Alcoa key to next moon shot

Aluminum giant Alcoa Inc.'s New Kensington Technical Center, and its Davenport, Iowa, fabrication plant are playing a key role in the next generation of space exploration vehicles.

NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has approved the Davenport plant as the only supplier for aluminum-lithium alloy to be used in the Ares 1 crew launch vehicle. Ares 1 is the rocket that will allow U.S. astronauts to explore space beyond low earth orbit, with the goal of reaching the moon by 2020.

"Basically, the way to the moon is paved right here through Alcoa Davenport," said Steve Cook, NASA's Exploration Launch Office director and Ares project manager, in a statement.

NASA awarded Alcoa an $18.5 million contract last year to develop the manufacturing capability and to supply the initial requirements for Ares 1. The work for NASA requires no additional personnel, said Alcoa-Davenport spokesman John Riches.

The Davenport plant, which opened in 1948, is one of the largest aluminum fabrication facilities in the world, with more than 130 acres under roof, and employing 2,200.

Alcoa's Technical Center is casting all the aluminum-lithium ingots, or metal blocks, which will be shipped to Davenport, where the metal will be rolled into some 1 million pounds of metal plate for additional fabrication for the Ares project.

The thickness of the aluminum-lithium plate, which will be placed on the upper stage of the Ares 1, will vary in thickness from 0.32 inch, to 1.95 inches.

To give one an idea of how much 1 million pounds is, Alcoa-Davenport spokesman Riches said 1 million pounds of aluminum-only sheet is equivalent to some 32.3 million beverage cans.

Alcoa metal will be used in Ares V5, NASA's so-called heavy lift cargo launch vehicle. When the trip to the moon becomes a reality, NASA's plan is to launch Ares V5 first and then launch a crew of up to six astronauts in Ares 1. The two vehicles will dock in space, then explore the moon and, eventually, other parts of the solar system.

Koppers sells Monessen coke plant to ArcelorMittal for $160 million

Marcial: Alcoa Might Regain Its Luster

GM to invest $350 million for new Cruze small car

Light Up Night to usher in holiday excitement

The economy is frightful and most parking is no longer free, but that hasn't dimmed expectations for a robust holiday shopping season Downtown.

The holiday shopping season officially kicks off Nov. 21 with Light Up Night, an event that should draw about 200,000 people, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership board chairwoman Jan Smith said during a news conference at Fifth Avenue Place.

Last year, 180,000 people attended, she said.

The anticipated growth of the event shows that Downtown offers Christmas shoppers "an atmosphere that cannot be matched at a shopping mall," Smith said.

Although recent economic forecasts predict a dismal season for retailers across the country, Smith said Pittsburgh is insulated from national trends.

"We're stable; as stable as a city can be," she said, noting that regional foreclosure and unemployment rates are below national averages. "I don't expect to see any big swings. I expect consistency."

Several events are planned to attract visitors:

• Macy's will feature an "animated window display ... that will inspire kids of all ages to believe," said Macy's regional director Russell Schutte.

• The "Celebrate the Season Parade" will be Nov. 29.

• "First Night" celebrations will conclude the holiday season -- as well as Pittsburgh's yearlong 250th anniversary celebration -- on New Year's Eve.

"This is one of the city's greatest traditions," said Rob Stephany, executive director of the Urban Redevelopment Authority. "It's a must-have if you're a Pittsburgher or if you live in this region."

Stephany spoke on behalf of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, who is on paternity leave at home with his wife, Erin, and newborn son Cooper, the mayor's office said.

One change from last year: Lots owned by the Parking Authority will no longer be free to holiday shoppers.

Free spaces can still be found: One Oxford Centre will offer free parking on weekends, and Fifth Avenue Place will validate parking fees on Saturdays and evenings for anyone who makes purchases Downtown of $20 or more. Macy's will do the same for shoppers who spend $50, a company spokeswoman said.

"I do not believe (the lack of free parking) will stop people from going Downtown," Smith said. "This is such a strong tradition that with the parking issue, people will understand we're working through it."

Officials said free parking might return next year.

Focus Stock: Tough Times Favor Family Dollar Stores

A Backlash Grows in Bangalore Over Tech Revolution

Giant Eagle offers fuelperks! for online shopping

Giant Eagle tests foodperks! in Ohio

Giant Eagle Inc. on Thursday introduced a pilot program in central Ohio that is a sharp twist to its well-known gasoline discount program -- it now offers grocery discounts for buying gasoline at GetGo locations.

The test of the new "foodperks!" program allows a Giant Eagle customer to earn a 1 percent discount on groceries bought at any Giant Eagle for every 10 gallons of GetGo gasoline purchased.

Like its existing fuelperks! program, the grocery discount rewards are cumulative and automatically are tracked via Giant Eagle's Advantage Card.

"The Columbus area is a good test market because it's self-contained and its demographics are diverse," said Giant Eagle spokesman Dick Roberts.

The company has 22 Giant Eagle and 12 GetGo locations in the Columbus area.

Although no timetable is in place, Roberts said there's "no doubt" that if the Columbus-area test is successful, foodperks! eventually would migrate east to Western Pennsylvania.

"They want to see how people latch on to this, which I don't think will take very long," Roberts said.

The foodperks! program allows a maximum grocery discount of 20 percent on each total purchase. For example, it allows a $60 discount, or 20 percent, on a single trip's $300 purchase. Discounts earned but not used can be saved for a later Giant Eagle trip.

The redemption of foodperks! doesn't cancel fuelperks! earnings, the company said. Customers earn fuelperks! based on the amount they are charged after foodperks! savings are taken off the total bill.

For example, if a purchaser's $100 total bill is reduced to $85 after redeeming foodperks!, then fuelperks! discounts are based on the $85 paid.

"The beauty of the two programs is that customers can earn rewards on one while redeeming rewards on the other. For instance, I earn foodperks! at the GetGo fuel pump, even if I am redeeming a free tank's-worth of fuelperks! rewards," said Giant Eagle's Dan Donovan.

Fuelperks! was introduced by Giant Eagle in 2004. The program gives consumers a 10-cent-per-gallon discount off gasoline at the company's GetGo stations for every $50 spent at Giant Eagle grocery and convenience stores.

Cut back on paper, earn cash at Citizens Bank

Giant Eagle offers fuelperks! for online shopping

Finding work tough assignment in bleak climate

Kelly Hall has been through this before.

In 2005, she lost her job as a baggage call center representative at Pittsburgh International Airport when US Airways outsourced her job. Now her term as an elected union representative is about to expire, leaving her jobless once again.

Her solution: Quit the airline industry altogether, go back to school, get her teaching credential and start a new career -- at age 47.

"It's scary," said Hall, a mother of three who lives in Stowe. "Is it a good time for anybody (to lose their job)? No. Not with the economy and with Christmas coming. But I don't have a choice in this."

Hall is not alone. A government report to be released today is expected to show that the national unemployment rate grew from 6.1 percent to 6.3 percent.

The situation is not as bad in Western Pennsylvania, where the unemployment rate in September was 5.4 percent.

But several indicators suggest rocky times ahead: The number of out-of-work Americans drawing unemployment benefits has surged to 3.84 million, a 25-year high, according to the Labor Department, and the economy contracted at a 0.3 percent pace in the July-September quarter, signaling the onset of a likely recession.

"It gets depressing," said Andi Garnic, 51, of Monongahela, who was laid off in August from an Allenport steel mill. "I'm 51, and I want to know what I'm going to do when I grow up. I thought my life was smooth sailing. ... You get up in the morning, and you just go through the motions and hope you find something."

"It's extremely difficult to make ends meet," Hall said. "I'm hoping that (changing careers) is going to lead our family to something better, where they don't have to make so many personal sacrifices. But it's a gamble. You just don't know."

It's a gamble more people are forced to take, said Jim Hann, site administrator for the Pennsylvania CareerLink's Allegheny East office in Forest Hills. The center, which matches qualified workers with hiring employers, helped 1,075 job seekers in October 2007; that number jumped to 1,380 last month, he said.

"We're seeing a steady stream of people, from high school dropouts to college graduates," Hann said. "That's kind of a scary thing. We always told people to get a college degree to get a good job. And now people are coming in saying, 'OK, I have that degree. Where's my good job?' "

Rick O'Domes, site administrator for CareerLink Alle Kiski in New Kensington, said he has seen more job seekers in light of recent company closings and layoffs.

"Kensington Windows comes to mind," he said. Located in Parks, the company shut its doors Oct. 27, just one day after giving its more than 150 workers notice of the closing. The company made replacement windows and patio doors.

"The people who are coming in, some are looking to upgrade their job skills, some are looking for information, some are just looking for a job to replace the one they lost," O'Domes said. "When they come in looking for a job, it all depends what their skills are, as to what jobs we point them to.

"There always are jobs, but I don't know if anyone is hiring right now."

Area colleges said they have seen indicators that employers are reluctant to add workers.

Nicole Feldhues, director of Duquesne University's Career Services office, said the school noticed a "slight decrease" in the number of recruiting and job fairs this fall. She said she comes across fewer job opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture and construction.

Dianne Stoner, site administrator for CareerLink's office in Beaver Falls, said the center's clientele has grown in the past two months or so. She said job openings are not matching demand, but jobs are available. Her center usually has about 170 jobs posted by Beaver County employers weekly on CareerLink's Web site (www.cwds.state.pa.us).

"Still in high demand are openings in health care," said Stoner. "We still see a need for nurses and other health care professionals. That is a stellar, steady sector."

Feldhues said Duquesne notices more recruiting activity among nursing and health care, as well as pharmaceuticals, and information technology.

Though indicators paint a gloomy picture, all is not lost, said Paul Friday, chief of clinical psychology at UPMC Shadyside.

"We get emotional about things and then give all the reasons why we are right," he said. "But the sky is not falling. When somebody loses a job, they're going to get another job. It might not be right away, but something will happen.

"You're going to have another job. You're going to get work. You're not going to starve. This is America. How many people starve in America?"

Friday advocates realistic thinking over positive thinking.

"Realistic thinking is much healthier," he said. "It will solve your problems much quicker than anything else. The reality is that this is not end of the world; I could take you to my hospital and show you the end of the world. ... But when you're under strain, it is much more difficult to think realistically. And if you do not have a job or are about to lose it, it is much harder to stay grounded."

He advised people to stay calm, think logically, "make a plan and don't expect the government to save you."

Job One for McCain or Obama: Jobs

Profile: Majora Carter

Jobs decline in state

Mastech's net income declines

Mastech Holdings Inc.'s clients are spending less these days on information technology staffing, and the cutbacks are deeper among clients in the financial services industry, Mastech CEO Steven Shangold said Thursday.

Shangold hosted the company's first investor conference call yesterday, after Mastech reported net income $1.16 million, or 32 cents a share, down from $1.39 million, or 39 cents, a year ago. Robinson-based Mastech completed its spinoff from iGate Corp. on Oct. 1.

Mastech's revenue for the three months ended Sept. 30 was $24.1 million, compared to $25.6 million a year ago.

Early this year, iGate announced plans to divest Mastech as its professional services segment, in order to focus on its worldwide businesses. The Findlay-based company's Global Solutions outsourcing unit in India generates much of its revenue.

Mastech, which had been part of iGate since 2000, has been hurt by the nationwide economic downturn, Shangold said, but the company will focus on providing excellent service and controlling costs. The company secured a $10 million revolving credit line with PNC Bank last month.

With that strategy, "we will be in a stronger position to create value for our shareholders, as market conditions improve," he said.

The Rise of the Super-Discounters

Social services feel pinch in difficult economy

Cathy Schulz looks at the Crafton-Ingram Food Pantry shelves and winces with worry.

The food pantry coordinator is expecting 60 more families to come by Crafton United Presbyterian Church and request groceries this month. Schulz has enough for 11 families -- maybe.

"I'm keeping my faith that God will provide," she said.

The Crafton-Ingram Food Pantry is not alone. As the economy worsens, winter utility prices rise and employment declines, people on limited or fixed incomes are increasing and seeking services, officials said. Social service organizations are bracing for financially lean times and hope the holidays will bring plentiful donations.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is helping about 1,000 new households a month, spokeswoman Iris Valanti said, and with donations down, it relies more and more on purchased food.

The food bank buys about 25 percent of the food it distributes, Valanti said. Its inventory is down 500,000 pounds, compared to this time last year, and the food bank board of directors authorized the purchase of $170,000 more in food to bolster inventory.

"In some ways, as bad as economy is, this is the holiday season and it tends to be a season of giving and sharing," Valanti said. "At the moment, we are on track for our budget, but we don't know how long that will last."

The food bank doesn't plan to cut any services, Valanti said.

Sister Mary Parks, executive director at Sisters Place, said she is unsure the Clairton-based transitional housing program for single parents will receive year-end donations similar to past gifts because the economy took such a hit.

"We have a Christmas appeal," Parks said, "and a lot of people that give at Christmastime said that they won't have the same amount or same need to give because of what happened."

To withstand difficult times, Bethlehem Haven, an Uptown emergency service center for women, isn't planning on making capital improvements or hiring more staff, said Executive Director Lois Mufuka Martin.

"We're essentially having to do a spending freeze just to weather the economy because our donations are down, due to loss in stock market assets," she said.

Martin expects a 20 percent increase in use of Bethlehem Haven's mental health clinic, because of clients who are experiencing stress over their finances, she said. About 440 people used the clinic last year.

"It's not good," she said.

Fayette groups, farmers urge to ‘Buy Local’

Glaxo lops Philly headquarters tag

Philadelphia will no longer be able to call itself one of the American headquarters of British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline PLC, the company said Wednesday.

As part of a restructuring that also will eliminate 1,800 U.S. sales jobs, GlaxoSmithKline said it will designate its facilities in Research Triangle Park, N.C., as the single operational headquarters for the United States.

The company's global headquarters are in London.

Spokeswoman Mary Anne Ryhne said the headquarters designation was aimed at eliminating confusion. GlaxoSmithKline remains "committed to the Philadelphia community and to Pennsylvania. We've supported communities where our employees live and work, and we'll continue to do that."

GlaxoSmithKline employs about 5,000 people in the Philadelphia region. The company has not said how many jobs would be cut here or in any other city. Many big pharmaceutical companies, including Merck and Wyeth, have cut jobs to cope with the threat of generic competition and a lack of blockbuster drugs.

A spokeswoman for Glaxo's Consumer Healthcare unit in Robinson, which has about 450 employees, said there will be no impact on Pittsburgh-area operations from the sales force reduction. But about 60 jobs were cut here when marketing operations were moved this summer.

Research Triangle Park won the headquarters designation in part because the company owns its facilities there and leases its Center City building, Rhyne said.

Some of the jobs to be cut are already vacant, and some will be shifted from pharmaceutical sales to vaccine sales, so the net job reduction will be 1,000.

The shared headquarters resulted from previous mergers.

Westinghouse overflows with new employees

Bulking Up: Japan’s Drugmakers