REGION

REGION
United Community makesan offer to buy shares
YOUNGSTOWN -- United Community Financial Corp. is offering to buy up to 4 million of its common shares for $12.50 a share. The shares amount to nearly 12 percent of outstanding shares.
Details of the offer are being mailed to shareholders starting Wednesday. The offer expires March 1. If more than 4 million shares are offered, requests for sales of more than 100 shares will be prorated.
United Community, the parent company of Home Savings and Loan Co. and Butler Wick Corp., said buying the shares is an attractive investment.
The shares had risen steadily from less than $9 a share a year ago to about $11.50 through most of Monday's trading. Just before the market closed, however, the price shot up to $12.30. The purchase announcement was made just after the market closed.
Business expo programto offer development tips
YOUNGSTOWN -- Anyone interested in opening a business in the downtown Youngstown area can attend the Youngstown Arts and Entertainment District Association's business expo Wednesday. The program is designed to walk potential and existing businesspeople through the development process.
The session begins at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor auditorium of the Ohio One building, 25 E. Boardman St. It's designed to give participants a chance to meet directly with representatives of various economic development groups, banks and architects, as well as the YAEDA's Business Development Team.
Farmers National reportsfourth-quarter increase
CANFIELD -- Farmers National Banc Corp. earned $2.4 million in the fourth quarter, which was a 7-percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2002. Per-share earnings last quarter were 19 cents, compared with 18 cents a year earlier.
For the year, the holding company for Farmers National Bank earned $9.5 million, or 75 cents a share, compared with $7.9 million, or 63 cents a share, in 2002.
From Vindicator staff reports