Editorial: Issue 1 on the May ballot is no-brainer for Ohioans, Youngstown Vindicator, April 1, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Only the most myopic of voters would think of voting no on a state government initiative that not only has bipartisan support in Columbus, but has proven to be one of the most reliable job-creation programs.

Third Frontier aiding area companies, by Larry Ringler, Warren Tribune Chronicle, March 30, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—Created in 2002, Ohio Third Frontier's investments have created more than 571 companies, the expansion of many existing companies and more than 48,000 new jobs by working with universities and business groups.

Editorial: Tech initiative's May renewal a must, by Brian Tucker, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 29, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—To those of us who care deeply about the economic future of Northeast Ohio, nothing tells a success story like this headline atop one of our web stories last week: “Third Frontier Commission awards $4.3 million to five NE Ohio tech companies.”

Editorial: Ohio voters should vote for Issue 1 and reinvest in the state's very successful Third Frontier program, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 28, 2010
Cleveland—Ohioans will have a chance on May 4 to cast a vote for the state's future. They need to seize that opportunity by voting for Issue 1 and doubling down on the best economic development bet Ohio has made in decades: its Third Frontier program.

Northeast Ohio wins bulk of Third Frontier awards for advanced materials projects, by Olivera Perkins, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 24, 2010
Cleveland—Companies in Northeast Ohio were awarded more than two-thirds of the $5.7 million in funding the Ohio Third Frontier Commission announced Wednesday for industries making materials that outperform their conventional counterparts in toughness and other qualities.

• 4 advanced energy projects in area receive additional grants, by Paula Schleis, Akron Beacon Journal, March 25, 2010
• Third Frontier Commission awards $4.3 million to five NE Ohio tech companies, by Chuck Soder, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 25, 2010

Industrial sector leads economic rebound, AP via Toledo Blade, April 2, 2010
New York—The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in March at its strongest pace in 5 1/2 years, leading the rebound from the recession on growth in exports and inventory rebuilding.

• U.S. manufacturing growth revs up, construction down, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 1, 2010
• Factories revive economy; U.S. producers remain reluctant to hire, Wall Street Journal, April 2, 2010 (Subscription)
• China, Asia manufacturing grows, Dow Jones News Wires via Wall Street Journal, April 2, 2010 (Subscription)

Cobalt sales continue to rise, by Raymond L. Smith, Warren Tribune Chronicle, April 2, 2010
Lordstown, Ohio—Sales of the Lordstown-built Cobalt increased by 30 percent over last March, according to numbers released Thursday.

V&M Star names new president, Warren Tribune Chronicle, April 2, 2010
Youngstown, Ohio—V&M Star has announced that the company's chief operating officer, Joel Mastervich, will become the next president, succeeding Roger Lindgren, who will retire later this month after leading the steel tube pipemaker into a $650 million expansion project.

Beef production plant for McDonald's in top shape, by Gary T. Pakulski, Toledo Blade, April 2, 2010
North Baltimore, Ohio—The plant 40 miles south of Toledo is one of three that grinds, shapes, and freezes beef patties for McDonald's in the United States. It produces about four million patties a day and is operated by Pennsylvania-based Keystone Foods LLC. Keystone received the Wood County Economic Development Commission's corporate citizen of the year award last month.

Emissions limits, greater fuel efficiency for cars, light trucks made official, by Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post, April 2, 2010
Washington—Consumers will pay more for cars upfront but may save money in the long term under new rules finalized Thursday by the Obama administration that will increase fuel efficiency and for the first time set greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks.

'Green' rules to boost cost of cars, but save on fuel, AP via Toledo Blade, April 2, 2010
Washington—The regulations set a goal of achieving by 2016 the equivalent of 35.5 miles per gallon combined for cars and trucks, an increase of nearly 10 mpg over current standards.

• Administration releases new fuel efficiency rules; 'ambitious but achievable,' AP via Toledo Blade, April 1, 2010
• Electric cars aren't 'zero emission,' new rules say, by Josh Mitchell, Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2010 (Subscription)
• U.S. finalizes car-mileage rules, Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2010 (Subscription)

This week's earnings reports:

• A. Schulman loses $6.8 million as plant closure costs overwhelm sales gains, by Robert Schoenberger, Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 1, 2010
• GM's March sales rose 43% at surviving brands, by Kevin Kingsbury and John Kell, Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2010 (Subscription)
• Schulman posts loss, by Jim Mackinnon, Akron Beacon Journal, March 31, 2010
• Chrysler to break even on operating basis in 2010, by Jeff Bennett and Neal E. Boudette, Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2010 (Subscription)

Future of Chrysler stamping plant uncertain, as new liquidation investors identified, by Alison Grant, Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 1, 2010
Twinsburg, Ohio—Maynard Industries Ltd. of Canada has two partners in its $45.5 million deal to buy the Chrysler facility: Counsel Corp., a private equity firm from Toronto, and Capital Recovery Group, an auction company from Enfield, Conn.

Bioscience employment boosts Ohio, Akron Beacon Journal, April 1, 2010
Columbus—Columbus-based BioOhio, a nonprofit trade group, released a study showing that the state's bioscience-sector jobs rose 17.9 percent from 2000 to 2008, with a significant share of the growth coming from pharmaceutical companies and research firms.

Six northwest Ohio firms awarded $237,000 in RGP grants, Toledo Blade, April 1, 2010
Toledo—The Regional Growth Partnership Thursday announced it has given Rocket Ventures Ignite grants to AllinBioPlastics LLC, AP Alternatives LLC, Mold Sentry LLC, SynTerra Fuels LLC, TransGlobal Container Corp. and Beyond Gaming.

SF Bay Area machine shops welcome emerging industries, by Cari Tuna, Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2010 (Subscription)
Richmond, Calif.—The Bay Area manufacturing sector is shifting with the emergence of industries such as clean technology. Production in those areas is expanding even as total manufacturing employment here continues to shrink.

Electric cars spark Ford, Microsoft partnership, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, April 1, 2010
Detroit—Ford Motor Co. and Microsoft Corp. say they will work together on creating a computerized link between houses, electric cars and utility companies to help manage energy use.

Feds to buy first 100 Chevy Volts, Detroit Free Press via Youngstown Vindicator, April 1, 2010
Washington—The White House said Wednesday that the government will “purchase the first 100 plug-in electric vehicles to roll off American assembly lines” before the end of 2010.

Glass plant goes dark, by Grace Wyler, Youngstown Vindicator, April 1, 2010
Niles, Ohio—The lights at the Mahoning Valley Glass Plant were turned off for the last time Wednesday. The plant employed 109 when the closing was announced last March. About 60 percent of the workers took voluntary layoffs or were eligible to retire, said Janice Fraser, GE spokeswoman.

Hugo Boss, union to head back to bargaining table, by Olivera Perkins, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 31, 2010
Cleveland—Hugo Boss and the union representing more than 300 workers at the Brooklyn plant are scheduled to return to the bargaining table under pressure from the National Labor Relations Board.

• Union says Hugo Boss Cleveland plant given a reprieve by NLRB, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 31, 2010

Factory orders rise for 10th time in 11 months, by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP via Akron Beacon Journal, March 31, 2010
Washington—Factory orders rose in February, bolstered by strong demand for industrial machinery and commercial aircraft.

• Manufacturing expands world-wide, by Michael S. Derby, Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2010 (Subscription)

Little U.S. impact seen from new iron ore pacts, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 31, 2010
Denver—Analysts say a new international agreement that will raise iron-ore prices shouldn't have a significant impact on the cost of U.S. products made with steel.

Agencies to probe Toyota, Los Angeles Times via Youngstown Vindicator, March 31, 2010
Los Angeles—The National Academy of Sciences will lead a broad investigation into unintended acceleration and electronic vehicle controls under a 15-month study made public Tuesday.

• Now, even NASA is involved in Toyota crisis, by Ben Worthen, Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2010 (Subscription)
• NASA will help probe Toyota acceleration problem, AP via Toledo Blade, March 30, 2010
• Toyota bolsters quality control efforts, by Yoshio Takahashi, Wall Street Journal, March 30, 2010 (Subscription)
• Toyota sales rise 40 percent in March on incentives, AP via Toledo Blade, March 31, 2010

Nissan's electric car, the Leaf, to cost $25,000 after tax credit, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 30, 2010
New York—The Leaf, a four-door hatchback, will have a base price of $32,780, but it's eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles. That will make it cheaper to buy than electric vehicles coming from rivals and may force competitors to cut prices.

• Nissan's all-electric Leaf challenges GM Volt and Toyota Prius, Christian Science Monitor, March 30, 2010

China's Geely to put $900 million more into Volvo, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 30, 2010
Beijing—Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group expects to spend hundreds of millions of dollars beyond the $1.8 billion purchase price for Volvo Cars to make the Swedish car company profitable.

• Geely plans investments to revive Volvo, by Norihiko Shirouzu, Wall Street Journal, March 31, 2010 (Subscription)

Manufacturers' dismal outlook thaws, by Dan Shingler, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 29, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—Many in the local manufacturing sector report widespread upticks in demand for goods ranging from industrial parts and highway lighting fixtures to medical devices and automotive components.

FedEx to introduce its first electric truck in U.S., AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 29, 2010
Chicago—FedEx Corp. said Monday it will put four electric trucks into service in the Los Angeles area starting in June.

Eaton Corp. to build engine valve plant in China, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 29, 2010
Cleveland—Eaton said it will start construction of the 10,000-square-meter production plant in Jining City, Shandong Province in July. Eaton did not disclose the dollar value of its investment in the plant, which will assemble engine valves and valve actuation components for automotive customers in the Chinese market.

Tax on medical device makers could be taxing, Crain's Cleveland Business, March 29, 2010 (Subscription)
Cleveland—The law includes a 2.3% excise tax on the sale of all medical devices except for consumer goods, such as contact lenses and hearing aids.

GM developing 'head-up' display of road outlines, by Larry P. Vellequette, Toledo Blade, March 29, 2010
Toledo—GM's engineering team is working with several universities to create a full windshield "head-up" system that would use night vision, navigation, and cam-era-based sensor technologies to improve visibility and object detection for drivers.

State, JumpStart to help minority business, WCPN IdeaStream, March 29, 2010
Cleveland—Over five years, the plan is to take 100 small firms with the potential for multi-millions of dollars in sales or business, and provide the economic leg up that they lack.

Wind turbines to be built in Lake Erie by 2012, group says, by John Funk, Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 29, 2010
Cleveland—The Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. said today it is ready to award a contract to a developer to build the first wind turbines in the Lake as early as 2012.

Chinese automaker to buy Volvo from Ford for $1.8 billion, AP via Cleveland Plain Dealer, March 28, 2010
Stockholm—Zhejiang Geely Holding Group signed a binding deal Sunday to buy Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo Cars unit for $1.8 billion, representing a coup for the independent Chinese automaker which is aiming to expand in Europe.