Business First-Columbus articles from September 1996

Business First-Columbus archives from September 1996

U.S. health seeks remedy. (U.S. Healthcare Inc. files lawsuit against U.S. Health Corp.)
September 20, 1996... Local system battles rival to keep name U.S. Health Corp., Central Ohio's largest health-care system, is battling a national managed-care giant to retain the most basic and probably most valuable aspect of its corporate identity - its name....

Service sector catches fire in Columbus. (service-sector jobs increases in Columbus, Ohio)
September 20, 1996... Work force share lags state, but is on growth tear Columbus lags Ohio in services market share... June 1996 Ohio Rank (U.S. rank) Service Workers Market Share ...

Sterling plans apartment units in New Albany totaling $13 M. (Sterling Homes)(New Albany, Indiana)
September 20, 1996... A Columbus developer has started construction on a $13 million, 180-unit luxury apartment complex in New Albany. Jay York, president of Sterling Homes, expects to deliver the first two sets of six apartments and clubhouse at his Berkeley Park...

Arena/stadium funding jeopardized.
September 13, 1996... Congressional bill threatens $41.5M in promised state funds A congressional move to alter the way states issue bonds to finance stadiums and arenas could jeopardize more than $41 million in funding for Columbus' proposed downtown...

Making news. (WTTE-TV 28 to premiere a daily news program)
September 13, 1996... Fox 28 to debut hipper newscast WTTE-TV 28 is looking to shake, rattle 'n roll local broadcast news with the Fox affiliate's first daily news show premiering Sept. 16. The nightly 10 p.m. newscast will reflect Fox's lead-in prime time...

McKitrick, CWB band to make a 'Quality' purchase. (John McKitrick; CWB Property Management; Quality Suites)
September 13, 1996... A Dublin hotel investment and management group has raised a Quality Suites flag over a 50-room hotel in the Busch Corporate Center. CWB Property Management led the $960,000 purchase Aug. 30 of the former Knights Court Suites hotel, 1001...

Milenthal smokes his industry over tobacco advertisements. (HMS Partners Inc. CEO and Chmn. David Milenthal)
September 13, 1996... In a position that contrasts with that of many peers, advertising executive David Milenthal believes the American advertising industry is hiding behind the First Amendment to make money advertising tobacco to children. The chairman and chief...

Minimum wage hike to have minimal impact here.
September 13, 1996... What was all the fuss about in Washington over raising the minimum wage? A 90-cent-an-hour raise in the minimum wage signed last month by President Clinton will have minimal effect on local businesses likely to be affected by the increase,...

Employee volunteering program a worthy option.(Forty Under Forty)(Column)
September 13, 1996... Ann is a successful entrepreneur. Hardly a day goes by without someone asking her to serve on the board of a charitable organization, assist with a project, or just get involved. Sometimes she buys her way out by writing a check, but she wants...

Bad voice mail leaves users speechless.(Computer/Office Technology)
September 13, 1996... "Good morning, you've reached the XYZ Company. If you know your party's four-digit extension, you may dial it now. If you don't know your party's extension, but know the name, press 1 for a staff directory. If you are a new customer seeking...

Online job recruiting turns up best and brightest at low cost.(Computer/Office Technology)
September 13, 1996... Looking for a few good employees? Your best bet for corporate recruiting may be the Internet, particularly if you're looking for computer-savvy, well-educated prospects. The sprawling worldwide computer network has more than a dozen major...

Purchase price only part of computer costs.(Computer/Office Technology)(Column)
September 13, 1996... Do you explore the latest hardware products, research the newest operating systems and read about current software programs before making an investment in technology? Most companies focus on getting the biggest bang for their buck when they...

Cleanups, compression extend PC storage. (personal computer)(Computer/Office Technology)(Column)
September 13, 1996... The hard drive on my 2-year-old PC is starting to feel like the garage and closets in my house. When I first moved in, there was plenty of room. Now I can't seem to find any. If you use a PC with Windows 95 or a Macintosh, you're...

DOE to drop set-asides for disadvantaged firms. (Dept. of Energy)
September 6, 1996... WASHINGTON - The Department of Energy plans to drop contracting programs it sets aside for small disadvantaged and women-owned businesses. In revising the acquisition policies it uses to administer its $16 billion worth of procurement...

Conrad: managed care coming to workers' comp. (Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation administrator James Conrad)(Interview)
September 6, 1996... It's been a year since Gov. Voinovich gained the power to handpick the management of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. For bureau administrator, he chose James Conrad, who had gained a reputation of whipping several other state...

McCoy, Wexner lead pack in pay at public companies. (Banc One Corp. Chmn. John B. McCoy; Limited Inc. Chmn. Les Wexner)
September 6, 1996... When a reporter questioned New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth why his 1930 salary package topped that of President Hoover, he replied, "Oh yeah? Well, I had a better year than he did." That's the apparent explanation for Banc One Corp....

Made for the shade. (Inside Outfitters Inc.)
September 6, 1996... Dublin company provides window (treatments) to the world Dennis Hoffer flashes a smile every time he passes an office building or restaurant where glass is a major part of the design. Inside Outfitters Inc., Hoffer's Dublin-based business,...

Barnes & Noble books space at Lennox Center. (Lennox Towne Center)(Column)
September 6, 1996... Barnes & Noble, one of the nation's largest book store chains, plans to build a 25,000-square-foot store within Lennox Towne Center. The retail complex is being built at Kinnear and Olentangy River roads by developers Continental Real Estate...

United Way reaches beyond loaned executives for help. (United Way of Franklin County)
September 6, 1996... The United Way of Franklin County's loaned executive program isn't composed entirely of middle management executives borrowed from Columbus-area businesses anymore. As corporate restructuring has reduced the ranks of executives, the program...

SBA plans training program to clarify procurement rules. (Small Business Administration)
September 6, 1996... WASHINGTON - The Small Business Administration will embark on a new plan to ensure small businesses continue to receive government contracts. Following a Colorado contractor's lawsuit that brought government race and gender preference...

Self-insured companies push for changes in licensure bill.
September 6, 1996... Large companies that self-insure for health coverage fear a new state licensure bill could limit their options and raise costs. The companies are concerned the Ohio Department of Insurance's managed-care licensure bill could impose costly...

New York City group buys Village at Worthington Green. (apartment complex)
September 6, 1996... A New York City real estate investment and management company has purchased a Northwest Columbus apartment complex for $6.67 million. TGM Associates, an adviser to private and public pension funds, purchased the 176-unit Village at...

Charitable group wants OSU to allow payroll deductions. (Ohio State University)
September 6, 1996... The head of a charitable coalition says Ohio State University is dragging its feet on a decision whether to allow the group to solicit OSU employees through payroll deductions. Melissa Magers, executive director of 4-year-old Greater Columbus...

Companies pump programs to fight against heart disease.
September 6, 1996... Three years ago, Consolidated Stores Corp. analyzed its health-care expenditures and discovered that nearly 10 percent of the $15 million it spent annually on medical services was going to heart-disease and related conditions. "It's one of...

Lancaster prospers 10 years after takeover.
September 6, 1996... Lancaster - It's been nearly 10 years since the Illinois-based Newell Co. acquired Lancaster's Anchor Hocking in a takeover that eliminated the glass product maker's local corporate headquarters. Many feared that Anchor Hocking's Lancaster...

General Castings, Gooseberry get tax abatements. (General Castings Co.; Gooseberry Patch Co.)
September 6, 1996... Delaware - Delaware County Commissioners along with Delaware City Council recently approved enterprise zone abatement agreements with two local businesses: General Castings Co. and Gooseberry Patch Co. A similar arrangement is in the works...

Turf wars embitter franchising relationships.(Franchising)
September 6, 1996... Success in business is never guaranteed, but the American Franchisee Association believes some franchisers stack the deck against its franchisees with a practice called encroachment. The term refers to the practice of franchisers who locate a...

Packaging franchise proposals may require advice from experts.(Franchising)
September 6, 1996... Craig Slavin's voice crackles with a bit of mischievous excitement when he tells the story of Mrs. Fields and her now-famous cookies: "We have Debbi on tape saying: 'I will never franchise because I don't want to lose control.'" Slavin,...

Lawyers help level franchise playing field.(Franchising)
September 6, 1996... There's far more to owning and operating a franchise business than paying a franchise fee and hanging out your business sign. A variety of Columbus-area experts who work with franchisers, franchisees and small business development believe...

Boomers' kids prompt child-franchise growth.(Franchising)
September 6, 1996... Ten years ago, Lynn Blum, now of Dublin, started a small business called Once Upon a Child in Perrysburg, Ohio, that sold "gently used" clothing for children. The business became so successful that five years ago, Lynn and her husband,...