BUSINESS DIGEST ||

Energy rates

YOUNGSTOWN

Dominion Energy Ohio filed its Standard Choice Offer rate for October. The rate, $2.974 per thousand cubic feet, is just 1.3 cents more than the September Standard Choice Offer of $2.961. Effective Oct. 12, Dominion Energy Ohio’s Standard Choice Offer/Standard Service Offer rates will remain steady at $2.974 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). The rates are 7.2 cents, or 2.5 percent, higher than the October 2016 SCO/SSO rates of $2.902/Mcf.

Chamber event

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber will have Human Resources Hot Topics: Employment Applications and Pre-Hire Inquiries from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Oct. 12 at First National Bank Building, 11 Central Square, 17th Floor.

Many businesses should consider updating employment application and pre-hire procedures given recent developments in state and federal administrative agencies with respect to employment applications and other pre-hire inquiries.

Speakers are John Gerak and Kathleen Sanz from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.

Register at www.regionalchamber.com/events.

Economic summit

HOWLAND

The Trumbull County Economic Development Summit will take place from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Friday at Avalon Inn, 9519 E. Market St.

The Trumbull County commissioners will explain the economic development assistance available to support the retention and expansion of local businesses, as well as the attraction of new investment to the Mahoning Valley. Guests will receive breakfast and learn about the variety of resources available including financing, tax credits, grants, workforce services, training funds and property identification.

Admission is $20. Register at www.regionalchamber.com/events.

Cut in premiums

COLUMBUS

Ohio public employers will pay an average of 6.1 percent less in workers’ compensation premiums beginning Jan. 1. The cut will decrease the amount the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation collects from these employers by $11.8 million next year.

BWC’s Board of Directors voted recently to accept Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison’s recommendation to lower rates for Ohio’s 3,700 school districts, cities, counties and other public entities covered by the State Insurance Fund.

All told, BWC will have lowered public employer rates by an average of 33.9 percent since the start of 2011, bringing the combined statewide financial impact to $434 million.

The 6.1 percent reduction represents the average decrease for public employer taxing districts statewide. Actual premium changes for individual public entities will differ based on several factors, including their manual classification, recent claims history and participation in various BWC programs.

Staff/wire reports