ArcelorMittal to cut 9,000 jobs worldwide, Metal Producing News, November 28, 2008
Luxembourg—ArcelorMittal S.A., the world’s largest steelmaker is planning to eliminate 3% of its global workforce, or about 9,000 positions in total. About two-thirds of the positions to be eliminated will be at ArcelorMittal’s European operations.

Opinion: A car wreck made in Washington; Can Democrats afford to let Detroit succeed? by Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2008 (Subscription)
New York—Any of the brainpans on the Hill might have asked why Ford and GM managed to build viable auto businesses all over the world but not in North America. You don't need the Hubble telescope to tell the answer: The UAW is present only in the U.S., not all over the world.

DuneCraft creator's toy business a 6-year wonder, by Marcia Pledger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 28, 2008
Newbury Township, Geauga County, Ohio—Six years ago, Grant Cleveland launched DuneCraft Inc. with just the cactus kit, called the Odd Pod, and less than $100,000 he raised from suppliers and angel investors. Today, DuneCraft has 25 employees and offers 250 educational novelty products through national retailers.

Cleveland port leader pushes for billions in federal money for lakefront plans, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2008
Cleveland—State and local leaders must push for a multibillion-dollar injection of federal funds to help move the port from east of the river's mouth and make way for an "iconic" waterfront district, says lawyer Michael Wager, chairman of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

Economy delays GE's plan to spin off Nela Park, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 26, 2008
East Cleveland, Ohio—In July, General Electric Co. said it would spin off its nearly $14 billion-a-year consumer and industrial unit, including the lighting business at its Nela Park research campus in East Cleveland. Although GE has not shed an light on the deal, other sources say the economic crisis has halted the plan.

Dana to lay off 50 at Missouri factory, Toledo Blade, November 26, 2008
Toledo—Toledo’s Dana Holding Corp. said yesterday it plans to lay off about 50 of 250 employees at its plant in Columbia, Mo., that makes axles for Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp., and Nissan Motor Co.

Layoffs set at Warren Steel Holdings, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 26, 2008
Warren Township, Ohio—Warren Steel Holdings LLC began mass layoffs Saturday. Meanwhile, the job picture for the area's largest steelmaker—Severstal Warren, formerly WCI Steel Inc.—remains unclear.

Rally to support auto industry; ‘Rev Up America’ to kick off at hockey game, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 26, 2008
Warren, Ohio—Organized by the B.J. Alan Co., the Regional Chamber, UAW and area auto dealers, the Rev Up America initiative is designed to show small town America fighting to support the auto industry and some 5,000 local auto workers, organizers said.

Cooper Tire to hear proposals, by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, November 26, 2008
Findlay, Ohio—Findlay, Hancock County and state leaders will meet with Cooper Tire & Rubber officials this morning to present incentives designed to keep the Findlay plant open.

Medina Glass Block files for bankruptcy, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 25, 2008
Medina, Ohio—Stung by the protracted downturn in home building, Medina Glass Block Inc. said today it was filing for Chapter 11 protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Akron.

Automakers settle for tough love, by Gerald F. Seib, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2008 (Subscription)
New York—It seems the only love auto makers can get from Washington these days is of the tough variety -- and from some quarters they can't get even that. All told, the auto industry is seeing its political support crumple like a badly rusted fender.

Work moves to save GM $1.5M, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, November 25, 2008
Lordstown, Ohio— The car plant will save $1.5 million in annual operating costs by moving some work into the plant that had been done by suppliers. Plant management will continue to look for ways to cut costs and that could mean more work being brought inside the plant later, said a spokesman.

Related stories:

• Lordstown to cut costs, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, November 25, 2008
• Four car factories to close for week; Lordstown among those facing production cuts, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, November 25, 2008
• Pencils? Wall clocks? No cost cuts are too small at GM, by John D. Stoll and Sharon Terlep, , Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2008 (Subscription)

ArcelorMittal may lay off 2,400 in Indiana, by Sarah Hollander, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 24, 2008
Cleveland—ArcelorMittal and United Steelworkers Local 979 said the partial-pay layoffs that began at its Cleveland operations earlier this month are still voluntary, although the world's largest steelmaker said today that it will lay off up to 2,444 workers at its Burns Harbor, Ind., plant in January.

Related story: Arcelor warns of layoffs, by Robert Guy Matthews, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2008 (Subscription)

Winners and losers from BHP-Rio collapse, by Dana Cimilluca, Wall Street Journal, November 25, 2008 (Subscription)
Winners: Steelmakers. Companies that had been complaining that the deal would reduce competition for their main input — iron ore — will breathe a sigh of relief. Now they can focus exclusively on their own dismal demand outlook.

Steel industry struggles to survive after quick downturn forces layoffs and production cuts, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, November 25, 2008
Pittsburgh—Just weeks after posting record profits, steel makers are facing a harsh new reality: dwindling orders, production cuts, layoffs. And tougher times are ahead, analysts say.

Related story: After record profits, steel shaken by sudden drop, AP via Canton Repository, November 23, 2008

Judge permits sale of Lima ethanol plant, Toledo Blade, November 25, 2008
Toledo—U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Mary Ann Whipple authorized owners yesterday to seek bids for a shuttered ethanol plant in Lima. Owner GOE Lima LLC hopes to complete the bidding process by mid-December.

How to get funds for business in tough times, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, November 24, 2008
Akron—Even in economic times like these, the government gives some $100 billion in grants to businesses every year, consultant Liz Powell said at a recent Small Business Development Center seminar at the Akron Global Business

Young skilled workers in demand in face of budget cuts, focus on core classes, by Amanda Godfrey, Sandusky Register, November 24, 2008
Sandusky, Ohio—Skilled workers are in high demand, yet many in the industrial technology field claim there's a shortage of young people trained for the tasks. Brad Watson, a first-year welding teacher at Sandusky High School, said after graduating from EHOVE (the Erie, Huron and Ottawa school districts' vocational education center), he went straight into the field—but his concern for the industry brought him back to school.

Max Hayes High, with eye on trades, plans expansion, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 24, 2008 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Cleveland’s rare, growing high school might soon get another dose of protein, as Max Hayes High School on the city’s near West Side is slated for a $48 million expansion aimed at training more students to work in advanced manufacturing and other skilled trades.

CEOs to speak at national summit in Detroit in '09, AP via Canton Repository, November 24, 2008
Detroit—More than a dozen corporate chiefs have agreed to speak at a national convention in Detroit next year on the future of manufacturing, technology, energy and the environment. The event, called The National Summit will be June 15-17 at Ford Field and is sponsored by the Detroit Economic Club.

Auto Industry Crisis: This Week's Editorials:

• Auto inaction will impact us deeply, by Brian Tucker, Crain's Cleveland Business, November 24, 2008 (Subscription)
  
• Desperate Detroit goes to Washington; Why automakers deserved better than they received, by Michael Douglas, Akron Beacon Journal, November 23, 2008
  
• Big Three—or, more accurately, their workers—deserve some bailout action, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, November 23, 2008
  
• Sen. George Voinovich tried to help the Big Three and their works, but politics got in the way, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 22, 2008

Ohio's job outlook: Ready work force helps, but rust-belt image hurts, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 23, 2008
Columbus—Last month, Gov. Ted Strickland issued an executive order creating the Ohio Economic Growth Cabinet. Ohio's largest departments must collaborate and streamline to promote business prospects.

GM adds to production cuts, by Tom Krisher, AP via Canton Repository, November 22, 2008
Detroit—General Motors Corp. will extend its holiday shutdown or make other production cuts at five factories at as it deals with a continued U.S. auto sales slump and fights to stay solvent.

Related story: GM adds more shutdowns, but Toledo plant layoffs canceled, Toledo Blade, November 22, 2008

Bankruptcy hearings set for Lima ethanol plant, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, November 22, 2008
Toledo—Just three years ago, its co-founder was named a finalist for Ernst & Young's entrepreneur of the year contest in northwest Ohio. But now Greater Ohio Ethanol LLC's lone plant on Houx Parkway in Lima is shuttered.

No layoffs expected: But Ford plant going to have more down time, by Jeff Green, Lorain Morning Journal, November 22, 2008
Avon Lake, Ohio—The Ford Ohio Assembly Plant announced additional down weeks into next year, but will likely not permanently lay off any employees, even as it reduces line speeds to cope with an economy in recession, according to Tim Donovan, president of United Auto Workers Local 2000.

Big Three told to justify loan requests, by Ken Thomas, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 22, 2008
Washington—Democratic leaders ordered Detroit's Big Three automakers Friday to submit what amounts to a detailed loan application to Congress so lawmakers can decide whether to give the beleaguered industry an emergency $25 billion lifeline.

Lubrizol Corp. worker gets prison for selling trade secrets to competitor, by Peter Krouse, Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 22, 2008
Cleveland—U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver sentenced Kyung Kim last week to 19 months in prison and imposed a fine of more than $188,000, but turned down Lubrizol's request that Kim repay nearly $800,000 in wages and benefits received during the time Kim was spying for a South Korean competitor.