BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Regional chamber sets annual meeting

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s annual meeting will take place from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 16 at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave.

Award recipients this year are Bill Siderewicz, president of Clean Energy Future, with the William G. Lyden Jr. Spirit of The Valley award; Gary Small, president/chief executive officer of Home Savings Bank, with the Donald Cagigas Spirit of The Chamber award; and Ralph Meacham, Mahoning County auditor, and Josh Mandel, state treasurer, with the Chairman’s Political Achievement Awards.

Tickets are $40 per member and $50 per nonmember. Tables of eight are $320 for members or $400 for nonmembers. To register, go to: regionalchamber.com/events.

Restaurant-sales study

COLUMBUS

A new study by the Ohio Restaurant Association and the Cleveland Research Co. found the input of Ohio restaurants is almost $1 billion in sales in 2016.

Restaurant owners saw weaker consumer demand in January 2017 after a strong fourth quarter of 2016 that was aided by mild weather.

The study also found fourth-quarter 2016 same-store sales for restaurants in Ohio were up 3.2 percent; the growth was driven by a mix of customer traffic, up 2 percent and higher average check; January 2017 same-store sales for restaurants in Ohio were up 1.6 percent, which was lower than any month in 2016; and traffic in January was up 1.2 percent. Owners expect 4 percent same-store sales in 2017, up from 3 percent in 2016.

Quaker Steak offers $1M Bracket Challenge

WESTLAKE, OHIO

Quaker Steak & Lube has tipped off its $1 million Bracket Challenge, where a perfect men’s college basketball championship bracket – picking the winners of all 63 games correctly – will score a lucky winner the grand prize of $1 million. A first-place prize of a 2017 Ford Mustang will go to the power player predicting 60 or more games correctly in the bracket competition.

Each participating Quaker Steak & Lube location also will award a local prize of free wings for a year to a local guest with the best bracket. Registration is open at thelube.com/bracket-challenge/. The challenge is open to competitors in states where Quaker Steak & Lube restaurants are located.

2017 Summit planned

COLUMBUS

The Greater Ohio Policy Center will have its 2017 Summit, Investing in Ohio’s Future: Maximizing Growth in our Cities and Regions, March 7 and 8 in Columbus.

This biennial convening brings together experts, policymakers and local leaders dedicated to the sustainable development of Ohio’s neighborhoods and metropolitan areas. Registration closes March 1. Two-day registration is $175, and one-day registration is $100. Go to: greaterohio.wixsite.com/2017-summit to register.

Staff/wire reports