The following headlines have appeared in local newspapers or on line news sources within the last two weeks.  These stories are all related to business in Northern Ohio.

"Vallourec & Mannesmannk investing $650 in Youngstown, Ohio For A State-Of-The-Art Small Diameter Rolling Mill" - 2/15/10

"Lordstown Adding 1,200 Workers - General Motors is ready to restart a third shift at its Lordstown, Ohio complex - 2/23/10

"Ford Boosts Brook Par" - Ford has hired back 60 workers and spent $155 million to make a new V-6 engine for the Mustang at Cleveland Engine Plant No. 1 in Brookpark, Ohio.  2/25/10


And, I have been told that in western Pennsylvania Steel Plants are starting up again.  That means a couple things.  First, it could mean steel prices are going up and it is worth their while to start producing again.  Or, it could mean that demand is picking up and there is a greater need for steel.  Either way, if is good to hear reports that steel plants are starting to produce steel again.

These are some good signs and these are not just reports from some analyst trying to predict the future.  These are legitimate developments which I hope is just the tip of the iceberg. 

You all remember the Flats in Cleveland, correct? Several years back they were touted as being a great place to hang out if you were in Cleveland for business.  Everybody went down to the Flats.  Well, they have been just about shut down for the last several years but I understand that we are very close to work getting started on rebuilding some of that area with two new office buildings being the foundation for additional development.  Heard this direct from an industrial supply house right there in that area.  Before too long there should be a new Medical Mart building as well as a new casino.  

That is quite a bit of activity for an area that is anchored by the city that was just labeled by Forbes to be the most miserable city in the country.  Certainly, there has to be economic activity churning in other areas of the country too.

I read that a high speed train project is scheduled that will to from Cleveland to Columbus to Cincinnati.  Stimulus money is supposed to pay for that one.  So....I guess someone will be waiting to pick you up at the other end when you arrive???  Because, if you have to rent a car once you get there you might as well drive in the first place, true?  Ohio readers, please help me out with this one.  I am not sure I see the value of this project at all.  You want to build me a high speed train that takes me to Hilton Head or Fort Myers, Florida and I might be up for that.  But I can hardly get through an entire music CD   going from Cleveland to Columbus.  Who's going to be riding on that thing??

While I really like to see economic activity I do have to question those projects where I am providing some of the funds through my tax dollars.  I am also aware that a bunch of other states would grab that money and build a train to nowhere if it created new jobs.   Unfortunately, everybody seems to grab what they can when "free money" is being handed out.  And THAT is why I am glad to see business dollars being spent by companies investing in the area and not just tax dollars being spent.

What??  Who did you say owns GM????  Never mind.