Clermont bolsters economic board

Clermont County is rejuvenating its economic development effort. The county's Board of Commissioners has approved new bylaws for its 36-year-old Community Improvement Corp. and named 13 people to the CIC board of trustees, including six elected officials. The board will meet once a month. Mary Walker, president of the county commission and a member of the CIC board, said CIC trustees have been asked to generate ideas to spur economic development in Clermont County. . Of the county's 52,918 workers, 61 percent commute to jobs out of the county, according to 2000 U.S. Census data. The county would like to lower that percentage.

Clothing chain adds local stores

Gabriel Brothers, Inc., a West Virginia-based value-priced clothing chain, this week said it will make its debut in Cincinnati with two new stores: one at Beechmont Square on Beechmont Avenue and the other at Sharonville Plaza on Lebanon Road. The more-than-50,000-square-foot stores are to open this fall and employ about 100 workers at each location.

Seminar topics include taxes

Free electronic tax preparation, including earned income tax credit applications for those eligible, will be among topics explored Jan. 31 at "Money Matters Saturday." The event, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 3520 Central Parkway, Clifton, will include seminars on avoiding scams; investing; buying a house, and improving credit scores. Booths also will be staffed by a variety of Greater Cincinnati financial assistance organizations. Money Matters Saturday is a non-profit event produced by several public and private organizations. Information: (513) 579-5006.

Staff reports