MVEDC event aims at minority business

September 11, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

LIBERTY

A “Resources to Grow Your Minority-Owned Business” event will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp., 43919 Belmont Ave.

The event is one of several that are reaching out to minority-owned businesses to help navigate them through the state-certification process and help grow their businesses. Businesses need to be certified to work with the state.

The event is brought here by the Ohio Development Services Agency, Ohio Department of Administrative Services and MVEDC’s Minority Business Assistance Center.

RSVP to YADC@sbcglobal.net.

Hudson Fasteners applies for grant

YOUNGSTOWN

Hudson Fasteners Inc., 241 W. Federal St., a Youngstown Business Incubator portfolio company, has applied for a $150,000 grant from Chase as part of a newly launched program, Mission Main StreetSM Grants.

Hudson Fasteners must submit a questionnaire outlining a business plan that will result in growth of the business and receive at least 250 votes to be eligible for a grant. Customers, fans and community members can show support for Hudson Fasteners by voting at www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/4169 using Facebook Connect.

Through Mission Main Street Grants, Chase will award $3 million to small businesses across America. The 20 grant recipients will be announced in January.

Philly municipal union OKs contract

PHILADELPHIA

Members of Philadelphia’s largest municipal union overwhelmingly ratified a new contract Wednesday that will give members immediate raises but increase a bit their contribution to the city’s underfunded pension system.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33 voted 4,492 to 213 in favor of the contract, which is retroactive to July 2009 and runs through June 2016.

The 9,000 blue-collar workers will receive immediate 3.5 percent raises as well as a $2,800 bonus within 30 days of ratification and a 2.5 percent increase in their paychecks in July.

The agreement will cost the city $127 million more than anticipated. Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration agreed to drop a lawsuit in which it sought to impose contract conditions.

Airlines improve on-time performance

DALLAS

At the height of this summer’s travel season, airline flights were more likely to arrive on time and less likely to be canceled than they were last year.

The improvement in airline performance in July was a welcome break for travelers. Over the first six months of 2014, delays were the highest since 2008 and cancellations the highest since 2000.

Vindicator staff/wire reports