Elyria, Norwalk get state money to help improve industrial sites, by Heather Chapin-Fowler, Lorain Morning Journal, July 2, 2009
Elyria—The Ohio Department of Development awarded granted $580,000 to A-D Technologies, a manufacturer of plastic conduit for the telecommunications industry, to improve a 24-acre industrial site. Also, The New Horizons Baking Co. in Norwalk will get $170,000 to build a new rail spur.

Cliffs Natural Resources reports on soft business conditions, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 2, 2009
Cleveland—Because of amendments to customer supply agreements, Cliffs said it expects about one million tons of customer purchase obligations for iron ore pellets to be deferred to the first quarter of 2010.

Worst may be over for U.S. auto sales, by Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 2, 2009
Detroit—U.S. car and truck sales showed signs of stabilizing in June after a year of sharp declines, but every major automaker except Honda Motor Co. reported lower sales than in May.

• Car makers see end to sales slide, by Andrew Grossman and Kate Linebaugh, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2009 (Subscription)
• Ford sales slip 10.7 pct; Chrysler drops 42 pct, AP via Toledo Blade, July 1, 2009
• Jeep Wranglers in demand, but shutdown limits supply, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, July 2, 2009
• Cobalt sales drop 67.2% from 2008, Youngstown Vindicator, July 2, 2009
• The Pontiac G5 had its best sales month of the year last month, Youngstown Vindicator, July 2, 2009

For General Mills, wheat-free items are tricky to make, cheap to market, by Ilan Brat, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Mass marketer General Mills Inc. is carving out a niche in gluten-free food after realizing it could reach eager customers without costly ad campaigns.

U.S. help for GM may end July 10, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, July 2, 2009
New York—A senior member of President Barack Obama's auto task force testified Wednesday that the U.S. government will not continue to fund General Motors' operations if the automaker doesn't get approval to sell its assets to a new company within the next 10 days.

Electronics firms fight state recycling programs, by Ryan Knutson, W all Street Journal, July 2, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Small electronics makers are struggling with—and fighting against—new state laws mandating they pay for electronic recycling programs for consumers.

Advanced manufacturing jobs in northeast Ohio require readily available high-tech training, by M. Judith Crocker Ed. D., Director, Manufacturing Education Affairs, MAGNET, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2009
Cleveland—Ohio ranks third in the nation in terms of manufacturing production and 40 percent of the products made in Ohio are made right here in Northeast Ohio. So even though there have been job losses, manufacturing is still the largest industry in Northeast Ohio; double the size of any other industry sector.

Alcoa names president for wheel unit, Crain's Cleveland Business, July 1, 2009
Cleveland—Aluminum giant Alcoa named Tim D. Myers president of its Cleveland-based Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products unit.

Fuel cell coalition to host grant writing seminar, Akron Beacon Journal, July 1, 2009
Cleveland—On Wednesday, July 15, the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition will host a seminar for companies and individuals who want to learn how to write applications for Ohio Third Frontier and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants.

GM CEO makes case for asset-sale plan, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, July 1, 2009
New York—General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson on Tuesday defended the automaker’s plan to sell the bulk of its assets to a new company and quickly emerge from bankruptcy protection.

• GM seeks court approval to become 'new' company, AP via Canton Repository, June 30, 2009
• GM looks for quick end to bankruptcy case, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 29, 2009
• GM to shed operation with Toyota to cut costs, by Jeff Green and Bill Koenig, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, June 30, 2009
  

Chinese steelmakers fail to reach deal on ore price, by Andrew Batson and Shai Oster, Wall Street Journal, July 1, 2009 (Subscription)
Beijing—China's steel industry failed to reach a supply deal with the world's major iron-ore producers by Tuesday's informal deadline, highlighting the challenges the resource-hungry nation faces in trying to shift the balance of power in global commodities markets.

Manufacturing index shrinks less than expected, by Tali Arbel, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2009
New York—A report on manufacturing activity shows the sector contracted less than expected in June, posting its best showing since last August and another sign that a recovery may be near.

• Manufacturing stabilizes, but labor market is still weak, by Kelly Evans, Wall Street Journal, July 2, 2009 (Subscription)

Chrylser ran through $2.5 billion in May, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 1, 2009
Cleveland—During its only full month in bankruptcy, Chrysler ran through $2.5 billion in cash in May, court filings show

GM, Ford suspend Russia production, AP via Toledo Blade, July 1, 2009
Moscow—U.S. carmakers General Motors and Ford suspended operations on their production lines in Russia on Wednesday as the deepening economic crisis squeezes Russian consumers’ demand for new cars.

Ford bets new 2010 Taurus will be key to financial future, by James R. Healey, USA Today, July 1, 2009
Dearborn, Mich.—Pete Reyes, chief engineer for the redesign of Ford's 2010 Taurus, talks with USA Today about the redesign process. CEO Alan Mullaly says Ford's plan is to have a best-in-class vehicle for consumers in every major market segment.

General Electric turns to Cleveland Institute of Art students for lighting design ideas, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 30, 2009
Cleveland—One of Northeast Ohio's oldest research and development centers combined forces with design students at the Cleveland Institute of Art to demonstrate intriguing uses for a new energy-efficient lighting technology.

Environmentalists push for changes in Ohio's renewable-energy proposals, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 30, 2009
Cleveland—Wind and solar energy advocates Tuesday appealed to Ohio lawmakers to reject language in the pending state budget bill declaring trash- and tire-burning power plants "renewable energy" sources.

• Wind-solar firms oppose changes, by Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal, July 1, 2009

Manufacturer picks Findlay, by Lou Wilin, Findlay Courier, June 30, 2009
Findlay—TH Plastics, a manufacturer of appliance and car moldings, will move into a building at Findlay's Westfield Business Park in January and employ 85.

Lockheed Martin ships 1,000th missile from Akron, by Cheryl Powell, Akron Beacon Journal, June 30, 2009
Akron—Lockheed Martin's Akron unit on Tuesday celebrated the delivery of the 1,000th specialized, ship-to-submarine missile to protect U.S. and Japanese naval forces.

Ohio offers Little Tikes new tax credit, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, June 30, 2009
Hudson, Ohio—The Ohio Tax Credit Authority offered a tax credit valued at $134,228 to California-based MGA Entertainment to help its Little Tikes business undertake a $5.8 million expansion in Hudson.

• Ohio Tax Credit Authority approves credits for four companies, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 30, 2009
  Cleveland—OTCA also awarded ReXorce Thermionics Inc. a $732,063 job creation tax credit to support the company’s expansion project in Akron

Diebold makes top 10 list of outsourcing providers, by Benjamin Duer, Canton Repository, June 30, 2009
Akron—The International Association of Outsourcing Professionals named Diebold one of the 10 best outsourcing providers within the services industry.

.Some Chrysler models in shortage, by Andrew Grossman, Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—The nearly nine-week long production halt at Chrysler Group LLC has left some of its dealers with an unusual problem: a shortage of high-demand models such as the Jeep Wrangler and the Chrysler Town and Country minivan. The shortages have helped increase average sales prices for new and used Chryslers from a year earlier.

• Chrysler not planning to sell Fiat brand in U.S., Toledo Blade, July 1, 2009
  
• Chrysler Won’t Add Fiat Brand in U.S., Will Get 500, Alfa Romeo, by Mike Ramsey, Bloomberg News, June 30, 2009

Regional groups can help guide business owners on how to score contracts with U.S. government, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, June 29, 2009
Akron—All those billions of dollars issued by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 have a lot of small-business owners salivating. Ghe Kent Procurement Technical Assistance Center gives free assistance to businesses in Summit, Medina, Portage, Wayne and Stark counties.

Inventor of toilet-leak prevention contraption hopes to be flush with cash, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Meet Walter Berry, the inventor of the Siphon Flush, which might be the first device to revolutionize the most ubiquitous and necessary of porcelain fixtures since the “flapper” was introduced in 1953. MAGNET helped Berry develop the product and if it's successful, Berry will donate $1 from the sale of every unit towards a MAGNET-administered fund to support other entrepreneurs.

Swagelok's Art Anton addresses Wire-Net annual meeting, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland— Swagelok Co. president and CEO Art Anton spoke to a group of 142 local manufacturers for the annual meeting at Wire-Net, a Cleveland-based manufacturing advocacy group. Anton described how the company is weathering the recession but keeping its valuable skilled labor force intact.

Spending the stimulus, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Eaton, Parker Hannifin Corp. and Timken Co. are among the companies that say they expect to see significant revenue boosts from various aspects of the government's spending plans.

A. Schulman to halt Invision sheet production, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2009
Akron—A. Schulman Inc. announced it will cease the operation of the Invision sheet production line at its Sharon Center manufacturing plant. The company will continue to offer Invision resins, technologies and services to sheet and thermoforming customers through its North American Engineered Plastics business.

• Schulman to shut down one line, Akron Beacon Journal, June 29, 2009

Workplace profile: Ron Carpenter, Owner, Production Tool Co., by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 29, 2009 (Subscription)
Twinsburg, Ohio—The auto industry collapse forced Ron Carpenter, the owner of Production Tool Co. to cut his staff of 14 in half.

Ford boosts production 16% as June car sales show strength, by Sharon Silke Carty, USA Today, June 29, 2009
Dearborn, Mich.—Ford is boosting its third-quarter production schedule after seeing more demand for its cars and trucks in June, the company said Monday.

• The Fords stand by family business, by Bill Vlasic, New York Times via Akron Beacon Journal, June 28, 2009

‘New GM’ to take on future product-liability claims, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, June 29, 2009
New York—General Motors Corp. has agreed to take on responsibility for future product-liability claims, removing what could have been a sizable roadblock on the automaker’s path to a quick sale of its assets and emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a new company.

Lordstown, GM counting on the Chevrolet Cruze, AP via Canton Repository, June 28, 2009
Lordstown, Ohio—The 5-million-square-foot Lordstown complex will start making the Chevrolet Cruze compact car early next year, and workers assigned to the factory’s $351 million retooling are well aware that they have no margin for error.

• Opinion: Lordstown’s exciting prospects, Youngstown Vindicator, June 28, 2009
• Paul Eisenstein: GM banking on 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, Gatehouse News Service via Canton Repository, June 27, 2009
• GM hopes 2010 LaCrosse draws young buyers, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, June 29, 2009

Made in Stark: Culp-Myers Awning Co. in Perry Township, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, June 28, 2009
Canton, Ohio—The Repository features the Culp-Myers Awning Co. in its regular "Made in Stark" Sunday feature.

Business Week's Annual Inner City 100 includes three Northeast Ohio manufacturers, Business Week Small Biz Special Report, June 2009
The Inner City 100 is a ranking of the fastest-growing inner city companies in the county. This year, three Northeast Ohio manufacturers made the list: Cleveland-based Talan Products, Cleveland-based Voss Industries and Akron-based Mobility Works.

Engineer at Fiat reworks engine to boost gas mileage, Bloomberg News via Toledo Blade, June 28, 2009
Turin, Italy—Rinaldo Rinolfi, the 62-year-old engineer, who designed the Fiat diesel engine in the 1990s that became an industry standard and powers some of Europe’s most energy-efficient cars, has a new invention he says will cut fuel consumption by at least 10 percent. His work is at the heart of the Fiat technology that Chrysler said was worth $10 billion when they formed the alliance.

Old biases cling to U.S. cars; Buyers spurning new GM, Ford models for Japanese brands, by Keith Naughton, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, June 28, 2009
New York—U.S. automakers spent much of this decade retooling their lineups to offer cars rivaling Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord. Now comes the challenge of winning over consumers. Imports held 69 percent of the U.S. car market through May, 4 percentage points more than a year earlier.

Hummer bidder to begin talks with China, by John D. Stoll and Tess Stynes, Wall Street Journal, June 27, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, the potential buyer of General Motors Corp.'s Hummer division will kick off formal discussions with Chinese regulators on Monday in an effort to win approval for its acquisition, according to people familiar with the matter.

Local Chrysler workers start to return to jobs, Toledo Blade, June 27, 2009
Toledo—The first several dozen laid-off Toledo-area hourly workers at Chrysler Group LLC returned to work this week, with hundreds more to follow Monday after an extended shutdown caused by their employer’s bankruptcy.

100 and still growing: Hartville Elevator shifts from farmers to families, by Edd Pritchard, Canton Repository, June 27, 2009
Hartville, Ohio—Hartville Elevator has operated at the site for 100 years. But now, the farms it bought grain from and sold cattle feed to have become suburban housing tracts. So the company now manufactures its "Just Right Feeds" for household pets. It still sells feed for hogs and steers and will custom-mix horse feed for local owners and recently the company has seen a rise in chicken-feed sales.

Willoughby scrap-metal company executives acquitted, by Jay Miller, Crain's Cleveland Business, June 26, 2009
Cleveland—A federal court cleared Francis DeMilta and Ronald Vaughn, owner and vice president, respectively, of Alliance National LP, of charges that they conspired with other scrap dealers to keep scrap prices low. The Justice Department began its investigation of the scrap industry in 2000 and has won convictions against seven people and six companies.