V&M delays decision on $1B expansion, by David Skolnick, Youngstown Vindicator, March 13, 2009
Columbus—The expected September decision on a proposed $1 billion expansion on the Youngstown-Girard border for V&M Steel has been delayed, but not indefinitely according to the mayors of the two towns.

U.S. trade deficit narrows, as imports and exports decline, by Jeff Bater, Wall Street Journal, March 13, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The U.S. trade deficit narrowed by about 10% in January, brought by falling prices and shrinking demand to its lowest point since 2002.

AT&T gives Ford $350M boost: Avon Lake plant gets five-year, 8,000-unit Econoline contract, by Scot Allyn, Lorain Morning Journal, March 13, 2009
Avon Lake, Ohio—The Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake has been tapped to supply a fleet of 8,000 Ford Econoline vans for AT&T Inc., which plans to convert them to run on natural gas instead of gasoline.

Omnibus bill holds $30M for NW Ohio, by Steve Eder, Toledo Blade, March 13, 2009
Toledo—Thanks to the $410 billion spending bill signed by President Obama this week, northwest Ohio is anticipating a windfall of more than $30 million in government-funded projects.

This week's earnings reports:

• Myers Industries Q4 earnings beat analysts' expectations, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, March 7, 2009
• Hawk Corp. reports improved fourth quarter, but sees weak 2009, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 10, 2009 (Subscription)
• Park-Ohio Holdings posts loss after restructuring charges, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 11, 2009

GM says it doesn't need $2 billion from government in March, by Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 12, 2009
Detroit—It's not as good as black ink, but General Motors' news that it doesn't need government loan money this month is a sign that it is finally starting to bring its gargantuan expenses under control.

• GM says it won't need $2 billion aid for now, by Sharon Terlep and Jeff Bennett, Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2009 (Subscription)
• GM tells U.S. it can survive, Akron Beacon Journal, March 13, 2009

PolyOne partners with a Columbus company to make high-tech plastics, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 12, 2009
Avon Lakes, Ohio—Plastics company PolyOne has partnered with a Zyvex Performance Materials in Columbus to make high-tech plastics for electronics, car parts and other applications.

• PolyOne, Zyvex Performance Materials enter development agreement, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 12, 2009 (Subscription)

Parts suppliers worry Toyota, by Josh Mitchell, Wall Street Journal, March 12, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The head of Toyota Motor Corp.'s U.S. sales told the Obama administration Wednesday the company is concerned about the financial health of 20% of its parts suppliers.

Chrysler threatens to pull out of Canada, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 12, 2009
Ottawa— top Chrysler official issued a grim threat to Canadian lawmakers, warning the struggling U.S. automaker may shut down its plants in Canada if it doesn't get significant labor concessions and government aid.

Honda set for hybrid race, by Alan Ohnsman, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, March 12, 2009
New York—Aiming to cut into Toyota's dominance of gasoline-electric auto sales, Honda has set the U.S. base price of its new Insight hybrid car $2,200 below the least expensive version of the top-selling Prius.

AT&T to order 8,000 eco-friendly vans from Ford's Avon Lake plant, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 11, 2009
Cleveland—AT&T plans to spend $350 million over the next five years to buy 8,000 vans made at Ford Motor Co.'s Avon Lake plant and convert them to run on natural gas.

Fairlawn plastics firm A. Schulman has deal with Michigan nano-tech company, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 11, 2009
Fairlawn, Ohio—A. Schulman Inc. said Tuesday it has an agreement with a Michigan start-up firm, nanoScience Engineering Corp., to develop improved products, from food wrap to auto parts, using newly developed nanocomposites.

New Lima company gets $175,000 from state, Toledo Blade, March 11, 2009
Lima, Ohio—Kettle Creations LLC, has received a $175,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development for its new plant in the Gateway Commerce Business Park.

JumpStart reorganizes into three divisions, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 11, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—JumpStart Inc. Ventures will invest in technology-based startups, JumpStart TechLift Advisors will help high-tech businesses regardless of whether they receive money from the organization, and JumpStart Inclusion Advisors will assist companies that are led by minorities and women, as well as companies in distressed urban neighborhoods.

Canadian auto workers approve GM deal, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 11, 2009
Toronto—Members of the Canadian Auto Workers union have voted 87 percent in favor of a new cost-cutting contract with General Motors.

General Motors and Chrysler workers reluctant to take latest buyout offers, by Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 11, 2009
Detroit—Blue-collar workers at General Motors and Chrysler have about two weeks to make a difficult choice: Stay on the job and face layoffs or possible wage and benefit cuts, or take cash to leave, only to risk seeing the money tied up in court if their company files for bankruptcy protection.

Ford says modified UAW pact brings foreign parity, by Kimberly S. Johnson, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 11, 2009
Detroit—Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday that recent modifications to its contract with the United Auto Workers union would help the company achieve parity with wages paid in the United States by overseas-based automakers.

E.P.A. proposes tracking industry emissions, by Kate Galbraith, New York Times, March 11, 2009
Washington—The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule on Tuesday that would require a broad range of industries to tally and report their greenhouse gas emissions.

Shrinkage in alternative energy field predicted But report foresees growth in long term, AP via Toledo Blade, March 11, 2009
Sioux Falls, S.D.—The alternative energy sector will consolidate and retrench in 2009, but because of new government policies, spending, and regulation, it will "get through" the year better than most, , according to a new report from Clean Edge., an industry research firm.

Honda says orders for hybrid exceed sales targets, by Yoshio Takahashi, Wall Street Journal, March 11, 2009 (Subscription)
Tokyo—Honda Motor Co. said orders for its recently launched Insight hybrid vehicle are more than triple the budget-priced vehicle's monthly sales target.

ArcelorMittal files notice of plans to lay off 912 workers in Cleveland, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 11, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—In confirmation of previously published reports, ArcelorMittal Cleveland has informed the state of Ohio of its intention to lay off 912 workers from its steel plant in the Flats.

EPA awards green flag to Frito-Lay in Canton Township, by Saimi Bergmann, AP via Canton Repository, March 10, 2009
Canton Township, Ohio—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded its National Environmental Performance Track Program "green" flag to Frito-Lay, making the facility one of only 15 Ohio companies to achieve that recognition.

Rust Belt a business magnet? by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, March 10, 2009
Warren, Ohio—Even during an economic recession, the Warren-Youngstown area Monday won recognition for planting the seeds of recovery. Site Selection magazine reported the metropolitan area for the first time cracked the national top 10 among second-tier areas for attracting and retaining major employers.

Official: Situation looking positive for Baard facility, by D.A. Wilkinson, Youngstown Vindicator, March 10, 2009
Wellsville, Ohio—Tracy Drake, chief executive officer for the Columbiana County Port Authority, said Monday that the purchase of land for a coal-to-fuel plant could be completed by May. Baard Energy of Vancouver, Wash., plans to build the facility near the Ohio River at an estimated cost of $6 billion.

Union rep: 32 at Coe laid off, then rehired, by Brandon C. Baker, Northeast Ohio News-Herald, March 10, 2009
Painesville, Ohio—A United Steelworkers union staff representative on Monday confirmed that Coe Manufacturing of Painesville terminated the 32 employees that he represented at the engineered wood processor for the forest products industry.

Wholesale inventories fall again in January, by Martin Crutsinger, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 10, 2009
Washington—U.S. businesses slashed inventories at the wholesale level for a fifth straight month in January, a warning signal that companies likely will be cutting production even more to cope with a deepening recession.

Ford UAW workers ratify concessions, by Keith Naughton, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, March 10, 2009
New York—Ford Motor Co., seeking to survive without federal aid, became the first U.S. carmaker to gain a new round of concessions from the United Auto Workers union as members ratified reductions to compensation and benefits.

Ohio tops nation in corporate investment, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, March 9, 2009
Akron—Ohio led the nation in the number of new and expanded corporate facilities in 2008, and Akron ranked second among mid-size cities with qualifying projects, according to a magazine's honor roll.

Drawn together for a common good, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 9, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The Cleveland manufacturing advocacy groups Magnet and Wire-Net got plenty of ideas from local companies on how to boost the local economy for manufacturers when more than 150 companies participated in the groups' joint meeting Feb. 27-28.

Editorial: Ford engine plant's revival is rare good news for NE Ohio workers, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 9, 2009
Cleveland—After months of lobbying by area elected officials and by leaders of United Auto Workers Local 1250, Ford Motor Co. has decided to make its sophisticated new EcoBoost V-6 engine here and reopen Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Brookpark. The vote of confidence is a welcome reminder that this region knows how to make things and make them well.

Timken signs deal with Chinese wind power company, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 9, 2009 (Subscription)
Canton—Timken Co. has signed a multiyear agreement to supply wind turbine gearbox bearings for with Nanjing High Speed Gear Manufacturing Co., a Chinese manufacturer of wind power, marine, construction and industrial gear transmission equipment.

Avon Lake UAW local approves Ford contract; national results expected soon, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 9, 2009
Cleveland—Workers at Ford Motor Co.'s Avon Lake plant "overwhelmingly approved" changes to their contract with the automaker Saturday, union officials said, making it the third Northeast Ohio local of the United Auto Workers to approve changes.

• UAW Local 1250 votes on contract changes at Ford's Brook Park complex, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 5, 2009

Eaton says CEO taking a furlough, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 9, 2009
Cleveland—On Monday, Eaton Corp. said Alexander Cutler, chairman, president and chief executive officer, and all the managers who report directly to him will take two weeks of unpaid leave, extending cost-saving furloughs to its highest rank of executives.

Developer plans to change order of Goodyear project, by Jim Mackinnon and Phil Trexler, Akron Beacon Journal, March 9, 2009
Akron—As Summit County and Akron city governments close in on signing a $17.2 million public financing agreement that will allow the $900 million Goodyear headquarters complex to proceed, the project's private developer said he needs to change the order of construction.

UAW members approve Ford contract cuts, by Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2009 (Subscription)
Detroit—Union workers at Ford Motor Co. have agreed to sweeping cost-cutting changes in their labor contract, a development likely to renew pressure on Ford's struggling domestic competitors, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, to secure similar concessions.

Lean factories find it hard to cut jobs even in a slump, by Timothy Aeppel and Justin Lahart, Wall Street Journal, March 9, 2009 (Subscription)
Spartanburg, S.C.—Cleveland-based Parker Hannifin Corp. will have trouble laying off workers at its factory in Spartanburg, S.C., because the plant has become so lean over the past decade that many assembly lines run with only a few highly trained workers. A curiosity of this recession is that, although the manufacturing sector has had to slash many jobs, fewer positions have been eliminated than would be expected given the depth of the economic slump.

Autos task force sees Chrysler, GM electric cars, by Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 9, 2009
Warren, Mich.—Four members of President Barack Obama's autos task force spent much of their Monday driving General Motors Corp. electric vehicles and touring a Chrysler LLC pickup truck factory.

GM's Volt hybrid deemed cost inefficient, by Alan Ohnsman, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, March 8, 2009
Pittsburgh—A rechargeable auto with the Volt's target range of 40 miles on electricity is ''not cost effective in any scenario,'' a study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found.

Tentative deal between Canadian Auto Workers, GM, by Frank Gunn, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 8, 2009
Detroit—The Canadian Auto Workers union said Sunday it had reached a tentative agreement with General Motors Corp. on a multiyear pay freeze and other concessions needed to qualify the company for government aid.

Plummeting stock rocks 4 Toledo area firms, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, March 8, 2009
Toledo—Locally, the list of affected firms includes furniture maker La-Z-Boy Inc. of Monroe, axle manufacturer Dana Holding Corp. of Toledo, and Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. of Findlay.

Dana Holding Corp. to hold series of auctions, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, March 8, 2009
Toledo—Dana Holding Corp. this year will leave the palatial estate at 4500 Dorr St. that has been its world headquarters for four decades to operate from a newer home in Maumee. And like a couple downsizing their home after the children move out, Dana has accumulated stuff that must be cleared out before the movers come.

GM still favoring restructuring, by Jeff Green, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, March 7, 2009
Detroit—Surviving on $13.4 billion in U.S. aid, General Motors said it still prefers to restructure out of court rather than file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Chrysler on target with Feb. sales, by Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, March 7, 2009
Detroit—Chrysler LLC Vice Chairman Jim Press said the automaker is on target to meet sales projections outlined in its viability plan submitted to Congress last month.

GE union questions possible overseas shift, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, March 7, 2009
Niles, Ohio—A union leader at the General Electric Co. Mahoning Glass Plant said laborers will work with the company to find ways to help the plant be more competitive, but expressed displeasure that some of their work could be shipped to China.