A great day for Akron: Goodyear is staying; new HQ to be built, by Phil Trexler and Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, December 6, 2007
Akron—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. ended months of speculation by announcing it will keep its headquarters in Akron. Thanks to state and local incentives and a $700 million investment by California developer Stuart Lichter, Goodyear will get a new headquarters building and keep its 2,900 employees in Akron for decades.

Big three to curtail production of pickups in January, By Josee Valcourt, Terry Kosdrosky and Mike Spector, Wall Street Journal, December 7, 2007 (Subscription)
Detroit—The Big Three auto makers plan to curtail production of full-size pickups for part or all of January, as a weak housing market and economic worries hit sales of their most profitable products. Sales of full-size pickup trucks fell 8.3% in November from a year earlier.

Jury returns $20.5 million judgment in welding fumes lawsuit, by Damian G. Guevara, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 5, 2007
Cleveland—A federal jury in Cleveland on Wednesday ordered Euclid-based Lincoln Electric Holdings and four other companies to pay $17.5 million to a welder who claims he got sick from the fumes he inhaled. The ruling for the the welder, Jeffrey Tamraz, was the first time a plaintiff won a case since 2003. Lawyers for the companies said they will appeal the verdict.

Steelworkers reject contract, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, December 6, 2007
Canton—Steelworkers from Republic Special Metals rejected a contract proposal Wednesday. Steelworkers Local 1124-3 represents about 70 workers. Union officials said it appears wages, benefits, and plans for a non-union new facility were major factors in the rejection.

Calif. businesses must report greenhouse gas emissions, Associated Press via Canton Repository, December 7, 2007
El Monte, Calif.—California is the first state in the nation to require oil refineries, electricity generating plants, cement kilns and other major polluters to report their annual greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2009. The mandatory reporting rule approved by state air regulators would affect 800 manufacturing facilities that account for about 95 percent of emissions from industrial sources in California.

Dana's board to have 8 new faces after bankruptcy, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, December 7, 2007
Toledo—When Dana Corp. emerges from Chapter 11 in the coming weeks, all but one of the nine directors who led the firm into bankruptcy will be out. Chief Executive Michael Burns is the only holdover from the current board, although he will be replaced as chairman, Dana officials said yesterday.

Thaman assumes post as Owens Corning CEO, Toledo Blade, December 7, 2007
Toledo—As previously announced, Dave Brown, 60, retired as CEO of Owens Corning at the company's annual shareholder meeting in New York. The board chose Mike Thaman, 43, to step up as CEO while retaining his post as chairman. He will step down from the post of CFO.

Related press release: Mike Thaman Becomes Owens Corning's Chief Executive Officer, Owens Corning, December 6, 2007.

Parker, FedEx Ground announce hydraulic hybrid joint testing program, Parker Hannifin via PR Newswire, December 7, 2007
Cleveland—Parker Hannifin Corp. and FedEx Ground will test a Class 6 vehicle employing hybrid hydraulic technology that can improve fuel mileage as much as 50 percent and reduce engine emissions. The series hybrid drive system captures, stores and deploys energy by recovering inertial energy and optimizing engine efficiency. A working demo vehicle is projected to be available within the next 12 months.

Steel bounces back in Stark; Investments bode well for future, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, December 3, 2007
Canton—The steel business isn't what it once was here, but recent moves by local companies may be buttoning up jobs for the future. Recent announcements by Timken Co., Republic Engineered Products and Republic Special Metals show that steel making companies are investing in Stark County.

Team NEO gets up to $2.1 million to recruit new employers, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 5, 2007
Cleveland—The Fund for Our Economic Future, a collaboration of more than 100 foundations and philanthropy groups agreed to funnel up to $2.1 million to the regional marketing group Team NEO over the next two years. The money will support Team NEO's efforts to attract businesses to the region.

Light bulb company names president, by Marilyn Miller, Akron Beacon Journal, December 5, 2007
Aurora—TCP Inc. promoted Joseph Colant, 39, from V.P. of Sales and Marketing to President, a newly created position. TCP says it holds a 70 percent market share of compact fluorescent lamps sold in the United States under a variety of brands.

Goodyear weighs HQ plan, by M.R. Kropko, AP via Canton Repository, December 5, 2007
Akron—Stuart Lichter, president and senior managing partner of Los Angeles, Calif.-based Industrial Realty Group LLC, said he is nearing a deal to buy the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. headquarters, modernize it and lease it back to the tire maker. The State of Ohio confirmed $30 million in tax credits and a $20 million loan as part of the package to entice the company to stay in Ohio, rather than move to South Carolina or Virginia. The company is set to announce its decision today, Dec. 5.

Liberty, Nitro Factory: Early outs sought by UAW at Jeep plant, Toledo Blade, Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Toledo—About 750 third-shift Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant jobs will be eliminated next month because of poor sales of the Jeep Liberty and the Dodge Nitro, but United Auto Workers officials are trying to obtain retirement packages to reduce the number of workers laid off.

Deal is set to sell off company in Akron, by Betty Lin-Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, December 4, 2007
Akron—Wisconsin-based Tab Products will acquire the assets of Akron-based Jeter Systems, a manufacturer of filing systems and equipment for medical and government offices. No details of the sale were released. Jeter Systems was founded by Frank Jeter in 1971.

Related story: Akron's Jeter Systems bought, 170 jobs leaving, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 5, 2007

Opinion: Our View: Manufacturing jobs up in Lorain County, and that's encouraging, Lorain Morning Journal, December 1, 2007
Lorain— Between 2004 and 2006 the number of manufacturing jobs in Lorain County rose by 225, which is a 1 percent increase according to a manufacturing report just issued by researcher Afia Yamoah of the Center for Economic Development at Cleveland State University.

Download the full-text November 2007 Manufacturing Brief, (PDF, 800k), published by MAGNET. View the MAGNET press release and regional media coverage.

Goodyear to decide whether to stay in Akron, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 1, 2007
Akron—Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is poised to decide next week if it will remain in its hometown . Two Ohio economic development agencies are meeting today in Columbus to decide what financial sweeteners, including tax incentives, the state might provide.

Editorial: Protecting Great Lakes water is a clear necessity, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 2, 2007
Two years ago, the Ohio House overwhelmingly approved the Great Lakes Water Compact, only to see the bill die in the Ohio Senate. The bill will be introduced again this session. The PD editorial board wonders "Where's the outrage over a handful of legislators holding hostage an issue that will be of vital importance to Ohio's economy for hundreds of years?"

Manufacturing expands moderately in November, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, December 3, 2007
New York—"Manufacturing continued to grow during November, a trend that is now in its 10th month," said Norbert Ore, who directs the Institute of Supply Management's monthly manufacturing survey. "While other segments of the economy are struggling, manufacturing continues to grow due to continuing strength in new orders, and a recovery in production from last month."

Related link: Institute of Supply Management November 2007 National Report, December 3, 2007.

Made Here: R.J. Vernak Refrigeration keeps game cool, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 2, 2007
Medina—Robert Vernak, owner of R.J. Vernak Refrigeration Inc. in Medina, is a long-time hunter who decided to commercialize a larger walk-in cooler that he made for personal use during a pig roast. He launched Game Keeper Cooler Co. nearly two years ago.