Ohio awards $6M for solar technology research, Toledo Blade, December 18, 2009
Columbus, Ohio—The state of Ohio's Third Frontier program Thursday awarded $6 million to push the state's growing photovoltaic sector, including $4.25 million to several firms with strong ties to the University of Toledo.

• Ohio Third Frontier awards $7.2 million to help companies commercialize high-tech energy systems, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2009

Nextronex gets venture investment, Toledo Blade, December 18, 2009
Perrysburg, Ohio—Rocket Ventures has invested $250K in Nextronex Energy Systems LLC, a developer of electronic power inverters for solar energy installations.

Cleveland Foundation grants Team NEO $1M, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2009
Cleveland—The Cleveland Foundation announced a two-year, $1M grant to help Team NEO attract foreign companies to the region.

Ryan announces green partnership to spur jobs, by Ron Selak Jr., Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 18, 2009
Copenhagen—U.S. Rep. Timothy J. Ryan announced a partnership between Youngstown and California-based Global Green USA to foster green job creation and development in the city.

Obama administration plans $30 billion in bailout aid for small firms, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2009
Washington—The Obama administration is setting aside $30 billion from the financial bailout fund for a program designed to encourage lending to small businesses to aid the economic recovery.

Facebook in the factory: Manufacturers want social software too, by Alex Williams, ReadWriteWeb.com, December 17, 2009
Internet—Factories may not be the first place you'd expect to see demand for social technologies. But social networks are changing how manufacturers view their operations.

GM to discontinue Saab after deal talks collapse, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2009
New York—General Motors Co. said Friday it will wind down Saab after talks to sell the brand to Dutch carmaker Spyker Cars collapsed.

GM will target Cruze to young families, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2009
Detroit—With the Cruze, which goes into production in Lordstown next year, GM will target young families—buyers who will pay more for a vehicle that has more space, better fuel economy and more premium features than the Cobalt.

Fiat to build new engine for Fiat and Chrysler in US, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2009
Auburn Hills, Mich.—Fiat SpA will build a new, more fuel-efficient engine for Fiat and Chrysler vehicles at a plant near Detroit, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said Thursday.

Ford seeks iPhone-like apps for its cars, by Ben Charny and Matthew Dolan, Wall Street Journal, December 17, 2009 (Subscription)
Detroit—Ford Motor Co. is working to offer drivers a way to upgrade the electronics in their vehicles, much the same way they can add applications to their iPhones and BlackBerrys.

Sales of furniture, home appliances move up, by Mary Ellen Lloyd, Wall Street Journal, December 17, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Some big home-furnishings retailers, furniture makers and appliance manufacturers are finally reporting rising customer visits and, in some cases, sales upticks after several years of recession-repressed results.

Rubber group to host meeting, Akron Beacon Journal, December  17, 2009
Akron—The American Chemical Society's Rubber Division group, based in Akron, announced it will host the organization's 177th Technical Meeting April 26-28 at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn hotel.

Whirlpool could reopen plant, Ottawa official says, Findlay Courier, December 17, 2009
Ottawa, Ohio—Though Whirlpool Corp. has not announced a decision on the former W.C. Wood plant here, Ottawa Community Development Director thinks the company may reopen it. W.C. Wood filed for protection from creditors earlier this year, then halted production in October. Whirlpool Corp. bought the factory last week.

Electrolux to phase out Cleveland office, by Mark Dodosh, Crain's Cleveland Business, December 17, 2009
Cleveland—As part of a broader consolidation of operations that will begin next summer at its new North American headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., appliance maker Electrolux in 2011 will begin to phase out its Electrolux Holding Co. office in Cleveland.

This Week's Earnings Reports:

• Nordson Corp. reports $209 million loss for fourth quarter, by Michelle Jarboe, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 16, 2009
• Sifco Industries makes $1.6 million in fourth quarter, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
• First Solar forecasts ’10 revenues at up to $2.9B, Toledo Blade, December 17, 2009

Chrysler will invest in Michigan plant, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 16, 2009
Detroit—Chrysler LLC will announce Thursday that it plans to invest millions in a factory near Detroit to build fuel-efficient four-cylinder engines designed by Italian automaker Fiat Group SpA.

White House promotes clean energy tax credits, by Julie Pace, AP via Google News, December 16, 2009
Washington—The White House is promoting a $5 billion increase in tax breaks for clean energy manufacturing in hopes of contributing to job growth and expanded use of renewable energy.

• Biden plots $5B in clean tax credits, by Kendra Marr, Politico, December 17, 2009
  White House readying $5 billion in green tax credits, by Elizabeth Williamson, Wall Street Journal, December 17, 2009 (Subscription)
• The White House unveils manufacturing plan, ManufacturingDigital.com, December 17, 2009

Owens Corning boss, Obama discuss 'cash for caulkers' plan, Toledo Blade, December 16, 2009
Alexandria, Va.—The top executive of Toledo building materials maker Owens Corning was part of a 20-minute private discussion with President Obama yesterday in the center aisle of a Home Depot store in suburban Washington.

Severstal recalls workers in Yorkville, Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 16, 2009
Yorkville, Ohio—About 100 employees at the Severstal North America cold rolling steel mill at Yorkville were recalled to work, however 1,200 Severstal Warren workers remain idle, along with many of the 68 workers at ArcelorMittal's neighboring coke plant.

White House unveils manufacturing plan, by Justin Hyde, Detroit Free Press, December 16, 2009
Washington—The Obama administration released a seven-point plan to boost U.S. manufacturing today, ahead of a meeting with business leaders hosted by Vice President Joe Biden.

• Biden to host manufacturing CEOs for meeting on boosting jobs, by Kate Andersen Brower, Bloomberg News, December 16, 2009

Federal group proposes curbs on marketing food to kids, by Jared A. Favole, Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—Responding to concerns about childhood obesity, a working group that includes officials from the FTC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention proposed restricting marketing of foods and beverages that contain significant amounts of sugar, sodium and saturated fat.

China, world's top polluter, emerges as green-technology leader, by Shai Oster, Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2009 (Subscription)
Beijing—China's vast market and economies of scale are bringing down the cost of solar and wind energy, as well as other environmentally friendly technologies such as electric car batteries.

Opinion: It's time to recognize we have trade competitors, not partners, by Dan DiMicco, Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—Dan DiMicco, chairman and CEO of steel producer Nucor Corporation, proposes three steps we can take that will move the economy forward and also dramatically reduce our trade deficit, promote genuine rules-based free trade, and position us to remain the world's leader.

U.S. will get nothing back from "old" Chrysler, by Tiffany Kary and Dawn McCarty, Bloomberg News, via Akron Beacon Journal, December 16, 2009
Washington—The former Chrysler LLC, now known as Old Carco LLC, filed a reorganization plan Tuesday giving nothing back to the U.S. government for its loans under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

2009 IW Best Plants Winners: Focused on excellence, by Jill Jusko, Industry Week, December 16, 2009
Cleveland— Now in its 20th year, the 2009 IW Best Plants competition once again is demonstrating that manufacturing excellence continues to flourish across North America. Read about the winners who will be recognized at IW's Best Plants Conference being held this year in Cleveland, April 19-21.

New report bodes well for Toledo area's technology, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, December 15, 2009
Toledo—The Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration released a 25-year estimate Monday of how much and what types of energy will be consumed in the United States annually through 2035. The report predicts large increases in the use of technologies such as solar energy and biofuels that were pioneered locally.

City board OKs land purchase for V&M deal, by David Skolnick, Youngstown Vindicator, December 15, 2009
Youngstown, Ohio—The city’s board of control on Monday agreed to purchase 15 to 20 acres from the state for $10 with the land used to relocate a Norfolk Southern Railroad line. The line is being moved so V&M can use the railroad property for a potential expansion.

Incubator for heart-care businesses taking shape, by Tom Breckenridge, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
Cleveland—The new $19-milllion Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center is being built near the Cleveland Clinic will house a statewide gathering of doctors, scientists and researchers focused on turning heart and blood vessel research into marketable drug therapies, devices and services. The two-story structure should open by April, with room for up to 20 young companies.

Report touts Third Frontier successes, Business First of Columbus, December 15, 2009
Columbus, Ohio—A new report from The Ohio Business Roundtable, an original promoter of the state’s high-tech Third Frontier initiative, is touting the $1.6 billion program as a magnet for outside investment in Ohio companies.

Survey shows Cleveland-area execs don't expect big rebound in business, by Arielle Kass, Crain's Cleveland Business, December 15, 2009
Cleveland—A survey of 60 Cleveland-area executives and board members conducted last week by KPMG LLP and Calfee, Halter & Griswold, showed 58% of respondents saying they don't expect to return to pre-recession levels of investment, employment and productivity until 2013 or 2014.

RTI halts work on sponge plant in Mississippi, Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 15, 2009
Pittsburgh—RTI International Metals Inc. said Monday it is indefinitely idling work on a $300 million titanium sponge facility in Hamilton, Miss.

Thousands of laid-off Northeast Ohio workers eligible for federal job training benefits, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
Cleveland—Thousands of former Ford, Delphi and Timken workers in Northeast Ohio will qualify for federal job training, the U.S. Labor Department and Sen. Sherrod Brown said this week.

• Former Timken workers to qualify for job assistance, Akron Beacon Journal, December 15, 2009

Ferro Corp. adds three board members, by Alison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
Cleveland—Ferro Corp. has bumped up the size of its board from 10 to 13 members to position the company for the departure of several directors who recently turned 70.

ArcelorMittal says job cuts coming, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
Weirton, W. Va.—Steel giant ArcelorMittal SA said Tuesday it will cut an unspecified number of jobs next year and stick with plans to use 70 percent of its capacity in the current quarter.

Green Jobs: Obama, big business stress upside to energy and climate legislation, by Keith Johnson, Environmental Capital Blog, Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2009 (Subscription)
Washington—The idea that new energy and climate legislation will help—not hurt—the economy is gaining plenty of traction even outside the White House.

Is GE eyeing a bid for Rockwell Automation? Deals Blog, Wall Street Journal, December 15, 2009 (Subscription)
New York—General Electric Co. is sending plenty of signals that it’s on the deal war path for industrial companies. One analyst predicts Rockwell Automation could be a prime target.

GM to repay government loans by end of June, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
Detroit—General Motors Co. plans to pay all of its $6.7 billion in government loans by the end of June, Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre Jr. said Tuesday.

• GM appoints former CFO to vp of international ops, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 14, 2009

Industrial output grows 0.8 percent in November, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2009
Washington—Despite the welcome growth, analysts said industrial spare capacity remains so large and demand still so soft that inflation is likely to remain tame.

Dow Chemical plant to add product line, jobs, Findlay Courier, December 15, 2009
Findlay, Ohio—Dow Chemical Co.'s Findlay plant will add 11 jobs and four contract positions when it begins production of films used in solar energy modules in 2010, the company said Monday.

Michigan supplier suing Severstal, Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 15, 2009
Warren, Ohio—A Michigan supplier to Severstal Warren Inc. and its predecessor, WCI Steel Inc., is suing the Warren company for nearly $1.4 million accusing the company of failing to take delivery of rolls used to flatten steel.

Toyota to sell plug-in Prius in 2011, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, December 15, 2009
Tokyo—The plug-in Prius is the first from Toyota packed with a lithium ion battery more powerful than those used in Prius hybrids today. A plug-in is said to be even friendlier to the environment than the regular Prius because it travels longer as an electric vehicle.

Beijing Autos to buy Saab car, engine technology, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 14, 2009
Shanghai—Beijing Autos has agreed to buy technology from GM's Saab Automobile, a breakthrough for the Chinese automaker that could clear the way for General Motors Co. to sell the rest of Saab to another buyer.

Cliffs wins bidding war for Canadian chromite deposits, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 14, 2009
Cleveland—The takeover bid still must win the support of Freewest shareholders at a special meeting to be held Jan. 15.

Bowling Green examines wind power project expansion, by Tom Henry, Toledo Blade, December 14, 2009
Bowling Green, Ohio—Under a plan being considered tonight by Bowling Green's Board of Public Utilities, AMP-Ohio would install six more wind turbines in Wood County.

Rubbermaid's Mogadore complex serves up key products, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, December 14, 2009
Mogadore, Ohio—At the Rubbermaid factory complex that employs 800 here, workers are busy every day cranking out and shipping little tubs and containers sold in stores big and small nationwide.

Shearer's Foods saluted for growth, Canton Repository, December 14, 2009
Brewster, Ohio—Shearer’s Foods has been honored as a 2009 Weatherhead 100 Centurion winner.

RPM International's Rust-Oleum unit buys United Kingdom company, Crain's Cleveland Business, December 14, 2009
Medina, Ohio—RPM International's Rust-Oleum Corp. subsidiary has acquired FibreGrid Ltd., a supplier of fiberglass anti-slip safety products based in the United Kingdom.

State grant, Chinese partnership to aid InSet Systems, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, December 14, 2009
Akron—Mine safety technology company InSet Systems LLC has received a $330,000 state grant and established a partnership with a Chinese company that will serve as an international distributor of the company's technology.

Marrying high-tech innovation and Midwest manufacturing, by Timothy Hay, Venture Capital Blog, Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2009 (Subscription)
Ann Arbor, Mich.—Venture capital firm RPM Ventures aims to bridge the divide between high-tech start-ups and major manufacturers in the Midwest.

NAM urges white house to modernize export control system, Logistics Today, December 14, 2009
Washington—The president of the National Association of Manufacturers is urging the administration to modernize the export control system to improve both U.S. security and global competitiveness.

Fire-Dex says sales of its firefighting apparel have doubled, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, December 13, 2009
Medina, Ohio—This year, Fire-Dex landed on the Weatherhead 100, an annual Northeast Ohio list of the region's fastest-growing small businesses. Sales have doubled in the past five years, as the company has aggressively pursued a bigger share of the market, said President Bill Burke.

Concord Steel owner eyes big plans, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, December 12, 2009
Warren, Ohio—Concord Steel Inc.'s new owner has big plans for the steel company's Warren operations. It just needs some cooperation from the economy.

Alliance formed to prevent Cleveland Port move, by Rick Jackson, WCPN, December 11, 2009
Cleveland—The Cleveland Lakefront Alliance has labeled the proposition to move the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port to East 55th street as "defying common sense." The group's representative says its objections are about more than the site’s ecological and recreational impact.

UAW's top Ford negotiator to lead union, AP via Toledo Blade, December 12, 2009
Detroit—The United Auto Workers union plans to nominate top Ford Motor Co. negotiator Bob King to be the next president.

Plastics maker feels recession, Akron Beacon Journal, December 12, 2009
Akron—At its annual stockholders meeting, A. Schulman Inc. President Joseph Gingo said the recession stopped the Akron-based plastics company from reaching some of its financial goals.

Smucker chiefs brew strong demand, by Matt Andrejczak, MarketWatch via Akron Beacon Journal, December 12, 2009
Orrville, Ohio—Mergers often fail to reward investors as promised. However, J.M. Smucker delivered this year with its Folgers acquisition, investors and analysts say.