REGION

REGION

LoopScreen joins YBI’s Virtual Portfolio Company

YOUNGSTOWN — LoopScreen, a provider of online personal reputation management and personal marketing tools, has become part of Youngstown Business Incubator’s virtual Portfolio Company. A Virtual Portfolio Company is a very early stage venture that uses the resources of YBI, but is not a physical tenant of the building, said Julie Michael Smith, YBI chief development officer.

LoopScreen will use YBI’s INSPIRE! flexible development suite which offers professional office space, conference facilities and equipment, and YBI’s staff will assist in the business development process by providing entrepreneurial counseling.

LoopScreen is collaborating with its Youngstown technology and equity partner, Empyra, for the company’s expected first-quarter 2010 launch of its service, also called LoopScreen, Vipin Gupta, president and CEO of Empyra, said.

FDIC: Lending at Ohio institutions rises

COLUMBUS — Lending at Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-insured Ohio financial institutions increased by more than $700 million dollars in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the second quarter, according to the FDIC.

Net loans and leases on the books of Ohio banks and thrifts increased to $1.074 trillion from $1.073 trillion in the second quarter.

Real-estate lending in Ohio increased by $6 billion, from $628 billion to $634 billion, while lending to individuals — credit cards, auto loans and others — increased by $5 billion, from $142 billion to $147 billion.

In another sign of the health of Ohio’s banking industry, deposits at banks and thrifts increased to $1.52 trillion from $1.49 trillion in the second quarter, said Ohio Bankers League President and CEO Mike Van Buskirk.

Two key measures of overall Ohio bank strength — total equity capital and risk-based capital — also increased from quarter to quarter.

Equity capital was at $210 billion in the third quarter, up from $201 billion in the second, while total risk-based capital increased from 12.96 percent in the second quarter to 13.09 percent in the third, Van Buskirk said.

Ribbon-cutting planned at Aaron’s Sales & Lease

LIBERTY — Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership, 3163 Belmont Ave., is having a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. Friday. Aaron’s new Liberty location is part of its expansion plan.

The company is on target to open 250 stores across the U.S. and Canada in 2009, said store manager Kevin Ross.

All families in the Youngstown area are invited to visit the store during regular business hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

nation

At Disney, new president of Worldwide Channels

BURBANK, Calif. — Walt Disney Co. has named Carolina Lightcap as president of Disney Channels Worldwide. She replaces Rich Ross, who was promoted to serve as the company’s movie studios chairman in October.

Lightcap joined Disney in 2000 and most recently served as vice president of programming and creative affairs and chief marketing officer of the company’s Latin American operations.

Disney also named Gary Marsh as chief creative officer, a newly created position, in addition to his current role as president of entertainment at Disney Channels Worldwide. He will report to Lightcap.

Vindicator staff/wire reports