Foreclosure Rate Drops in Youngstown-Warren Region
Wednesday, June 26, 2013IRVINE, Calif. -- Foreclosure rates in Youngstown-Warren-Boardman decreased in April compared to April 2012. So did people in arrears in their mortgage payments, reports CoreLogic.
The rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgae loans in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman market was 3.92% for April, a decrease of 0.88% from April 2012 when the rate was 4.8%, CoreLogic reports. Foreclosure activity in Youngstown-Warren-Boardman was higher than the national rate, 2.65% for April.
Region's Bankers Writing More Mortgage Loans
Wednesday, June 26, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The rising number of people in the Mahoning Valley obtaining mortgages to buy or build a house reflects the rebounding regional economy. Refinancing older mortgages that carry higher rates continues, lenders report, but at a slower pace than a year ago.
Mortgage lending has become “a plain vanilla business,” as R. Bruce Wenmoth describes it. Wenmoth is executive vice president for retail lending at First Place Bank, Warren.
Kasich Improves in Latest Quinnipiac Poll
Wednesday, June 26, 2013COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A newly released Quinnipiac University poll finds Gov. John Kasich in an improved position as he faces voters in 2014. Buoyed by voter perceptions that the state’s economy is improving, Kasich’s job approval rating now stands at 54%-32%, his highest score to date. By a 49%-37% margin, voters say he deserves to be reelected.
West Corp. Looks to Hire 200 at Niles Call Center
Wednesday, June 26, 2013NILES, Ohio -- West Corp. hopes to fill 200 additional technical associate positions here by the end of 2013 to serve one of its existing clients, the company announced.
The additional positions are to meet expanded demand from the client, a leading wireless telecommunications provider, said David Pleiss, vice president, investor and public relations, for the Omaha-based company. "We hope to hire 200 by the end of the year but the hiring will continue beyond that," he said. Hiring for the positions is under way now.
'3 Minutes With' Jim Davis, Austintown Trustee
Wednesday, June 26, 2013AUSTINTOWN, Ohio -- In today's "3 Minutes With," Jim Davis, Austintown trustee, discusses development activity in the township and how that is being driven by the Hollywood at Mahoning Valley Race Course being developed by Penn National Gaming Inc. Two businesses celebrated ribbon cuttings in the township Tuesday.
New Castle Electric Plant to Be Converted to Gas
Wednesday, June 26, 2013HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Monday's announcement by NRG Energy that the company will convert its electric generation plant in New Castle to operate on natural gas is good news to Gov. Tom Corbett, his office said. The conversion will help retain 40 jobs and help create 50 to 100 temporary construction jobs.
The former owner, Gen-On Energy Inc., announced last year that it would close the 330-megawatt plant in April 2015 because of costly federal environmental control requirements.
Survey Examines Issues of Unwanted Employees
Wednesday, June 26, 2013CHICAGO -- Most managers understand that the quality of their working relationships with employees can make or break on-the-job productivity, but just how pervasive are negative worker/boss pairings? In fact, 27% of bosses have a direct-report employee they'd like to see leave the company.
Local Unemployment Rates Rise in May
Tuesday, June 25, 2013COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Youngstown's unemployment rate was among the highest for Ohio's cities last month, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported today.
The city's 9.6% unemployment rate in May was third highest among Ohio's cities, following Zanesville's 10.1% jobless rate and East Cleveland's 9.9% rate. Youngstown's unemployment rate also was up from 9.4% in April and from 9.2% in May 2012. Warren's rate was 7.7% in May, up slightly from 7.6% in April and up from 7.1% in May 2012.
Record Private Donations Reflect Optimism about YSU
Tuesday, June 25, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Seven gifts accounted for nearly two-thirds of the $10.4 million Youngstown State University raised in its fiscal 2013, President Cynthia Anderson and Scott Evans, vice president for university advancement, said Monday.
The university held a press event to announce that as of June 19, 4,587 donors had pledged or contributed $10,388,380 since last July 1, a record, and three times the sum contributed in fiscal 2012. The YSU fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.
The nearly $10.4 million surpasses the old mark of $6.4 million set in fiscal 2007.
Brilex, Valerus to Celebrate Youngstown Partnership
Tuesday, June 25, 2013YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Brilex Industries will celebrate its partnership with Houston-based Valerus during an open house Wednesday for civic and business leaders and the news media.