IT'S OFFICIAL WALE SIGNS WITH INTERSCOPE RECORDS

Congratulations to WALE Folarin for just doing it!!!! In a joint agreement btw Interscope and Mark Ronson's ALLIDO records. READ MORE

Get your tickets cause he'll be in town March 21st-dig dug shake

$$GRANTS TO CREATE AND RETAIN IN OHIO

Via Press Release:
Projects to Help Spur Local Economies, Generate Jobs for Ohioans

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced that more than $1 million in economic development and roadwork development grants have been awarded to aid in the growth of businesses and the creation and retention of jobs in Ohio. The grants, administered by the Ohio Department of Development, were approved today by the State Controlling Board and are expected to create 435 positions and retain 246 jobs for Ohioans. "These business expansions and infrastructure improvements will have a long-term, positive impact in four communities across the State," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "These potential expansions and infrastructure improvements will provide new growth opportunities and jobs for Ohio workers."

The City of Trotwood (Montgomery County) will receive a $200,000 Roadwork Development Grant to complete public roadwork improvements in support of The James Group - Ohio LLC's (JGO) new facility in Trotwood.

Lighting Products, Inc. (Lighting Products), located in Geneva (Ashtabula County) will receive a $20,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company's expansion.

Metal Forming & Coining Corporation (MFC), located in Maumee (Lucas County), will receive a $100,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of machinery and equipment to support the company's expansion.

General Motors Corporation (GM), to be located in West Chester Township (Butler County), will receive a $500,000 Rapid Outreach Grant for costs associated with the acquisition of equipment to support the company's new warehouse and distribution facility in West Chester Township.

The Rapid Outreach Grant (412) is a grant program to assist companies and communitiesthat are creating or retaining jobs in Ohio. The Roadwork Development Account(629) provides grant assistance to communities for highwayand road projects related to job creation and retention. The 629 Program is funded with gas tax dollars and is restricted to public road projects only.

US BANK ON BROAD & HIGH

A US Bank just opened on Broad and High right next to Starbucks. This means they will have a more visible High location especially with the Broad&High building opening soon (but def not this year). Although they(US BAnk) has a bigger branch and building on 3rd are they positioning themselves to compete with Huntington for that heavily traffickd area?

BANK OF AMERICA ACQUIRES LASALLE

Bank of America announced its acquisition of LaSalle bank from dutch ABN-AMRO. Sooooo? About this time last year a bunch of LaSalle bank executives made frequent trips to Columbus in hopes of opening some LaSalle branches here. The deal fell through because of some complicated matters with Amro. Through this acquistion, they will surpass JP Morgan Chase in the Chicago market, they will have the largest holdings in Michigan and this might pave the way for them to expand into this area. The question is, can Columbus handle another banking institution in the already crowded pool of banks? I would like to have a Bank of America of Lasalle here because they now have access beyond the US. any thoughts?