BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Wood waste burning project complete

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Thermal’s $1 million wood waste burning project is now complete. The last piece of the project was to install the new tank on the south side of the company’s building, 205 North Ave.

The supplier of this technology is Ensyn Corp., a Canadian company. Ensyn has made using wood chips as a fuel source much easier. As a result, the companies are attracting international attention from boiler operations throughout the world. Youngstown Thermal is the first steam system in the U.S. to use this fuel.

Bank internships

YOUNGSTOWN

Home Savings Bank has hired three Youngstown State University students to participate in the bank’s internship program. Home Savings is a subsidiary of United Community Financial Corp. Those hired are Kelsey Ferrall, a senior pursuing her degree in communications; Derek Gomez, pursuing his degree in finance; and Simon Rafidi, a senior pursuing degrees in accounting and finance.

Home Savings’ internship program gives students the opportunity to gain real-life experience.

Tax-credit training

WARREN

The Western Reserve Port Authority’s economic development arm, the Northeast Ohio Development and Finance Authority, is sponsoring a lunchtime training on New Market Tax Credits from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center, 125 W. Market St.

Special guest U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, will provide welcoming remarks to kick off the training presented by Chris Burnham and Rachel Bridenstine of the Development Fund of the Western Reserve. This program informs participants about this important tool for developers, investors and economic development professionals on how it incentivizes community development and economic growth. Content will include what are new market tax credits, who is eligible, how the program reduces development costs and structuring your deal.

To register for this event, visit www.123contactform.com/form-2493609/Event-Registration-Form.

US consumer spending up slightly

WASHINGTON

U.S. consumer spending rose at only a sluggish pace in January, even as signs of growing optimism about the economy have emerged.

Consumer spending increased 0.2 percent in January, after a 0.5 percent gain in December, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Spending on services – from haircuts to health care – was flat, and Americans spent less on long-lasting goods such as autos and appliances.

Prices also rose in a sign that inflation has perked up a bit. A measure of inflation closely watched by the Federal Reserve rose 0.4 percent in January and has increased 1.9 percent in the past 12 months. That’s the biggest year-over-year gain in more than four years.

Staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Alcoa Inc., .1237.903.31

Aqua America, .71 31.71-0.04

Avalon Holdings,2.780.00

Chemical Bank, .2754.851.58Community Health Sys. 9.20 -0.55

Cortland Bancorp, .2818.500.11

Farmers Nat., .1614.230.43

First Energy, 1.44 31.57-0.86

Fifth/Third, .5228.751.30

FirstMerit Corp.,21.610.37

First Niles Financial, .129.600.00

FNB Corp., .4816.290.72

General Motors, 1.5237.440.60

General Electric, .9230.180.37

Huntington Bank, .28 14.670.53

iHeartMedia Inc.,1.300.08

JP Morgan Chase, 1.9293.602.98

Key Corp, .3419.360.59

LaFarge, .3417.570.00

Macy’s, 1.51 32.95-0.27

Parker Hannifin, 2.52 158.463.62

PNC, 2.20130.823.59

Simon Prop. Grp., 6.60182.48-1.92

Stoneridge 18.051.16

United Comm. Fin., .12 8.820.21

Selected prices from Wednesday’s 4 p.m. close.