Business news digest

REGION

Ninkasi nightclub opens on Boardman-Poland Road

BOARDMAN — Ninkasi, a new nightclub, has opened at 1714 Boardman-Poland Road, the site of the former Drunken Jack’s. The owner, Ryan Smith, has updated the club with the addition of new televisions and booths. The menu features gyros and Philly cheese fries.

Columbia Gas creates emergency assistance fund

COLUMBUS — Columbia Gas of Ohio has created a $2.1 million emergency assistance fund to help customers who are having difficulty paying their heating bills but who don’t qualify for existing energy assistance programs.

The company is making available money that it received in payments from an interstate pipeline supplier in an effort to assist families harmed financially by the recession and layoffs. These new funds will be available for utility bill payment assistance to Columbia Gas of Ohio customers with incomes between 175 percent and 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four, the household income could be up to $42,400 per year.

For information, call (800) 344-4077.

From Vindicator staff reports