Business news digest

REGION

Blackhawk sale approved

YOUNGSTOWN — The sale of Blackhawk Automotive Plastics of Salem to Flex-N-Gate of Illinois has been approved by Judge Kay Woods of U.S. District Bankruptcy Court. A hearing on the $16.46 million sale was held Wednesday. The sale is to close March 14, and lawyers said that Flex-N-Gate intends to keep the 700-employee Salem plant open.

File for free to get rebate

YOUNGSTOWN —¬†The Internal Revenue Service said the IRS Free File program is available for people who normally do not file a tax return but must do so this year in order to receive their 2008 economic stimulus payment.

IRS and several of its partners in the Free File Alliance can now accept returns submitted by people who have no legal requirement to file other than to receive their payments. The IRS said people in this category should use only those companies listed on Free File—Economic Stimulus Web page at IRS.gov.

“Free File is the perfect option for anyone who is filing a tax return only to receive their economic stimulus payment. Just follow the instructions provided by the software — which are quite simple,” said Eric Erickson, an IRS spokesman.

Credit union network

WARREN —¬†Seven Seventeen Credit Union joined a network of credit unions from across the country that has nearly 2,900 branch offices. Seven Seventeen said its 80,000 members will have more convenient access to their money and accounts.¬†

Seven Seventeen will be a member of the Shared Branching network, which allows members to make deposits, cash personal checks from another institution, withdraw funds, transfer money from one account to another, obtain balance inquiries and process loan payments and advances on certain types of loans.

Testing of the network was completed at Seven Seventeen’s Kent and Boardman offices, which enables them to handle transactions for members of other credit unions. Other Seven Seventeen branches will be brought on line in the coming months.

NATION

Big bucks for GM chiefs

DETROIT — General Motors Corp.’s board has voted to give Chief Executive Rick Wagoner a salary of $2.2 million this year. The decision restores Wagoner’s pay to its pre-2006 level. Wagoner had taken a pay cut as part of the Detroit automaker’s turnaround plan.

The board also voted to give GM’s new President and Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson a base salary of $1.8 million. Both men were granted shares of GM stock and will make additional money if they meet certain internal targets.

 From Vindicator staff and wire reports