There will be a bidder's workshop in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 7.

Brook Park plants to make some Ford Fusion engines, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 30, 2008
Detroit—Starting late next year, Ford will offer its 3.5-liter V-6 engine, to be made at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1, in a small number of Fusion models for the first time. The company also will offer a revamped version of the 3-liter V-6 made at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 2.

Alternative Energy: First Solar to enter residential markets, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, October 30, 2008
Tempe, Ariz.—First Solar Inc., which has its only U.S. manufacturing operation in Perrysburg Township, said yesterday it has struck a deal with a California firm that will give it entree to the residential market.

GM spending cuts could delay work on new small car, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 30, 2008
Detroit—General Motors Corp. is postponing some spending on development and could delay the new Chevrolet Cruze small car it plans to build in Lordstown in 2010.

Related story: Startup of Cruze on track, GM says, Youngstown Vindicator, October 30, 2008
Youngstown—Chris Lee, a GM spokesman, said Wednesday that the new Chevrolet Cruze remains on schedule to be launched from the company’s Lordstown complex in the summer of 2010.

Hurdles emerge for GM, Chrysler, Kendra Marr and David Cho, Washington Post, October 30, 2008
Detroit—General Motors' pursuit of a possible merger with Chrysler is running up against several unresolved issues, but talks are progress on other fronts. One matter that has been decided is that GM's chairman and chief executive G. Richard Wagoner would oversee the combined company.

Congressman tours Cooper Tire, by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, October 30, 2008
Findlay, Ohio—During a tour of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.'s Findlay plant on Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan reviewed materials Cooper officials have presented to Findlay, Hancock County and state leaders concerning a possible closures of one of the company's four U.S. plants.

Earnings Reports:

• Accounting charge produces third-quarter loss for Owens Corning, Toledo Blade, October 29, 2008
• North Canton-based Diebold reports 3Q earnings up 65 percent, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 30, 2008
• O-I reports rise in profit; OC swings to red ink, Toledo Blade, October 30, 2008

Gov. Sarah Palin visits Xunlight Corp.; outlines new energy policy, Toledo Blade, October 29, 2008
Toledo—Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin used a Wednesday morning tour and speech occasion at Xunlight Corp. in Toledo to forcefully spell out a new energy policy that she said would be followed under a McCain administration.

Tenneco to close Erie County plant in 2009, Toledo Blade, October 29, 2008
Lake Forest, Ill.—Tenneco Inc. announced it will close its elastomer plant in Milan, Ohio eliminating about 80 jobs at its manufacturing center. However, approximately 80 employees at its adjacent engineering center will not be impacted.

Report: GM postponing product development spending, AP via Toledo Blade, October 29, 2008
Detroit—Automotive News, an automotive trade publication reports General Motors is postponing nearly all of its spending on product development in 2009 and 2010 as part of a cost-cutting effort.

Salem mayor helps arrange talks to end American Standard strike, Youngstown Vindicator, October 29, 2008
Salem, Ohio—Mayor Jerry Wolford says he believes lines of communication can be re-established between management and union workers at American Standard.

Magazine features Akron company, Akron Beacon Journal, October 29, 2008
Cleveland—InSeT Systems, an Akron company with a new way of locating underground miners, is featured in the November issue of Inc. In a regular finance feature, the magazine pitched the company to three investors for advice.

Automakers seek government aid beyond loans, AP via Canton Repository, October 29, 2008
Washington—Beleaguered U.S. automakers are seeking federal help beyond the money that Congress has made available for them as part of a financial industry bailout and a measure to retool their assembly plants for more fuel-efficient cars, the White House said Tuesday.

Whirlpool adding 400 posts to Findlay when Tennessee plant closes, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, October 29, 2008
Benton Harbor, Mich.—Whirpool Corp. said by mid-2009 it will close a dishwasher factory in Jackson, Tenn. and move about 400 jobs to to Whirlpool's plant in Findlay, about 40 miles south of Toledo.

North Toledo box plant to close; 70 to lose jobs, Toledo Blade, October 29, 2008
Toledo—About 70 people employed by Greif Inc. at a North Toledo packaging plant will lose their jobs when the plant closes at the end of the year due to lack of work.

Pepsi sets $12 million expansion in Toledo, Toledo Blade, October 28, 2008
Toledo—Toledo's Pepsi-Cola bottling plant is about to become one of three nationwide to undergo a $12.5 million expansion to allow it to simultaneously produce and fill new one-gallon containers of a variety of Lipton brand ice teas.

Area businesses gain in quest for state aid, Toledo Blade, October 28, 2008
Columbus—Two state agencies approved financial aid packages for Latrobe, Pa.-based Kennametal Inc. (for a plant expansion in Whitehouse, Ohio) and the successor company to Norwalk Furniture Corp.

Kent Displays is on a roll with new LCD process, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 28, 2008
Kent, Ohio—Kent Displays Inc., a company that a Kent State University professor spun off 15 years ago from his research, made what he called "a great leap forward" this week, launching a unique manufacturing process for liquid crystal display products.

Timken joint venture breaks ground in China, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 28, 2008 (Subscription)
Canton, Ohio—Timken Co.'s new joint venture, Timken XEMC (Hunan) Bearings Co., has broken ground on a wind energy plant in China.

Regulators plan Great Lakes offshore wind generation, by John Flesher, AP via Chicago Tribune, October 28, 2008
Traverse City, Mich.—Government regulators are bracing for an expected wave of proposals for offshore power generation in a region that never seems to run short of wind. Wind power developers and others gathered here for the International Submerged Lands Management Conference.

MAGNET awards recognize manufacturers' innovations, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 27, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—MAGNET will announce the winners of the 2008 Competitiveness Challenge on November 3, but reports that the projects submitted this year resulted in $250 million in local economic impact and the creation or retention of 136 jobs.

Tremont Electrical founder seeks to market motion-activated power source, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 27, 2008
Cleveland—Tremont Electric, a 2-year-old company founded by Aaron LeMieux, has won the inaugural loan from Cuyahoga County's new innovation fund that will power further field testing, design improvements and market research of the company's Personal Energy Generator.

Ohio's stake in GM, Chrysler enormous, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, October 27, 2008
Akron—Whatever the outcome of the soap opera that could be called "As the Struggling Automakers Turn," it will have significant implications for Ohio's manufacturing economy.

Bankruptcy fears rise as Chrysler, GM seek federal aid, by Jeffrey McCracken and John D. Stoll, Wall Street Journal, October 27, 2008 (Subscription)
Detroit—Though GM and Chrysler dismiss the notion, analysts and investors have begun to question whether one of the companies—locked out of the credit markets and burning cash rapidly—might have to seek bankruptcy protection.

Entrepreneurs adjust to lean times; Area small business owners still see opportunities, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, October 26, 2008
Akron—Steve Millard, executive director of the Council of Small Enterprises, says a recent survey of Northeast Ohio businesses found that nearly half of them have decided against hiring more staff and 30% postponed goals for opening new markets or expanding product lines. But Millard said when he talks to his organization's members on an individual basis, he often finds they are doing just fine, and he encourages them not to overreact.

Chrysler to cut salaried work force, by Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, October 25, 2008
Detroit—Chrysler LLC will cut 25% of its salaried work force starting next month, with more restructuring announcements coming soon.

Incubators have laid an egg, adviser says; To foster development, group should change tactics, report says, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, October 25, 2008
Warrensville Heights, Ohio—Scott Shane, a CWRU professor, delivered a critical report on the results of the Fund for the Economic Future's current development efforts (which include funding for Nortech, JumpStart and MAGNET). Shane told an audience of business leaders gathered at Corporate College that FFOEF would do better by supporting seasoned entrepreneurs, attracting venture capital firms and angel groups, and increasing pre-seed funding to a handful of high-potential companies.

Forecast: Timken Co. blames rising costs, car industry woes, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, October 25, 2008
North Canton—Timken Co., the supplier of bearings to the world's top five car makers, slashed its fourth-quarter profit forecast Friday because of lower auto production and higher raw-material costs.