Recession to end this summer, reports say, AP via Toledo Blade, August 21, 2009
New York—The Conference Board said yesterday that its index of leading indicators rose 0.6 percent in July, its fourth-straight gain. Combined with other indicators, some analysts believe the recession may already have ended, even though jobs remain scarce.

• Leading economic indicators rise in July, by Tali Arbel, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 20, 2009

Myers Industries finishes buying Amerikan of Florida, Akron Beacon Journal, August 21, 2009
Akron—Myers Industries, a manufacturer of plastics and tool distributor, bought the remaining 50 percent interest in Sebring, Fla.-based Amerikan from Florikan.

Mahoning commissioners press for speedy settlement of V&M land tiff, Youngstown Vindicator, August 21, 2009
Youngstown—Mahoning County commissioners have appealed for a quick resolution of the dispute between Girard and Youngstown over annexation of Girard land to Youngstown for the proposed $970 million V&M Star Steel expansion project.

Chrysler-Fiat streamlining concerns Toledo workers, by Tom Krisher, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 21, 2009
Detroit—At a Jeep factory in Toledo, workers fear that Chrysler's new Italian management will scrap one of the two models they make, costing some of them their jobs.

Toyota to boost North American production of 4-cylinder engines, by Kerry Grace Benn, Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2009 (subscription)
New York—Toyota Motor Corp. plans to increase North American production of four-cylinder engines by adding capacity at its Huntsville, Ala., plant.

Obama to tap Ron Bloom to revive manufacturing, by Deborah Solomon, Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2009 (subscription)
Washington—The Obama administration is close to tapping Ron Bloom, who heads the White House's auto task force, to help develop policies to assist the beleaguered U.S. manufacturing industry.

This week's earnings reports:

• Smucker investors pleased by profits, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, August 19, 2009
• J.M. Smucker profit more than doubles, driven by Folgers, by Tess Stynes, Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2009 (subscription)
• Nordson Corp. profit narrows in third quarter, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 20, 2009

Youngstown mayor reports progress in V&M land dispute, Youngstown Vindicator, August 20, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio—V&M’s President Roger Lindgren told the officials at a private meeting Wednesday: Settle the dispute before Aug. 28, or the company will look elsewhere for its potential $970 million expansion project.

• V&M chief meets with mayors, by Joe Gorman, Warren Tribune Chronicle, August 20, 2009

La-Z-Boy moves paying off; Long way to go, CEO warns shareholders, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, August 20, 2009
Monroe, Ohio—At its annual shareholder meeting, La-Z-Boy's Chief Executive Kurt Darrow described the company's drastic steps over the last year to face and survive the severe recession.

• La-Z-Boy swings to profit for first quarter, Toledo Blade, August 19, 2009

Administration plans to wind down clunkers program, by Ken Thomas and Dan Strumpf, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 20, 2009
Washington—The Obama administration is developing plans to wind down the popular Cash for Clunkers program.

• 'Cash for clunkers' program to end Monday, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 21, 2009

Cleveland port redevelopment plan: Chagrin Falls on the lake, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 20, 2009
Cleveland—The first phase of development could begin within five years, on land north and east of Cleveland Browns Stadium and along North Coast Harbor, officials said. Architect Stanton Eckstut used downtown Chagrin Falls as an example for the first phase development that is planned north of Cleveland Browns Stadium.

• Editorial: Plan to remake Cleveland's port isn't yet solid enough to go forward, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 21, 2009

NorTech starts company listing, Akron Beacon Journal, August 20, 2009
Cleveland—NorTech recently launched an online directory of more than 350 companies in Northeast Ohio involved in the region's emerging advanced energy industry cluster.

Steel prices in U.S. on rise, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, August 20, 2009
Hartford, Conn.—Domestic steel prices are on the rise as demand increases and inventories remain weak, though investors may be cautious as prices for Chinese steel declines in the short term, an analyst said Wednesday.

Researchers hoping to make rutabaga a biofuel source, Akron Beacon Journal, August 20, 2009
Detroit—Researchers at Michigan State University are working to turn the rutabaga into an oil-producing powerhouse that could make the turnip-like vegetable a better source of biofuel than other food crops.

Obama administration urges employer flexibility in H1N1 fight, CNN.com, August 19, 2009
Washington—The Obama administration Wednesday urged employers to adopt "flexible and non-punitive" sick-leave policies as it released new guidelines for containing the spread of the H1N1 virus in the coming flu season.

• Swine flu threat to business prompts a call for readiness, by Cam Simpson and Betsy McKay, Wall Street Journal, August 21, 2009 (subscription)

Sherwin-Williams enters supply agreement with property manager Pinnacle, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 19, 2009
Cleveland—Paintmaker Sherwin-Williams Co. has entered what it's calling a “multiyear supply agreement” with Pinnacle, a company that manages more than 185,000 apartment units nationwide.

Energy Focus Inc. wins $500,000 defense grant for lighting on Navy ships, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 19, 2009
Solon, Ohio—Energy Focus Inc. has been awarded a $500,000 extension grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop and produce solid-state lighting fixtures for general use on Navy ships.

First Solar to help build two plants in California, Toledo Blade, August 19, 2009
Tempe, Ariz.—First Solar Inc., a solar panel maker based in Tempe, Ariz., that has its sole U.S. factory in Perrysburg Township. is teaming up with Edison International’s Southern California Edison to build two plants in southern California to generate 550 megawatts of electricity.

Where the grass is made greener, by Gwendolyn Bounds, Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2009 (Subscription)
Marysville, Ohio—The WSJ profiles Scotts Miracle-Gro's $45 million annual research and development investment.

Optimism about global economy is growing, survey shows, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 19, 2009
New York—A new survey by Banc of America Securities-Merrill Lynch showed optimism among portfolio managers about the chances for global economic recovery rising to their highest level in nearly six years.

HBO documentary spotlights closing of GM plant near Dayton, by James Hannah, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 19, 2009
Dayton, Ohio—A 40-minute film called "The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant," will be broadcast on HBO on Labor Day. The AP profiles former workers' reactions after a special advance screening.

U.S. tour touts green energy jobs, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, August 19, 2009
Akron—The Blue Green Alliance, a coalition of labor unions and environmental organizations, is taking to the road with its ''Made in America Jobs Tour,'' launching in Cleveland today. The educational tour, filled with rallies and technology demonstrations, will make 50 stops in 22 states between now and the end of September.

Struggling American Axle gets GM assist, by Jeff Bennett and Kate Haywood, Wall Street Journal, August 19, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. said Tuesday it reached agreement to receive as much as $210 million in funding from General Motors Co. as the car-parts maker works to avoid bankruptcy.

Nestle Toll House cookie dough headed back to store shelves, by Janet H. Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 18, 2009
Solon, Ohio—Nestle USA is restarting shipments of its trademark Nestle Toll House refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough to stores this week, though the company says a recent recall of Toll House products could ultimately cost the company $30 million to $50 million.

Ford plans vehicles to interact with power grids, by Kimberly S. Johnson, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 18, 2009
Dearborn, Mich.—Ford Motor Co. said today its future electric cars will "talk" to power grids across the country, part of an effort to drive interest in alternative energy vehicles.

• Ford plans vehicles to tap power grids, by Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, August 18, 2009 (Subscription)

Michael Gerald 'Jerry' O'Neil, former GenCorp president dies at 87, by Bill Lilley, Akron Beacon Journal, August 18, 2009
Akron—The last of the direct descendants of the founding fathers of the Big Five tire companies that put Akron on the map died this afternoon in Akron.

GM to restart second shift at Lordstown, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 18, 2009
Cleveland—With its Chevrolet Cobalt in demand because of the federal "cash for clunkers" rebate program, General Motors said today it would restart the second shift at its Lordstown plant early next month.

• 'Clunkers' increase GM production, by Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 19, 2009
• Lordstown plant to add day of work as GM boosts output due to clunkers incentives, by Tom Krisher, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, August 18, 2009
• Car plants bet on sales rebound, by Matthew Dolan and Jeff Bennett, Wall Street Journal, August 14, 2009 (Subscription)

Astro seizes deals on more machines, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)
Eastlake, Ohio—Astro Manufacturing has invested more than $4 million in capital equipment, buying sophisticated machine tooling equipment at bargain prices. The company largely has transitioned from automotive work to defense and medical device manufacturing over the past 15 years.

Wind network's velocity of activity winds up, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Ed Weston, executive director of the Cleveland-based Great Lakes Wind Network says the industry is challenged by a lack of available financing.

Diamond Polymers diversifies, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, August 17, 2009
Akron—18 months after adopting a new business model, rearranging its work force and acquiring a new product line, Diamond Polymers Inc. and its sales arm, Network Polymers Inc., are enjoying a very good year, company leaders say.

Wire-Net survey of local manufacturers still melancholy, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)
Cleveland—“We've been optimistic, but the survey is not showing that,” said Wire-Net president John Colm in reviewing the results of his poll of 213 manufacturing companies between mid-July and Aug. 10.

Reporter's Notebook: PolyOne Corp. develops high-tech radiation-blocking plastic, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)
Avon Lake, Ohio—PolyOne Corp. is having success with its "high-gravity" compounds that reduce the need for heavy metals and can be processed via injection molding more easily than metals that require machining.

Business Insight Report: The new, faster face of innovation, by Erik Brynjofsson and Michael Schrage, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Technology is transforming innovation at its core, allowing companies to test new ideas at speeds—and prices—that were unimaginable even a decade ago.

E-Commerce: The fans know best, by Utpal M. Dholakia and Silvia Vianello, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—The more-successful brand-related online communities are usually run by enthusiasts and customers of the brands and products, not the companies that own the brand.

Chrysler to build Fiat 500 in Mexico, report says, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 17, 2009
New York—The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Chrysler Group LLC is planning to build the Fiat 500 small car at a plant in Mexico. Chrysler spokesman Gualberto Ranieri declined to comment this morning.

• Chrysler to make Fiat in Mexico, by Kate Linebaugh and John D. Stoll, Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2009 (Subscription)

Opinion: New approach required for global trade, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, August 16, 2009
Youngstown— It's time we start making stuff again to rebuild our economy. That's one of the key points in ''Manufacturing a Better Future for America,'' a book written by a number of economic, labor and social experts and published by the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

Honda invests in hydrogen power, by Alan Ohnsman and Makiko Kitamura, Bloomberg News via Akron Beacon Journal, August 16, 2009
New York—Honda Motor Co. is backing hydrogen power for the cars of the future. Honda isn't alone. Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG, General Motors Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. say hydrogen, the universe's most abundant element, is among the few options to replace oil as a low-carbon transportation fuel.

Honda adds shifts at East Liberty site, Columbus Dispatch, August 15, 2009
East Liberty, Ohio—The extra shifts will begin in September and might continue as long as four months, Honda spokesman Ron Lietzke said. He declined to say how many Saturdays will be added.

V&M deal hits snag, Youngstown Vindicator, August 15, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio—A dispute between Youngstown and Girard could jeopardize a potential $970 million expansion project by V&M Star Steel.

Sherrod Brown: Spur business incubators, by Ron Selak Jr., Warren Tribune Chronicle, August 15, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio— U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, using the Youngstown Business Incubator as his backdrop, announced Friday his intention to introduce a measure this fall that would aid in the creation and expansion of organizations similar to YBI nationwide.