UAW rejects retiree health care proposal, by Tom Krisher, AP via ABC News, September 21, 2007
Detroit—According to reports, GM and United Auto Workers negotiators have wrapped up work on all noneconomic issues. However the health care issue is holding up negotiations because the UAW is still crunching numbers on GM's proposal to offload most of its $51 billion in unfunded retiree health care costs on the union.

Steel prices rise as supply drops, by Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via the Youngstown Vindicator, September 20, 2007
Milwaukee—Industry analysts say the major U.S. steel mills will raise prices this fall. One analyst predicts strong worldwide demand for iron ore will drive steel-making costs up as much as 25% in 2008.

Venture developer JumpStart seeks increased aid from state, by Mary Vanac, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 21, 2007
Cleveland—Three-year-old venture capital developer JumpStart Inc. has invested $8 million in 23 Northeast Ohio startup companies delivering a $40-million economic impact according to CSU researchers. But JumpStart's financial support from the state's Third Frontier initiative is due to decrease over the next few years as the program shifts its focus to university research and development programs.

Keithley and CNSI announce nanotechnology measurement partnership, Keithley Instruments press release, September 20, 2007
Cleveland—Keithley Instruments announced it will join the UCLA California NanoSystems Institute's Partners Program to share research in support of CNSI's mission to enable rapid commercialization of discoveries in nanosystems.

Upcoming events

TechLift, Thursday, Oct. 4, MAGNET Innovation Center, 1768 E. 25th St., Cleveland, sponsored by NorTech.
TechLift a NorTech initiative of the Third Frontier Project Entrepreneurial Signature Program, will provide Northeast Ohio technology entrepreneurs with unique business assistance services, entrepreneurial mentorship, and access to the connections and resources needed to advance their business. The program is free; advance registration required. For more info, contact Erin Reed, voice: (216) 363.3412.

Cleveland+ Panel Discussion, Thursday, Sept. 27, Noon to 1:30 p.m., The Forum Conference Center, 1375 Euclid, Cleveland, sponsored by IABC Cleveland
A panel discussion with Rick Batyko, vice president, Greater Cleveland Partnership & Cleveland+ brand champion; Tom Waltermire, CEO, Team NEO; and Dennis Roche, present, Convention & Visitors Bureau. The program includes a lunch buffet. Advance registration required.

MAGNET in the News: press coverage of MAGNET's second annual Northern Ohio Energy Management Conference held in Akron on Wednesday, Sept. 19:

Ohio manufacturers fear electric deregulation, by M.L. Schultz, WKSU, September 19, 2007
Lawmakers got their first look this week at details of Governor Ted Strickland's plan to scale back electric deregulation and save Ohioans from "rate shock" on January 1, 2009. His energy advisor shared major points of the plan with the Northern Ohio Energy Management conference in Akron today. (Audio only)

FirstEnergy CEO predicts higher bills under utility regulation, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Akron—In a luncheon speech Wednesday, FirstEnergy CEO Anthony Alexander made it clear that the company will not go quietly into reregulation.

Utility increases concern firms, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, September 20, 2007
Akron—David Blank, FirstEnergy's vice president for rates and regulatory affairs, told attendees the company did not believe the planned 2009 deregulation will create a major impact on prices.

Tech Belt forum set at YSU, by Stephen Oravecz, Warren Tribune Chronicle, September 20, 2007
Youngstown—Reps. Timothy J. Ryan, D-Niles, and Jason Altmire, D-Aliquippa, Pa. announced the invitation-only Tech Belt Forum will be October 1 at Youngstown State University. The event will bring together business leaders, venture capitalists and academic leaders from the region to discuss ways to create a Tech-Belt running from Cleveland through the Mahoning Valley to Pittsburgh.

Archbold ConAgra Foods plant's closure averted, by Mark Reiter, Toledo Blade, September 20, 2007
Archbold, Ohio—Reversing a decision taken last year to close its canning plant here, ConAgra Foods officials announced the Archbold plant will remain open, saving more than 300 jobs. Over the last year, Archbold plant employees made a concerted effort to boost productivity and convince the company to keep their plant open. However, ConAgra's Perrysburg plant will close as previously announced, eliminating 100 jobs.

Layoffs are expected at GE plants, by Raymond L. Smith, Warren Tribune Chronicle, September 20, 2007
Niles—A GE spokesperson confirmed that 21 jobs will be eliminated at its Mahoning plant due to a decrease in demand for traditional incandescent bulbs. The decrease can be traced to the success of Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs). Union officials have sponsored a "Screw that Bulb" campaign to urge the company to retrofit older plants to produce CFLs.

Seniors crowd job fair, by Marilyn Miller, Akron Beacon Journal, September 20, 2007
Akron—More than 1,300 people and 50 employers attended the 18th Senior Employment Job Fair at Tangier restaurant Wednesday.

Related Story: Job fair for over-50s attracts 900 to rec center, by Mark Reiter, Toledo Blade, September 20, 2007
Maumee—More than 900 job seekers attended the Northwest Ohio 50-Plus Career and Job Fair at the Lucas County Recreation Center.

The state of U.S. automaking, by Frank Bentayou and John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 20, 2007
Cleveland—PD reporters Bentayou and Funk analyze the effect of health-care costs on the financial condition of automakers and how it is affecting the current contract negotiations between the United Auto Workers and GM.

Northern Ohio manufacturers dominate the 2007 NorthCoast 99
Cleveland—The Employers Resource Council recently released its 2007 NorthCoast 99 list recognizing 99 Northern Ohio companies for creating great work places that attract, retain and motivate top performing employees.

MAGNET congratulates the 23 manufacturing companies on this year's NorthCoast 99 list. Together, they account for more than 25% of the list's honorees.

Related stories: Does Your Company Attract Top Performers? , by Amanda Stephenson, Inside Business, September 2007
The 2007 NorthCoast 99 job attributes survey reveals what Northeast Ohio's top employees like most about their jobs. (free registration required)

Ohio EPA wants top polluters to fix 'dirty state', by Kevin Mayhood, Columbus Dispatch, September 19, 2007
Columbus—The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will ask the state's 100 largest toxic polluters to voluntarily reduce emissions over the next five years. More than 30 Northern Ohio companies are on the list. Gov. Ted Strickland told the Dispatch the state will impose tighter standards if the voluntary initiative doesn't work.

Related links: Ohio EPA Director asks companies to voluntarily reduce emissions, Ohio EPA press release, September 18, 2007
Columbus—Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski today announced Tox-Minus, a new voluntary program to encourage Ohio facilities to reduce the pollutants they release to the environment. Tox-Minus will initially focus on 100 of the top toxic chemical reporters, but the program is open to any company that wants to participate.

List of 100 top toxic chemical reports as of 2005 (PDF)

Russian steel plant wants to make decision by year end, by Jeff Barron, Portsmouth Daily Times, September 18, 2007
Haverhill—The chairman of the Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works viewed the proposed Southern Ohio site for a new, $1-billion steel plant with state officials. In a press conference, he said the company may make a decision by the end of the year. He said the proposed plant would employ about 500 local workers and bring specialists from Russia.

Food industry wants beefed up safety on imports, by Andrew Bridges, AP via Canton Repository, September 19, 2007
Washington, D.C.—The Grocery Manufacturers Association proposed Congress increase funding to the Food and Drug Administration and charge it with regulating imported products to ensure they meet U.S. safety and quality standards.

Owens Corning outlines strategy to offset decline in U.S. housing activity, Toledo Blade, September 19, 2007
New York—Chairman and incoming c.e.o. Mike Thaman told an investors conference Owens Corning will rebalance its portfolio and expand its fiberglass business internationally to compensate for a decline in business due to the troubled U.S. housing market.

Upcoming Events:

KSU 2007 Entrepreneurship Extravaganza, Oct. 4-5, KSU Student Center, sponsored by the Kent University Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Nano App 2007, Monday, Oct. 22 to Thursday, Oct. 25, The Ritz Carlton, Cleveland, Sponsored by The Nano-Network and NanoBusiness Alliance

Expanding Business Opportunities in China with David Yen, Wednesday, Oct. 24, Canton Chamber of Commerce, 222 Market STreet, sponsored by MAGNET and Canton Chamber of Commerce.

MAGNET's complete event calendar

Timken plans expansion into aerospace, defense industries, Akron Beacon Journal, September 17, 2007
Canton—Timken announced it will buy The Purdy Corp., a Manchester, Conn.-based aviation parts maker and repair company, for $200 million. The move is seen as part of the company's previously announced strategy of scaling back its dependence on the automotive industry.

Related story: Purchase returns Timken to state, by Eric Gershon, Hartford Courant, September 18, 2007

Weathersfield-based RTI to build plant in Miss., by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, September 18, 2007
Weathersfield—RTI International Metals announced that its subsidiary, RMI Titanium Co., will build a new plant in Hamilton, Miss., to produce titanium sponge for use in its mills in Weathersfield and Canton. The company also announced a new $1.1 billion contract with European airplane manufacturer Airbus.

Strickland's energy plan receives a warm welcome, by Tom Henry, Toledo Blade, September 18, 2007
Toledo—Mark Shanahan, Gov. Ted Strickland's energy adviser, addressed a group of appreciative area business leaders at the University of Toledo's Clean and Alternative Energy Incubation Center yesterday.

Hubbard company uses bacteria to power generator, by Don Shilling, Youngstown Vindicator, September 18, 2007
Hubbard—NanoLogix published a YouTube video demonstrating a new process for generating electricity using sewage treatment sludge. The company hopes to develop a process that would turn waste into fuel for the Welch's plant in Erie, Penn.

Editorial: UAW, Big Three are bargaining for survival, Cleveland Plain Dealer, September 16, 2007
Cleveland—The PD's editorial board urges the UAW and the Big Three car makers to be as creative as the United Steelworkers' union which negotiated a 2002 deal with ISG (now part of ArcelorMittal) that created a new standard for the industry.

Upcoming Events

Lean Performance Race Into Cleveland, Ohio, Monday, Sept. 24-25, Performance Instruction & Training, Corporate College East / Cuyahoga Community College, Warrensville Heights

Dream It! Do It! visits the Job Expo 2007, MAGNET, Tuesday, Sept. 25, Chevrolet Centre, Downtown Youngstown

Outlook for 2008 and Chairman's Night with PMA President Bill Gaskin, Northwest Ohio Precision Metalforming Association, Tuesday, Oct. 23, Toledo

Uniting I-90 industrial corridor focus of Cleveland proposal, Crain's Cleveland Business, September 17, 2007
Cleveland—In October, the City of Cleveland will release its new regional economic development plan, which will include a proposal to create and jointly market an "I-90 corridor" linking Cleveland, Euclid and Lake County.

Employee insurance premiums rising slightly, but still outpacing hikes in wages, Akron Beacon Journal, September 14, 2007
Akron—This year, premiums for plans offered by employers nationwide rose about 6%, but premiums in Northeast Ohio rose an average of 10%. ABJ's coverage includes an interview with John Malloy, director of finance and administration at specialty chemical manufacturer Eliokem Inc., about the Akron-based firm's challenge keeping up with rising healthcare costs.

COSE to open Lorain business services location, COSE, September 17, 2007
Cleveland—COSE, the small business division of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, will hold a grand opening event for its new COSE Business Space at Lorain Community College on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The COSE Business Space provides COSE members professional meeting areas, wireless Internet service, fax machines and phones in four locations across the region.

OMA offers energy efficiency seminar for plants, Ohio Manufacturers Association, September 17, 2007
Columbus—The Ohio Manufacturers' Association will offer a webinar called "Cut the Cost of Lighting Your Plant by 60%" on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Participants will learn how to organize a lighting upgrade without disrupting plant operations and how to apply for federal tax incentives for lighting upgrades.

State [Rhode Island] wants companies to pay for paint cleanup, AP via The Youngstown Vindicator, September 15, 2007
Providence, Rhode Island —Cleveland-based Sherwin Williams is one of three former lead paint manufacturers fighting a $2.4-billion lead-paint clean-up bill proposed by the state of Rhode Island last Friday in the penalty phase of a lawsuit the companies lost in 2006. The state's four-year proposal would cover approximately 240,000 homes and must be approved by the court. The three manufacturers are appealing the jury verdict delivered in February 2006.