REGION

REGION
Choice Hotels group picksBroadband Hospitality
BOARDMAN -- Broadband Hospitality, a Boardman-based company that provides high-speed Internet service to hotels, has been named an endorsed vendor by Choice Hotels International. The Silver Spring, Md.-based company owns the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge and Rodeway brands. The local company will demonstrate its wired and wireless products to franchisees at Choice Hotel's annual convention this week in San Diego. Broadband Hospitality has more than 150 hotels with high-speed service installed or under contract.
Daniel Rothfeld, Choice Hotels senior vice president, said Broadband Hospitality was selected because of its competitive prices, its understanding of the hotel franchise business and its ability to provide various high-speed Internet solutions for various locations.
Hand elected to head Downtown Warren group
WARREN -- The Downtown Warren Business Association elected these new officers: Tristan Hand, owner of Queen of Hearts on Pine Street, president; Scott Fullerton of Little Johnny's restaurant, vice president; Dan Wanacek of J & amp;R Glass, treasurer; and Linda Amadei of Trumbull Mobile Meals, secretary.
The terms begin June 1 and run for one year.
"I really feel the Downtown Warren Business Association is a support organization," Hand said. "It's there to support the business owners and to show what vibrant and exciting place downtown can be."
Coalition plans seminarto help minorities
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Minority Business Enterprise Supplier Coalition will hold a seminar titled "Jump-Starting Minority Business in the Mahoning Valley" from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 21 in the Workforce Development Building at Kent State University Trumbull Campus.
The seminar will stress the importance of having a diverse supplier base and give tips on starting a business. For information, call Brandon Washington (330) 941-3168.
Section 504 loans
LIBERTY -- The Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp. is offering U.S. Small Business Administration Section 504 loans to businesses in Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania. MVEDC has helped 123 companies in Ohio obtain $34 million through this program. It helps small businesses with long-term financing for buying real estate and equipment and constructing buildings. The program offers fixed interest rates and a low down payment, MVEDC said.
Annual mixer is chanceto meet group members
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Hermitage Business Association's annual mixer will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hickory VFW/Normandy Banquet Center. The mixer provides an opportunity for those interested in joining to meet association members. Hermitage city and Mercer County officials are expected to attend. Members of the association also meet each month for networking opportunities and to learn about new businesses and projects in the community. For more information, call the city's community and economic development office at (724) 983-0900.
Delphi Packard's parenthonored by magazine
TROY, Mich. -- Delphi Corp., the Michigan-based parent company of Delphi Packard Electric Systems, was named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2004 by Business Ethics magazine. The listing identifies companies in the Russell 1000 -- the nation's largest publicly traded companies -- that excel at serving employees, customers, community, environment, women and minorities.
Delphi ranked 34th overall on the 2004 list. This is the third consecutive year Delphi has received such recognition.
Effects of gas prices
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio -- With unleaded gasoline prices well over $2 a gallon in some parts of the nation, many people are beginning to ponder changing their driving habits to control those costs, a survey suggests.
In a query of 1,000 drivers by Progressive Insurance, 92 percent said they'd drive out of their way for cheaper fuel, while more than a third said they would drive as far as 10 miles out of the way.
As for the effect of pricey gas on the summer driving season, some 19 percent of the drivers said they would vacation closer to home. Nearly one in 10 people said they will cancel vacation plans because of gas costs.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports