Landlords Tout Downtown Resurgence, New Projects
Thursday, October 30, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- No better sign of the resurgent commercial real estate market in downtown Youngstown is the recent news that veteran Mahoning Valley restaurant operator George Guarnieri would be taking over the top floor of the Commerce Building.
Guarnieri, who operated Belleria Pizzeria on Youngstown-Poland Road until selling it earlier this year, plans to open a casual upscale restaurant in early 2015. The restaurant -- named, appropriately enough, “The Fifth Floor” -- will occupy the former upper level of the Youngstown Club, which closed nearly two years ago.
WesBanco Buys ESB Financial for $324.4M
Thursday, October 30, 2014WHEELING, W.Va. – WesBanco Inc., based here, is buying ESB Financial Corp., based in Ellwood City, Pa., in a cash and stock merger transaction valued at $324.4 million or $17.65 per share.
The agreement and merger plan, unanimously approved Wednesday by the board of directors of both companies, was jointly announced Wednesday.
Preliminary Steel Imports Up 5% in September
Thursday, October 30, 2014WASHINGTON -- The United States imported 3,892,000 net tons of steel in September, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, which bases that figure on preliminary Census Bureau data. The figure includes 2,946,000 net tons of finished steel.
The total represents an increase of 5.2% over August final data, while the finished steel figure is up 5.3%.
Year-to-date, total and finished steel imports are 32,557,000 and 24,407,000 net tons, respectively, up 36% and 30%.
Traficant Tribute Nov. 30 at Powers Auditorium
Thursday, October 30, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The family of former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. announced Wednesday a public memorial will be held Nov. 30 celebrating the former congressman and sheriff’s life and accomplishments.
The event, A Celebration of the Life & Accomplishments of James A. Traficant Jr., will take place at 2 p.m. at the DeYor Performing Arts Centre’s Edward W. Powers Auditorium, according to a posting on Facebook. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. the day of the event.
'3 Minutes With' U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio
Thursday, October 30, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In today's “3 Minutes With,” U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio, discusses how the federal government -- and the American taxpayer -- subsidize foods that contribute to growing health problems such as diabetes and obesity, and the difference shifting those subsidies and helping build local markets for healthier foods can make for Americans’ health and entitlement spending. Ryan is the author of The Real Food Revolution (READ STORY).
Vadxx Building Plant to Make Plastic Waste into Fuel
Wednesday, October 29, 2014AKRON, Ohio -- Every day the world’s oil reserves get smaller as the demand for energy grows. Vadxx Energy LLC, about to begin operating what it says will be the first-of-its-kind plant to run 24/7, sees that as an opportunity, not a problem. Petroleum might be a resource that can be exhausted, but plastic trash is seemingly inexhaustible.
The technology Vadxx has developed converts plastic waste to synthetic oil. “We’ve tested everything from tires to auto shredder residue, to sterilized hospital waste,” says Russell Cooper, Vadxx vice president of supply chain and marketing.
Team NEO Reports Assisting 16 Projects in 3rd Quarter
Wednesday, October 29, 2014CLEVELAND -- Regional economic development activities in northeastern Ohio contributed to 16 successful business attraction and expansion projects during the third quarter, Team NEO reported this morning.
The 16 projects cited in the third-quarter Regional Economic Development Report included Matalco Inc.’s groundbreaking in Lordstown last month, resulting in the creation of 60 jobs for a payroll of $4 million and capital investment of $85.7 million.
MVEDC Honors Business Journal, Publisher at Event
Wednesday, October 29, 2014BOARDMAN, Ohio -- As it celebrated its 35th anniversary, the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp. honored The Business Journal and its publisher, Andrea Wood.
Founded in 1984, The Business Journal was recognized as “Mahoning Valley Business of the Year.” The publication, which was originally known as the Youngstown Business Journal, was created to change the narrative of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley in the wake of the steel shutdowns that began in the mid-1970s, Wood recalled.
YSU Materials Science Lab Hailed as 'Second to None'
Wednesday, October 29, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- New equipment recently installed in Youngstown State University's X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory places the institution "second to none" among universities in Ohio and among the best in the country when it comes to materials analysis, officials say.
'3 Minutes With' Allen Hunter, YSU Chemistry Professor
Wednesday, October 29, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In today's “3 Minutes With,” Allen Hunter, YSU chemistry professor, discusses how new equipment in the X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory benefits students and local industry. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday marking the installation of new equipment in the lab (READ STORY).
"3 Minutes With" is a daily video feature produced by The Business Journal.