Compiled from staff reports

Cincinnati 6th in business creation

A trade publication ranked Cincinnati No. 6 among the largest metropolitan areas for new and expanding businesses in 2002.

Atlanta-based Site Selection magazine also said Ohio was No. 4 nationwide - Michigan, Illinois and New York finished ahead of Ohio - with 641 expansions. Of those, 112 projects landed in Greater Cincinnati.

The rankings were based on new plant openings monitored by Conway Data Inc.

The rankings that appeared in the March 2003 issue of the magazine actually ranked Cincinnati as the No. 3 metro region for business expansion, but an official for Site Selection said that ranking was incorrect due to a database error. The magazine will print a correction in its May issue.

Qualifying projects must include a capital investment of at least $1 million, create 50 or more new jobs and add 20,000 square feet of space.

Portman to speak on business ethics

U.S. Rep. Rob Portman will speak about business ethics and responsibility at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church.

The Republican congressman from Terrace Park will discuss the accounting scandals at public companies, such as Enron, as well as the government's role in the ensuing crisis in confidence.

The 20-minute speech, followed by a question-and-answer session, will be in the ground level refectory, directly below the sanctuary, of the church at 1345 Grace Ave. The free, open-to-the-public talk will not be part of regular Sunday services.