Akron, Stark students learn new welding technology in Army co-op program, Akron Beacon Journal, February 20, 2009
Akron—A new welding technology, called "MIG weld," was shown Thursday to students from the University of Akron and Stark State at Lockheed Martin manufacturing facilities in Akron as part of a cooperative program involving the Picatinny Arsenal, the U.S. Army's research and development armament unit, and the Defense Metal Technology Center.

ArcelorMittal's Cleveland plant could see more layoffs, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 20, 2009
Cleveland—Production workers at ArcelorMittal’s Cleveland plant are expecting at least one more round of significant layoffs before the recently passed $787 billion federal stimulus bill gets the steelmaker’s local furnaces fired up again.

Point man on auto industry has rescued many companies, by Brady Dennis, Washington Post via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 20, 2009
Washington—Ron will serve as a sort of point man on a presidential task force assigned to help overhaul troubled domestic automakers as they face a March 31 deadline to complete plans for a turnaround.

Delphi Packard makes 54 more layoffs permanent, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 20, 2009
Warren, Ohio—Auto parts maker Delphi Packard Electric on Thursday added 54 workers to its permanent layoff list, running the total to 153, a union official said.

Ford benefits as GM, Chrysler stumble, by Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, February 20, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—While GM and Chrysler have been hit with a steady stream of negative news—including growing concern they may need to file for bankruptcy protection—Ford has been having more success at luring away its competitors' customers.

Era ends as GM snubs Saturn, other makes, by Kate Linebaugh and Neal E. Boudette, Wall Street Journal, February 19, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Left with just four key brands, GM will be a leaner, more focused car company. But it also risks a further slide in its already-shrunken market share as it loses customers who gravitated to the four orphaned lines.

GM unit Saab files for protection from creditors, by Karl Ritter, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 20, 2009
Stockholm—General Motors Corp.'s Swedish-based subsidiary Saab filed for bankruptcy protection Friday so it can be spun off or sold by its struggling U.S. parent, officials said

This week's earnings reports:

• Nordson Corp.'s profit down sharply for quarter, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 19, 2009
• Nordson reports sharp drop in first-quarter results, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 20, 2009
• La-Z-Boy posts quarterly loss, Toledo Blade, February 18, 2009

Whirlpool to invest $175M at Clyde plant, Toledo Blade, February 19, 2009
Clyde, Ohio—Whirlpool Corp. will invest $175 million at its manufacturing plant in this Sandusky County town as part of its plan to begin building a new energy-efficient automatic washer, a move that is expected to create 90 to 100 jobs.

Awards ceremony honors technology excellence, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 19, 2009
Westlake, Ohio—A sellout crowd of 350 attendees at Windows on the River in downtown Cleveland on Wednesday night celebrated the achievements of those organizations honored as recipients of the NorTech Innovation Awards.

CSU amends plan to salvage grant for Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering, by Janet Okoben, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 19, 2009
Cleveland—Lorain County Community College has agreed to become the primary host of an engineering center that was to have been housed at Cleveland State University.

Court clears way for American Greetings acquisition, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 19, 2009
Cleveland—U.S. Bankruptcy Court filings reveal Recycled Paper Greetings Inc., the Chicago-based greeting card maker being acquired by American Greetings Corp., has received court approval of its plans to reorganize itself under Chapter 11 so it can be acquired.

Bridgestone expects 71% profit drop this year, by Makiko Kitamura, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Beacon Journal, February 19, 2009
Tokyo—Bridgestone Corp., the world's largest tire maker by sales, said Thursday it expects a 71 percent profit drop this year because of plunging demand for new cars and a stronger yen in foreign exchange.

Honda's Ohio plants recognized by EPA, Dayton Daily News, February 19, 2009
Washington—Honda automotive operations in Ohio—including the Honda of America Manufacturing's factories in Marysville and East Liberty—received an Energy Star from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

GM plan: Many play role, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, February 19, 2009
Youngstown—Fritz Henderson, GM chief operating officer, said on a conference call Wednesday that the automaker didn’t have enough time to complete negotiations the United Auto Workers before submitting its viability plan to the Treasury Department.

GO-ing Gone: Ethanol plant sale approved, by Bart Mills, Lima Ohio News, February 19, 2009
Toledo—Judge Mary Ann Whipple, of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, gave final approval to the sale of the failed ethanol plant Wednesday, opening the gate for Paladin Capital Group to take ownership of the now-shuttered ethanol plant.

Editorial: Leaders need to stay focused on developments, Warren Tribune Chronicle, February 19, 2009
Warren—It's important for local leaders to stay abreast of developments like the Great Lakes Energy Development Task Force. Wind power is one part of the nation's energy future. It should be part of Trumbull's future too.

Region's air is cleaner, state tells EPA, by Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal, February 19, 2009
Columbus—The state is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to declare that the Akron-Cleveland area complies with 1997 federal limits for the pollutant ozone.

Stimulus benefits local workforce, by Alan Ingram, Lorain Morning Journal, February 19, 2009
Lorain—According to The White House, Ohio's 13th Congressional District, which includes Lorain and Elyria, is estimated to have 7,500 jobs created or saved as a result of the new federal stimulus legislation.

GM, Chrysler in danger, by Keight Naughton and Alan Ohnsman, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, February 19, 2009
Washington— In separate filings to the Treasury Department on Tuesday, the two automakers said filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy-court protection could lead to liquidation, potentially costing millions of jobs and cost the taxpayers as much as $110 billion.

Wholesale inflation takes biggest jump in 6 months, by Martin Crutsinger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 19, 2009
Washington—Inflation at the wholesale level surged unexpectedly in January, reflecting sharply higher prices for gasoline and other energy products.

Loans available, but costly, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, February 18, 2009
Akron—Banks are scrutinizing commercial borrowers more, but business loans are still being made and rates are still quite reasonable, according to a panel of bank officers. The group addressed area business representatives this week in an event co-sponsored by MAGNET and the Greater Akron Chamber.

Federal Reserve downgrades economic forecast for this year, by Jeannine Aversa, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2009
Washington—The Federal Reserve on Wednesday sharply downgraded its projections for the country's economic performance this year, predicting the economy will actually shrink and unemployment will rise higher.

Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank predicts slight U.S. economic upturn, by Kantele Franko, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2009
Cleveland—Sandra Pianalto, president of the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland, projected real gross domestic product to decline sharply in the first half of 2009, followed by a modest upturn in the second half.

GM, Chrysler deliver their plans, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2009
Washington—General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC say they will cut 50,000 jobs worldwide and need $21.6 billion more in government loans to survive—a total of $39 billion since December.

Network matches Northeast Ohio workers to skills, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, February 18, 2009
Akron—The new Regional Talent Network represents the first time that businesses, colleges and work force development organizations from across the region have united to address the issue of talent development, said Greater Akron Chamber President Dan Colantone.

UAW deal reportedly cuts bonuses, some raises, by Tom Krisher and Kimberly S. Johnson, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 18, 2009
Detroit—People briefed on the United Auto Workers' deal with Detroit's three automakers say it limits overtime, changes work rules, cuts lump-sum cash bonuses and gets rid of cost-of-living pay raises to help reduce the companies' labor costs.

Metalworking companies continue to lay off workers, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 18, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—In a survey of 147 member companies, the Precision Metalforming Association says 75% of survey respondents said they either had let workers go or put them on reduced hours this month. That's up from 16% a year ago.

Sen. Brown spotlights Toledo solar firm, by Tom Henry, Toledo Blade, February 18, 2009
Toledo—U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) Tuesday made West Toledo’s Xunlight Corp. the backdrop for his first Ohio appearance since casting the decisive 60th vote for President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus bill last week. Mr. Brown wants the start-up solar-panel manufacturer to get a piece of that pie to generate more sorely needed jobs.

Northeast Ohio manufacturers and bankers meet to talk credit; MAGNET and Akron Regional Chamber bring the two together, by M.L. Schutze, WKSU, February 17, 2009
Akron—Northeast Ohio bankers are telling northeast Ohio manufacturers that credit is not as expensive, nor as hard to come by, as they fear. But, there's a but—consumer credit continues to weigh down everybody. Listen to the audio report.

GM seeks up to $30 billion in aid, will cut 47,000 jobs, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 18, 2009
Detroit—General Motors Corp., presenting a dire outlook for the future, said today it may need $30 billion in total government financing to weather the economic downturn and would cut 47,000 jobs worldwide and shutter five more U.S. factories in a massive restructuring plan.

• GM seeks $16.6 billion more in U.S. aid, by John D. Stoll, Sharon Terlep and Alex P. Kellogg, Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2009 (Subscription)
• Chrysler seeks $5 billion more in government viability plan, by Dan Strumpf, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 18, 2009
• General Motors Corp., Chrysler to cut 50,000 jobs, seek billions more in loans, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2009

Goodyear cutting nearly 5,000 jobs after fourth-quarter loss, by M.R. Kropko, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, February 18, 2009
Cleveland—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., the biggest U.S. tire maker, said Wednesday it plans to cut 5,000 jobs this year after swinging to a fourth-quarter loss as sales sank 21 percent.

• Goodyear swings to loss, plans job cuts, by Shirleen Dorman, Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2009 (Subscription)

Toyota to further halt output; Mitsubishi to end Chrysler deal, by Yoshio Takahashi, Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2009 (Subscription)
Tokyo—Hit by the standstill in auto sales, Toyota Motor Corp. announced Wednesday that it plans to further suspend domestic output in April, while Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said it will effectively cut its long-standing ties with Chrysler LLC.

Cooper Tire, Kenda to end marketing, distribution deal, Findlay Courier, February 18, 2009
Findlay—Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. and American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. will end their marketing and distribution arrangement with the Kenda brand in the United States and Canada, beginning May 1.

New Riegel meat plant to close; 230 jobs affected, Toledo Blade, February 18, 2009
New Riegel, Seneca County, Ohio—Pork processor Farmland Foods has announced that it will close its plant in New Riegel, Ohio, in April and move its spiral ham production to other facilities.

Engineers, counselors to pitch engineering at free career event on Saturday, Feb. 21, by Edith Starzyk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2009
Cleveland—Engineers from local companies will join Ohio college counselors on Saturday morning in Brecksville to make their pitch. "Engineering for You" runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, 8001 Brecksville Road.

• Toledo area's Engineers Week tries to draw interest from students, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, February 17, 2009

Airship manufacturer proposes partnership with Vienna airport, Youngstown Vindicator, February 17, 2009
Vienna, Ohio—Robert Rist, president of Ohio Airships Inc., will make a presentation to the Western Reserve Port Authority on Wednesday morning, seeking a partnership to allow the company to test and build its Dynalifter freight-moving aircraft at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. If approved, the project could add 1,500 airport and manufacturing jobs for the region.

Communities edgy as automakers give plans to feds, by Jeff Karoub, AP via Canton Repository, February 17, 2009
Detroit—For one community, the map tells the story of its dependence on the U.S. automotive industry. At Warren’s heart is General Motors Corp.’s one-square-mile Tech Center. To its south is a GM transmission plant. South of that are two Chrysler LLC facilities.

• Auto workers absorb news about GM, Chrysler job cuts, by Karen Farkas, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 18, 2009

Salaried retirees move to block Delphi cuts, by Thomas Gnau, Dayton Daily News, February 17, 2009
Dayton—A newly formed association of salaried Delphi retirees is taking legal action against Delphi to stop the company from pulling health care and insurance coverage benefits from them and future salaried retirees.

• Law firm files objection over Delphi Corp. action, Youngstown Vindicator, February 18, 2009

It’s D-Day for auto industry survival, Detroit Free Press via Youngstown Vindicator, February 17, 2009
Washington—It may take at least six weeks to know whether the detailed survival plans that General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC will submit today to the Obama administration represent a new beginning or a last gasp.

• GM, Chrysler race to meet restructuring deadline, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, February 17, 2009
• UAW, GM make progress in auto talks, sources say, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2009
• Auto union negotiations stall as deadline nears, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, February 15, 2009

Yet another "footprint" to worry about: water, by Alexandra Alter, Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—A handful of companies have started tracking "water footprints" as a growing threat of fresh-water shortages looms. The drive, modeled partly on carbon foot printing, a widely used measurement of carbon-dioxide emissions, comes as groundwater reserves are being depleted and polluted at unsustainable rates in many regions. Despite the challenges involved, water foot printing is poised to grow.

Does the United States make anything anymore? by Stephen Manning, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2009
Washington—Manufacturing in the United States isn't dead or even dying. It's moving upscale, following the biggest profits, and becoming more efficient. The United States by far remains the world's leading manufacturer by value of goods produced. It hit a record $1.6 trillion in 2007. For every $1 of value produced in China's factories, America generates $2.50.

Dow Chemical to produce thermoplastic solar roof shingles, Saginaw News via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 16, 2009
Midland, Mich.—During the past year, engineers, scientists and others at Dow Solar Solutions have worked at a photovoltaic facility. At the center of the project is a $2.5-million injecting and molding machine nicknamed "The Beast" that converts solar cells into finished shingles.

Coalition of local business, union leaders work to send message of improved labor-management relations here, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 16, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Leaders from business, labor, government and nonprofits are holding a “Labor Economy Summit,” planned for April 29 at Cleveland State University. The effort is spearheaded by the Work in Northeast Ohio Council, whose mission is to help employers and employees create positive work environments in the region.

Entrepreneur week gets boost from grant, by Shannon Mortland, Crain's Cleveland Business, February 16, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The Burton D. Morgan Foundation awarded $79,000 for the Entrepreneurship Immersion Week at Kent State University this summer and for LaunchTown, a multi-college business idea competition.

Obama to appoint panel for auto recovery, AP via Toledo Blade, February 16, 2009
Washington—The Obama administration is establishing a presidential task force to direct the restructuring of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers will oversee the across-the-government panel.

• Auto adviser (Ron Bloom) helped revamp steel industry, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 17, 2009
  
• Labor leaders praise new auto-bailout adviser (Ron Bloom), by Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, February 17, 2009 (Subscription)

Auto industry must restructure, Obama adviser says, by Douglass K. Daniel, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 15, 2009
Washington—"We need an auto industry in this country. There are millions of lives, livelihoods that depend on it," White House adviser David Axelrod said on "Meet the Press" on NBC. "We have a real interest in seeing the auto industry survive, but it's going to require a major restructuring of the auto industry."

NASA Glenn Research Center-led group to power a fuel cell electric bus with hydrogen from lake water, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 14, 2009
Cleveland—The NASA Glenn Research Center is working to power a fuel cell electric bus with hydrogen drawn from Lake Erie water. A NASA-led consortium of 12 partner companies from the region has applied for a $2.6 million grant from the Ohio Third Frontier Wright Projects program.

Akron Council on World Affairs hosts trade discussion on South Korea, Akron Beacon Journal, February 14, 2009
Akron—The Akron Council on World Affairs will host a discussion about trade between the United States and South Korea Feb. 26-27 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn. Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 20.

Temporary shutdowns hit 1,550 at GM locally, Toledo Blade, February 14, 2009
Toledo—General Motors Corp. announced temporary shutdowns of its Defiance, Ohio Powertrain plant and its Toledo Powertrain plant.