Honoring businesses

Honoring businesses

Youngstown

Stevens Coaching & Consulting LLC and via680 have teamed up to recognize the outstanding contributions of small businesses in the Mahoning Valley for National Small Business Month during this month.

The winner will receive a $500 American Express gift card; exclusive, free access to via680’s products and the opportunity to have their business recognized on live, local TV.

The 2012 Small Business of the Valley Award winner will be chosen based upon the responses on the contest submission form. These responses will be evaluated by a panel of judges; the judging criteria include business growth, innovation, response to adversity and community involvement. To nominate your business, go to www.via680.com/contest.

The contest will be open for nominations until 7 p.m. May 25. The winner will be announced May 30.

DeWine to speak

niles

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will speak during a luncheon May 29 about a number of topics including the state’s oil- and gas-drilling regulations and shale development.

DeWine also will talk about how his office is helping businesses comply with the Ohio Consumer Law.

The luncheon will be at 11:30 a.m. at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre, 123 N. Main St. It is being hosted by the Youngstown/ Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Cost is $20 for both chamber members and nonmembers. Advance reservations are requested by May 22 by calling Jennifer at 330-744-2131, ext. 12, or by emailing jennifer@regionalchamber.com.

Well inspectors

columbus

Ohio Department of Natural Resources has begun hiring additional field inspectors to ensure shale wells are property built and operated.

The additional inspectors are necessary due to the growing activity in Ohio’s Utica and Marcellus shale formations. With funds generated by the industry’s permit fees, ODNR’s Oil and Gas Resources Management Division will add as many as 70 additional employees this year in direct response to increased permitting, inspection and enforcement activities related to shale development.

The staff will enforce Ohio’s new shale-well construction and operation regulations, as well as the state’s new ground water protection laws.

Anyone interested in applying for a field inspector position can do so online at http://careers.ohio.gov/.

Obama nail trimmer

youngstown

A city-based company has created a nail trimmer featuring a picture of President Barack Obama.

Jerome Franklin, CEO of JEF Enterprises LLC, has introduced one of his company’s “Nail Biter” trimmers to commemorate this year’s presidential election.

For information about the company, go online to www.thenailbiter.com.

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 22.88 .05

Avalon Holdings,5.04.00

Clear Channel, .73 67.60 .19

Cortland Bancorp, 9.50.50

Farmers Nat., .126.60 .00

First Energy, 2.20, 47.80.20

FirstMerit Corp., .64,16.82 —.24

First Niles Financial, .32,8.05.00

First Place Fin., .44.01

FNB Corp., .48,11.15—.03

General Motors,22.00—.37

General Electric, .68,19.01—.08

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 6.54.04

JP Morgan Chase, 1.20,36.95—3.79

Key Corp, .12,7.885.00

LaFarge, 9.72 .02

Macy’s, .80, 37.97.14

Parker Hannifin, 1.64, 86.75.54

PNC, 1.60,65.48—.05

RTI Intl. Metals,25.45—.02

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.00,156.111.18

Stoneridge 8.42 —.33

United Community Fin. 2.01—.19

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