Business Digest

Tax abatement for Flex Strut

HOWLAND

Trumbull County commissioners Thursday approved a 60-percent, 10-year tax abatement for Flex Strut Inc., 2900 Commonwealth Ave. The company, which will invest $2.25 million to $3.25 million this year in the expansion, has 60 employees, said Dale Gebhardt, president and general manager of the slot-metal-framing manufacturer off North River Road.

The company has made three previous expansions since it began operations in 1994 and this time will expand from 68,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet. Flex Strut will create 10 jobs within the next three years.

Choice-eligible rate

CLEVELAND

Dominion East Ohio said its Standard Service Offer rates will be $5.04 per thousand cubic feet starting April 16. This is 19 percent lower than the rate of $6.22 now in place. Choice-eligible customers, who do not purchase gas from an Energy Choice supplier or participate in a governmental aggregation program, receive this rate.

Hybrid MKZ to get estimated 41 mpg

DETROIT

Ford Motor Co. is entering the small market for luxury hybrids this fall with a gas-electric version of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ. Ford says the hybrid MKZ — introduced Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show — will be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan on the market, getting an estimated 41 miles per gallon in city driving. By comparison, the Lexus HS 250h gets 35 miles per gallon.

Fund raises $1.78B

DETROIT

A union trust fund that pays the health-care bills for retired Ford factory workers raised $1.78 billion by selling warrants to buy the automaker’s stock. The United Auto Workers trust auctioned warrants to buy 362 million shares Tuesday for $5 each.

Toyota sales surge

NEW YORK

Toyota sales surged 40 percent in March compared with last year after the automaker offered some of its deepest discounts ever to cope with the fallout of millions of recalls. Automakers are scheduled to report March sales today. Toyota’s sales fell 9 percent in February while the broader industry saw sales climb 13 percent.

Fuel efficiency

WASHINGTON

Automakers are being pushed to build a more fuel-efficient generation of gas-electric hybrids, turbocharged engines and advanced vehicles powered by electricity under tough new standards from the Obama administration.

Vindicator staff / wire reports