Three tech startups get $225,000 investment, by Shaheen Samavati, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 21, 2007
Lorain—The Lorain County Community College Foundation said Friday that it will invest $225,000 in three Northeast Ohio technology start-ups through its new Innovation Fund: Vasolux Microsystems (Elyria), Wireless Environment (Pepper Pike) and Nanomimetics (based in Cleveland at MAGNET's Incubator). The LCCC Foundation's Innovation Fund was started with $400,000 from TechLift, a state-supported program led by NorTech to help nurture new technology businesses in Northeast Ohio.

Eaton Corp. to buy German, Taiwanese companies, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 21, 2007
Cleveland—Eaton Corp. announced plans to purchase a German manufacturer of electric-power distribution systems and a Taiwanese maker of backup power components for $2.8 billion. Eaton hopes to close the deals during the first quarter of 2008 and expects the companies to contribute handsomely to the bottom line of their new corporate parent.

Fund to aid the jobless in Ohio being drained, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, December 21, 2007
Columbus—Ohio's slumping economy is draining the state fund that provides benefits to jobless workers, and officials fear that a recession could run it dry by the end of 2008. If that happens, employers probably would be asked to pay more in unemployment taxes, and unemployed workers could receive less help.

Mandate pressures producers, AP via Youngstown Vindicator, December 21, 2007
Washington—By mandating a boom in ethanol output from sources other than corn, the new energy bill presents a huge opportunity for the fledgling biofuels market — and considerable uncertainty. The 2007 bill, which President Bush signed Wednesday, mandates production of 36 billion gallons of ethanol by 2022, with 21 billion gallons coming from so-called cellulosic ethanol. There are significant obstacles to meeting this goal, however, not least of which is devising a profitable method of producing cellulosic ethanol.

Toledo Powertrain work force cutbacks on horizon, by Jon Chavez, Toledo Blade, December 20, 2007
Toledo—As General Motors Corp.'s Toledo Powertrain Plant moves toward making more fuel-efficient transmissions, it will have 400 higher-seniority workers laid off for a month and 350 more workers furloughed for several months, beginning in January. Some of the cutbacks were anticipated, but a company spokesperson said some are due to GM's struggling sales.

Horsburgh & Scott sees winds of change for its mammoth gears, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 20, 2007
Cleveland—Horsburgh & Scott, a manufacturer of giant heavy-duty gears for heavy manufacturing, is branching out to the wind energy field. Ten major energy companies have queried Horsburgh & Scott about making gears for giant wind turbines. So company recently arranged an infusion of capital investment so it can modernize its 300,000-square-foot facility here.

Lucas County OKs $2M loan to Toledo solar-panel firm, by Joe Vardon, Toledo Blade, December 19, 2007
Toledo—Momentum for a growing Toledo solar-tech company continued yesterday with the Lucas County commissioners' approval of a $2 million loan to Xunlight Corp.

Man vs. machine, by Christopher Steiner, Forbes.com, December 24, 2007
Columbus—Forbes profiles biomechanical research being conducted at Ohio State University's Center for Occupational Health in Automotive Manufacturing as part of a partnership with Honda North America that has cut lost time due to illness and injury by 70%.

Navistar to buy GM truck unit, by John Flowers, Wall Street Journal, December 20, 2007
Detroit—After months of speculation, General Motors Corp. on Thursday announced a nonbinding agreement to sell its medium-duty truck business to Navistar International Corp. Production of the GMC TopKick and Chevrolet Kodiak truck brands will move from GM's plant in Flint, Mich., to a Navistar facility. The company said GM would retain ownership of the Flint plant and continue to build other products at the facility.

Bush signs energy, mileage bill, H. Josef Hebert, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 20, 2007
Washington—President Bush signed legislation requiring automakers to achieve an industrywide average fuel efficiency of 35 miles per gallon for cars, SUVs and small trucks by 2020.

EPA sides with auto industry, by Mike Spector and Christopher Conkey, Wall Street Journal, December 20, 2007 (subscription required)
Detroit and Washington—The Bush administration blocked California's plan to put tighter limits on automobile tailpipe emissions, handing a victory to the auto industry on the same day the president signed an energy bill that mandates the biggest boost in federal fuel-efficiency standards in more than 30 years.

Masco suffers squeeze, by Dawn Wotapka and Kemba J. Dunham, Wall Street Journal, December 19, 2007
Taylor, Mich.—The housing debacle is impacting Masco Corp.'s bottom line as builders and contractors press for price cuts. The company has cut more than 9,000 jobs, about 17% of its North American work force, and is taking a range of other measures to survive the downturn. The company's brands include KraftMaid Cabinetry headquartered in Middlefield, Ohio and Mill's Pride in Waverly, Ohio.

Executive Suite

Goodyear promotes Akron exec, by Betty Lin Fisher, Akron Beacon Journal, December 20, 2007
Akron—The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company named Jean-Claude Kihn senior vice president and chief technical officer, effective January 1. Kihn is currently general director of Goodyear’s Technical Center. The company also announced a number of other leadership changes in its technical and research areas.

Related press release: Goodyear appoints Kihn as Chief Technical Officer, GoodYear Tire Co., December 19, 2007

Cooper Tire CEO adds title of firm’s chairman, Toledo Blade, December 20, 2007
Findlay—Roy Armes, chief executive officer of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., has been appointed company chairman. Also, John Meier was named lead director on the board.

A. Schulman in Akron gets a new CEO, by Frank Bentayou, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2007
Akron—Joseph Gingo, 63, a 41-year Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. executive, will retire from his current position there Dec. 31 and assume the top role at plastic compounds and resin supplier A. Schulman on Jan. 1, replacing longtime top executive and chairman, Terry Haines who previously announced his retirement.

Related story: A. Schulman picks chief executive, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, December 18, 2007

Maumee firm to receive $100,000 state grant, Toledo Blade, December 18, 2007
Maumee, Ohio—The Ohio Department of Development announced Metal Forming & Coining Corp., of Maumee, will receive a $100,000 state grant to buy equipment to support the firm’s $2.4 million expansion, retaining more than a 100 jobs and adding 100,000 square feet to the company's plant..

Mfrs file response to Rhode Island's lead paint cleanup plan, Dow Jones News Wires via Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2007
Providence, R.I.—Sherwin-Williams Co., NL Industries, Inc. and Millennium Holdings LLC filed documents in their appeal of a proposed $2.4 billion cleanup plan proposed by Rhode Island after it won a landmark lead-paint lawsuit last year. The companies argue that the state's plan is unworkable, overly broad and could even put children at risk. The state Supreme Court will hear the appeal next year.

Economic Census of U.S. businesses now under way, by Teresa Dixon Murray, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 18, 2007
Cleveland—About 50,000 companies in Greater Cleveland and Akron this week will receive extensive questionnaires about their businesses—and they must, by law, complete them.

Owner moving some ABS jobs, Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, December 18, 2007
Akron—Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems told its Akron employees that it will shift some operations to a new, second factory in central Mexico in the next 18 to 24 months. The has nearly 370 hourly employees in Akron represented by United Auto Workers Local 856. The union's four-year contract runs through 2010.

China eco-watchdog gets teeth, by Andrew Batson and Zhou Yang, Wall Street Journal, December 18, 2007
Beijing—China's environmental controls, long criticized as ineffective, are starting to have real economic bite. Between 1995 and 2005, the State Environmental Protection Administration only rejected two proposed projects. In 2006, SEPA rejected 110 proposed projects. Between January and October 2007, it rejected 187 proposed projects.

OMA publishes presentation on pending electricity legislation, Ohio Manufacturers' Association, December 14, 2007
Columbus—OMA Director of Public Policy Services Kevin Schmidt has prepared a Powerpoint presentation on pending electric restructuring legislation, SB 221. The OMA says the presentation provides manufacturers an overview of the electricity restructuring issue. OMA encourages companies to use the presentation as a communication resource.

Solar panel manufacturer Isofoton interested in Ohio site, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 15, 2007
Cleveland—A team from mIsofoton, Europe's largest solar-panel manufacturer, visited Gov. Ted Strickland two weeks ago and will return in January to explore establishing its North American headquarters in Ohio. The company is also considering Pennsylvania and North Carolina. It is looking for a state with a renewable-energy portfolio.

GM testing fuel-cell vehicles, by Lawrence Ulrich, New York Times via Akron Beacon Journal, December 16, 2007
Detroit—GM is preparing a January rollout of Project Driveway, which will park more than 100 Equinox Fuel Cell crossover wagons with selected drivers in Westchester County, N.Y.; Orange County, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. For recipients of the Equinox, each valued at up to $1 million, GM will even cover the cost of hydrogen fuel and insurance.

Business group adds blog to site, Akron Beacon Journal, December 15, 2007
Columbus—The Ohio Business Development Coalition has added a blog to its Web site: blog.ohiomeansbusiness.com. The blog features interviews with Ohio executives providing their perspective on what it is like to work and live in Ohio.

Timken plans joint venture in China to make bearings for wind turbines, by G. Patrick Kelley, Canton Repository, December 16, 2007
Canton—The Repository's business editor contributes a feature on last week's announcement that Timken will build a $38 million facility in China to manufacture large-bore bearings for power-producing windmills. The turbines are intended for the Chinese market.