'3 Minutes With' Tony Paglia, Vice President, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber
Tuesday, February 11, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- In today's "3 Minutes With,” Tony Paglia, vice president for government and media affairs for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, discusses the Youngstown-Warren metropolitan area’s ranking as the ninth least-expensive among 308 metro areas in the country in the 2013 Cost Of Living Index (READ STORY).
"3 Minutes With" is a daily video feature produced by The Business Journal.
Valentine's Cost of Loving Little Changed Since 2013
Tuesday, February 11, 2014HOUSTON -- Affirming your affections this Valentine's Day won't cost much more than last year, says the Cost of Loving Index. The biggest increase since the index began is in the price of first-run movie tickets for two, which jumped 4.8% to $22 this year.
The Cost of Loving Index is sponsored and administered by Houston Asset Management.
Salem Chocolate Crawl Set for March 1
Tuesday, February 11, 2014SALEM, Ohio -- The Salem Preservation Society is sponsoring a Chocolate Crawl on March 1. More than 50 downtown merchants are participating, officials said.
A ticket, which is $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, allows the selection of 15 items to eat in or take out. Tickets purchased by Feb. 14 will be $1 off.
Tickets are available at the Salem Chamber of Commerce office, Salem Giant Eagle, Richardson Monuments, Lisbon, Vivian's Antiques, Columbiana, Heggy's Confectionery, Alliance, and Poland Giant Eagle.
Mercer County Companies Get Energy-Efficiency Grants
Tuesday, February 11, 2014HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Seven Mercer County companies will share in $996,713 in grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The grants will help 134 small businesses throughout the state to invest in energy-efficiency or pollution-prevention projects.
The grants are expected to create more than $3.7 million in private-sector investment in small businesses. Since 2004, the program has awarded in excess of $8.5 million in more than 1,776 small businesses statewide.
Auto Dealers Report Sales Increase in January
Monday, February 10, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Auto dealers in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties report slightly higher sales of new vehicles in January compared to the same period last year, according to the latest report from the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio.
Local dealers reported that 2,301 new cars and trucks were sold last month, compared to 2,238 sold in January 2013, an increase of 2.8%, the organization reported in its monthly survey.
Hilcorp Investments Take Lead in Utica's Northern Tier
Monday, February 10, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The billions of dollars pumped into eastern Ohio as a result of oil and gas exploration in the Utica shale show little sign of abating, and leading the way in this section of the Utica is Hilcorp Energy Co., Houston.
“The Utica is just beginning its 30 years of development,” says Steve Jacobs, president of Harvest Pipeline Co., a subsidiary of Hilcorp. “We might be one or two years into it.”
'3 Minutes With' John Janoso Jr., President/CEO, Sharon Regional Health System
Monday, February 10, 2014SHARON, Pa. -- In today's "3 Minutes With,” John Janoso Jr., president/CEO of Sharon Regional Health System, discusses Community Health Systems Inc.’s purchase of Sharon Regional, which was announced last week (READ STORY). He outlines the various advantages of the deal, including maintaining local services and having access to capital for upgrades to the system.
"3 Minutes With" is a daily video feature produced by The Business Journal.
Refresh Dental Looks to Double Offices, Employment
Monday, February 10, 2014CANFIELD, Ohio – Refresh Dental Management Inc., recognized by Inc. magazine last year for its growth, is poised to double its size in terms of locations and employment this year, its co-founder says.
“The company is looking at doubling in 2014” to more than 60 locations, said Ken Cooper, who co-founded the company.
Refresh Dental, which opened its 33rd clinic on Mahoning Avenue in October, was founded in 2008. The concept was to provide business services to dentists, Cooper says.
Dunn Offers Perspective on Academic Freedom
Monday, February 10, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The president of Youngstown State University, Randy J. Dunn, has posted a commentary at the university's news center regarding members of the American Studies Association voting to endorse a boycott of Israeli academic institutions (READ ASA STATEMENT).
Citywide Planning Meetings to Begin Feb. 26
Monday, February 10, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The first in a series of neighborhood meetings is set for Feb. 26 as part of a citywide planning process being coordinated by the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and the city.
YNDC and the city of Youngstown have completed the first phase of the planning process, creation of a 287-page neighborhood conditions report available for download here.