SBA Reports Small-Business Loans Rose to 23.5M in 2012
Monday, July 15, 2013WASHINGTON -- The number of small-business loans increased to 23.5 million in June 2012 from 21.3 million in June 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration reports. The number of small-business loans outstanding continued to decline, but only by 3.1% last year as opposed to 6.9% in 2011.
Eastwood Rib Fest Returns to Valley This Weekend
Monday, July 15, 2013NILES, Ohio -- After a one-year hiatus, the 28th Eastwood Rib Fest returns to the Eastwood Mall Complex Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The rib fest will feature local and national grill-masters serving up their ribs, chicken and other barbecued foods. Available to barbecue lovers will be creations of Texas Pit Barbecue, Guy's Barbecue, Old Carolina Barbecue, Smokin' T's Barbecue, Porky Chick's and more. Hours the food will be served are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Area Hospitals Upgrade Information Technology
Monday, July 15, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Information technology is at the core of many, but not all, of the technology upgrades taking place at health-care providers throughout the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. A few are driven by the move toward electronic medical records.
At Sharon Regional Health System in Sharon, Pa., a private fiber loop that connects the campus to the James E. Feeney Technology Center at the LindenPointe Innovative Business Campus and the Sharon Regional Medical Park, both in Hermitage, should be up and running this fall, says Donna Walters, chief information officer.
'3 Minutes With' YWCA Women Artists: A Celebration Show
Monday, July 15, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In today's "3 Minutes With," Leah Brooks, executive director of the YWCA of Youngstown, discusses the 31st annual Women Artists: A Celebration Show. The juried show, which features more 125 pieces, runs through July 19 and is open to the public, noon-4 p.m.
Grey to Green Festival Opens Registration
Monday, July 15, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Registration is under way for the sixth annual Grey to Green Festival, set for Sept. 21 in Wick Park. The event, which will feature a farmer’s market, children’s activities, workshops, “green” vendors, an essay contest and community soapbox, will take place 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The mission of the event is to raise awareness of environmental issues in the Mahoning Valley region, encouraging sustainable living and business practices, invigorating local green businesses and helping to beautify Wick Park.
Companies Choose to Outsource More This Year
Monday, July 15, 2013NEW YORK – Half of major U.S. enterprises intend to outsource their application development and maintenance this year rather than hire more employees to do the work inhouse, a survey from KPMG LLP and Hfs Research finds. Of the half that intend to outsource, 40% plan to increase outsourcing in the area of finance and accounting.
Client expectations of outsourcing are becoming more value-focused, with information technology, finance and accounting administrative processes dominating, the survey, "State of the Outsourcing Industry 2013,” found.
Additional survey findings:
Baird Energy Research Finds ‘Jury Still Out on Utica’
Saturday, July 13, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- A new report by Baird Equity Research Energy finds exploration companies “haven’t cracked the code” to successfully extract oil in the western part of the Utica shale play.
Hart Energy’s Unconventional Oil & Gas Center quotes the report as stating, “The jury is still out on the economic potential of the broader Utica with lack of production data, infrastructure and well results driving the uncertainty in our view.”
CO2 Stored in Marcellus Wells Could Boost Production
Saturday, July 13, 2013UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Marcellus Shale and other natural gas plays are considered valuable for what can be extracted from them, but what if they could also be valuable and environmentally helpful after they are been depleted?
Ryan Sponsors Legislation for Infrastructure Bank
Friday, July 12, 2013WARREN, Ohio – Legislation cosponsored this week by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan would establish an infrastructure bank to address the nation's vital infrastructure needs.
Titled the National Infrastructure Bank Act, House Resolution 2553 would establish an infrastructure bank to consider eligible projects, provide funding and create good jobs to help build the U.S. economy, Ryan's office announced in a news release today.
Penn National Mulls Options for Water at Racino
Friday, July 12, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Penn National Gaming Inc. will explore options to supply water to the $125 million racino it's developing in Austintown, possibly buying it from the city or other providers, says the company's spokesman, who expresses disappointment in the "11th-hour money grab" by the city.