Youngstown seals deal on V&M, by Harold Gwin, Youngstown Vindicator, October 14, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio—An agreement will be signed today between Youngstown and Girard that clears the way for a proposed $970 million, 400-job expansion of V&M Star Steel operations in Youngstown.

• Youngstown gives V&M deal OK; Plant expansion now up to company, by Joe Gorman, Warren Tribune Chronicle, October 14, 2009

Industrial Tube and Steel holds dedication ceremony for new facility, by Bill Lilley, Akron Beacon Journal, October 14, 2009
Tallmadge, Ohio—The new, $6 million, 110,000-square-foot facility on Crystal Parkway more than doubles the capacity of the company's previous site in Akron. The facility has 20 offices, nine saws, six 10-ton cranes, a six-bay garage for the company's six tractor-trailer rigs, and six sunken decks to load trucks.

Longaberger Co. rehiring 50 basket-makers, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 13, 2009
Newark, Ohio—The Longaberger Co. basket company has been so swamped with orders for its new National Football League and collegiate-themed baskets that it has called back 50 basket-makers from the nearly 300 workers it laid off in February.

Ford, UAW agree to tentative deal on contract, by Tom Krisher and Dee-Ann Durbin, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, October 13, 2009
Detroit—Ford Motor Co. today reached a deal to alter its contract with the United Auto Workers union that helps the automaker keep costs in line with rivals. The agreement includes a no-strike provision, a wage freeze for entry-level workers and work rule changes so employees can do more tasks.

Business Facilities magazine ranks Ohio 4th in biotechnology industry investment, MedCity News via Akron Beacon Journal, October 13, 2009
Cleveland—Ohio kept its No. 4 ranking for the strength of its biotechnology industry in the magazine's annual list, partly because of continued investments by Ohio Third Frontier, according to BioOhio, the state's bioscience development organization.

Herricks back in control at Tecumseh Products, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, October 13, 2009
Toledo—Two years after being booted from Tecumseh Products Co., heirs of founder Ray Herrick are back in control of the firm that describes itself as one of the world's largest manufacturers of compressors for refrigerators and water coolers.

Data show steep decline in Ohio industrial jobs, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, October  13, 2009
Cleveland—Data from the 2010 Ohio Manufacturers Directory, an industrial directory published by Manufacturers' News Inc. of Evanston, Ill., reports that Ohio lost about 106,600 manufacturing jobs over the past two years.

• U.S. manufacturing technology consumption down in 2009, Industry Week, October 12, 2009

American Greetings unit sued for trademark infringement, by Janet Cho, Cleveland Plain Dealer, October 12, 2009
Brooklyn, Ohio— Just Born Inc. sued Recycled Paper Greetings, a Pennsylvania company recently acquired by American Greetings, for trademark infringement, false advertising, counterfeiting and deception for using Just Born's "distinctive and famous" chicks and bunnies or "confusingly similar variations" in its greeting cards.

USW, Bridgestone Americas contract includes cuts, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, October 12, 2009
Akron—The new contract lowers premiums for Medicare-eligible retirees ages 65 and older, while raising premiums for members still working, said Bill Crooks, president of USW Local 7 in Akron who was one of the contract negotiators.

Cliffs Natural Resources to take full control of mining operation, by Scott Suttell, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 12, 2009
Cleveland—Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. said today that it plans to exercise its right of first refusal and acquire the interests of U.S. Steel Canada and ArcelorMittal Dofasco in the Wabush Mines joint venture in Minnesota.

• Joseph Carrabba of Cliffs Natural Resources: A Talk with the Boss, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer,  October 11, 2009

Team NEO: Aerospace supply chain should be region's economic driver, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer,  October 12, 2009
Cleveland—Team NEO reports today that industries whose business includes supplying parts and components to the aerospace industry grew 59 percent in the last 16 years. That's more than twice the growth rate for the 16-county economy.

• Aerospace sector strong, study says, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, October 12, 2009

PolyFlow trying to raise $10 million to set up plastic-to-oil plant, by John C. Kuehner, Cleveland Plain Dealer,  October 12, 2009
Akron—PolyFlow has largely completed its research and development and is now trying to raise $10 million to build a plant in the Cleveland-Akron area.

Ford Brook Park casting plant on track to close in '10, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 12, 2009 (Subscription)
Brook Park, Ohio— Ford announced in May 2007 that it would shutter the plant at the end of 2010. Earlier this year, the company announced it would begin making its EcoBoost four-cylinder engines at Engine Plant No. 1 in Brook Park.

More Than Gourmet of Akron expands its food manufacturing side with new unit, by Joel Hammond, Crain's Cleveland Business, October 12, 2009 (Subscription)
Akron—More Than Gourmet makes classic French stocks and sauces for the consumer, food-service and food-manufacturing industries. This past August, the company announced a new unit, Culinary Ingredient Group, which serves the food manufacturing sector.

Climate bill creates cloud of skepticism, by H. Josef Hebert, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, October 12, 2009
Sugarcreek, Ohio—This AP reporter interviews a number of the region's chief manufacturers including Bill Belden (Belden Brick) and Ward ''Tim'' Timken Jr. (Timken Co.).

Profile: Summit Instruments, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, October 11, 2009
Akron—Summit Instruments makes sensors that measure acceleration, rotation and position. The tiny hand-crafted systems collect and transmit data so that engineers can spot problems and correct their designs. That's no small thing for Summit Instruments' top client: the U.S. military.

A flu-season remedy for investors, by Christopher C. Williams, Barrons, October 3, 2009
New York—Barrons.com profiles Mentor, Ohio-based Steris Corp. a leading supplier of sterilization and disinfectant equipment and services to hospitals and clinics.