BUSINESS DIGEST || Chamber report card

Chamber report card

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, in partnership with 12 other agencies, released its economic development report card Wednesday. The chamber reported 79 projects that brought more than $225 million in investment, 821 new jobs and an additional 564 retained jobs.

“The annual ED report card is an excellent piece to inform our residents and partners throughout the region,” said Sarah Boyarko, regional chamber vice president of economic development.

Wick Tower tours

YOUNGSTOWN

NYO Property Group will be conducting tours of Wick Tower, 34 W. Federal St., downtown, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 10. To schedule a tour, call 330-743-5287. Wick Tower will officially open in August. The building features 32 fully furnished apartments. NYOPG is accepting pre-leasing agreements.

Simon calls off $16.8B takeover bid

INDIANAPOLIS

Simon Property Group is calling off its hostile $16.8 billion takeover bid for Macerich, which would have tied together two of the nation’s largest mall operators.

The Indianapolis company upped its bid two weeks ago to $95.50 per share from $91, calling that its best and final offer and giving Macerich an April 1 deadline to respond. The new offer was valued at $23.2 billion, counting debt.

Simon announced late Tuesday that it had withdrawn the offer, shortly after Macerich’s board unanimously rejected the bid.

McDonald’s to raise some workers’ pay

NEW YORK

McDonald’s says it’s raising pay for workers at company-owned U.S. restaurants, making it the latest employer to sweeten worker incentives in an improving economy.

The fast-food chain owns about 10 percent of its more than 14,300 U.S. restaurants, representing about 90,000 workers. The rest are run by franchisees, and McDonald’s said they “make their own decisions on pay and benefits.”

The announcement comes as several major companies, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., have announced wage hikes as the economy has picked up and made it more difficult to find reliable workers.

Hearing at cracker plant to feature Q&A

MONACA, PA.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a question-and-answer session to be followed by a public hearing on Shell Chemical’s plans for a petrochemical plant in western Pennsylvania.

DEP spokesman John Poister says the agency and Shell will give brief presentations on the permitting process and the plans for the site in Potter Township, Beaver County, site of the former Horsehead zinc processing plant.

That begins at 6 p.m. May 5 and will be followed by an informal question-and-answer session. People who wish to make statements or ask questions at the formal public hearing — which begins at 7 p.m. — must register in advance.

Staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .61, 26.440.09

Avalon Holdings,2.750

Clear Channel, .46 21.210.45

Cortland Bancorp, 15.300

Farmers Nat., .128.240.05

First Energy, 1.44, 34.51-0.55

Fifth/Third, .5218.890.04

FirstMerit Corp., .64,18.95-0.12

First Niles Financial, .32,8.500

FNB Corp., .48,13.13-0.01

General Motors, 1.2036.70-0.8

General Electric, .88,24.880.07

Huntington Bank, .20, 10.99-0.07

JP Morgan Chase, 1.60,59.98-0.2

Key Corp, .26,14.15-0.02

LaFarge, 16.400.19

Macy’s, 1.25, 65.350.44

Parker Hannifin, 1.92, 118.44-0.34

PNC, 1.92,92.45-0.79

RTI Intl. Metals,36.140.23

Simon Prop. Grp.,5.20,197.982.34

Stoneridge 11.770.48

Talmer Bank, 15.320

United Comm. Fin., .04 5.490.03

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