Business digest

REGION

First Place earnings

WARREN — First Place Financial Corp. earned $600,000 in the quarter that ended Dec. 31, compared with a net loss of $94.1 million in the same quarter of 2008. The year-ago quarter included an accounting charge of $93.7 million. Last quarter’s earnings compared to a net loss of $5.9 million in the previous quarter. First Place said the increase was the result of a reduction in money set aside to cover loan losses and an increase in mortgage banking gains. The bank said its board of directors last week confirmed its position of not paying dividends on its common stock.

NATION

Contesting closures

DETROIT — More than half of the nearly 2,800 dealers General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC want to close are appealing those decisions, the group handling the appeals said Tuesday. The American Arbitration Association said 1,550 dealers filed the paperwork needed to contest the closures by the midnight Tuesday deadline.

Home Depot layoffs

NEW YORK — Home Depot Inc., the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer, said Tuesday it is laying off 1,000 staffers as it cuts three pilot programs and cuts some support positions. An internal memo sent to staffers by CEO Frank Blake said about 900 of the cuts stem from consolidating some support functions in its human resources, finance and other divisions.

From Vindicator staff and wire reports