Business news in brief

REGION

Hill, Barth & King merges with Sarasota, Fla., firm

BOARDMAN — Hill, Barth & King has added the staff of North and Co., an accounting firm based in Sarasota, Fla., through a merger.

The nine-person staff in Florida will become part of Boardman-based Hill, Barth & King. William North, principal at the Florida firm, said HBK’s resources will allow his staff to provide more options and services to clients.

The local firm is the 68th-largest public accounting firm in the nation. It employs 280 at offices in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania.

NATION

Dell to close NC plant

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Dell Inc. says it will close a desktop computer manufacturing plant in Winston-Salem, N.C., by the end of January.

The computer maker said Wednesday that 905 people will be laid off, with around 600 to be let go next month. The plant closure is part of a plan to save $4 billion a year at Dell by 2011.

Dell has plants in Miami, Nashville, Austin, Texas, Brazil, Ireland, Poland, China, Malaysia and India. It also partners with other manufacturers to make certain products.

From Vindicator staff and wire reports