Ohio gas prices rise

Ohio gas prices rise

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio gas prices are more than $1 higher than they were a year ago just ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Monday’s survey from auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express shows regular-grade gasoline is averaging $3.64 a gallon statewide compared with $2.62 last year at this time.

In Youngstown, the average price for a gallon of regular-grade gasoline is $3.53, up from $3.44 a week ago, according to AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report.

The cost of gasoline in the state has dropped since early May, when regular hit a record $4.16 per gallon.

Ohio’s current average pump price is up 13 cents from last Monday. Fuel prices rose over the past week as East Coast oil refineries shut down in advance of Tropical Storm Irene.

Huntington named best Midwest bank

PITTSBURGH, PA.

Huntington National Bank recently was named best Midwest bank by Money Magazine.

“It’s really feels good to get the acknowledgement from a national publication,” said Frank Hierro, regional president for Huntington Bank in the Mahoning Valley.

Money Magazine cited customers’ praise of Huntington’s free checking services and customer service. The bank has 600 locations in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Grant for Team NEO

CLEVELAND

Team Northeast Ohio on Monday announced $4,144,737 in funding from the Ohio Third Frontier Program.

The one-year grant will help support Team NEO’s new responsibilities as one of six JobsOhio regional economic hubs.

JobsOhio is a private, nonprofit corporation separate from the Ohio Department of Development that will focus on job creation and economic development. The grant is part of $14,828,948 awarded statewide.

Urban League is satellite office

WARREN

The Greater Warren-Youngstown Urban League is now a satellite office for the Northeast Ohio Minority Business Assistance Center, serving the Warren-Youngstown area. Funding is provided by the Ohio Department of Development. It is a collaboration among the urban leagues of Akron, Cleveland, Lorain and Warren-Youngstown.

Minority Business Assistance Centers are in Lima, Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, Lorain, Cleveland, Akron and Warren. Warren’s office is at 290 West Market St.

The office provides free help to minority business people with assistance in the growth of their companies, especially through loans and development of business plans.

Eligible businesses include those that are at least 51 percent owned and controlled by African American, Hispanic, Native American or Asian American people. Services are also provided to business people defined as economically or socially disadvantaged.

Vindicator staff reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .62, 22.27 +.65

Avalon Holdings,2.70+.02

Clear Channel, .63 55.29 +1.14

Cortland Bancorp, 7.16.00

Farmers Nat., .12, 4.20 +.05

First Energy, 2.20, 43.58+1.05

FirstMerit Corp., .64,12.49 +.50

First Niles Financial, .32,7.25.00

First Place Fin., .71+.04

FNB Corp., .48,9.11+.43

General Motors,23.79+.92

General Electric, .60,16.04+.50

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .04, 5.12+.22

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,37.64+1.43

Key Corp, .12,6.75+.33

LaFarge, 10.23 +.31

Macy’s, .40, 26.03+1.13

Parker Hannifin, 1.48, 70.79+3.09

PNC, 1.40,49.31+2.47

RTI Intl. Metals,26.04+1.85

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.20,117.22+2.06

Stoneridge 8.17 +.61

United Community Fin. 1.02+.02

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Monday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.