HispanicBusiness

Source: Pittsburgh Regional Alliance; recent expansions in the Pittsburgh region; Tribune-Review research

1) Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh branch. Treasury retail securities operations at the Federal Reserve Bank's Downtown office are being moved to Minneapolis, resulting in the loss of about 285 jobs. When the consolidation is complete this year, about 35 jobs will remain.

2) Pittsburgh Public Schools. Faced with cuts in funding from the state and a projected deficit of $68 million, Pittsburgh Public Schools approved the layoffs of nearly 50 teachers and school support staffers, including 10 preschool teachers and 19 other early childhood staff. It eliminated 217 other positions, laying off 147 employees and 58 keeping vacancies unfilled. The layoffs included 39 administrators and 108 maintenance and clerical jobs.

3) Solar Power Industries Inc., Rostraver. Solar Power Industries fell victim to the woes of the solar power industry -- stiff competition from China undercutting the market for its U.S.-made silicon wafers and solar cells used to make modules that capture energy from the sun to create electricity. The company in June said it was cutting 176 workers from its plants in Rostraver and at the former Sony Technology Corp. plant in East Huntingdon. Of the 75 workers remaining, several were placed on partial work weeks.

4) Port Authority of Allegheny County. Last year was a particularly difficult for Port Authority employees and this year may be worse. The Port Authority laid off 180 employees, most of whom were bus drivers and maintenance workers, along with some administrative personnel, because of a budget shortfall. The Port Authority announced in January it might have to eliminate up to 600 jobs, including 500 through layoffs, this year because of a $64 million budget deficit. In addition to cutting about one-fifth of its 2,500 employees, PAT would reduce bus service if money isn't found.

5) Armstrong World Industries Inc., Beaver Falls. Armstrong World Industries announced plans in July 2010 to close its ceiling tile production plant in Beaver Falls in mid-2011, eliminating jobs for about 150 workers. The company cut about 110 jobs this year. The closing was blamed on decreased customer demand in a weak economy, inefficient location and layout of the plant.

6) Reynolds Food Packaging, Grove City. The food packaging plant, formerly owned by Alcoa Inc., is closed as of March 2011, eliminating 145 jobs. The plant's owner, Reynolds Group Holdings Ltd., said the company is consolidating operations into facilities in New York and Illinois.

7) Teleperformance USA, Redstone. Teleperformance, which operates a telephone call center in Grindstone, Fayette County, announced it will lay off 306 employees in August 2011. Teleperformance is based in Salt Lake City.

8) ECI Telecom Ltd., Robinson. ECI Telecom will close its Robinson office in January, eliminating 107 jobs. The Israel-based company, a global provider of computer network solutions, has laid off workers in Israel as well.

9) W&K Steel LLC, Rankin. The financially troubled structural steel company successfully fought allegations from the Allegheny County Council that it was operating a sweat shop early last year, but it could not avoid bankruptcy in May. It initially sought protection from creditors, laying off about 100 workers. The company had to file to liquidate in July.

10) Health Dialog Services Corp., Robinson. The company, which is based in Boston, said in October it would close its office in Penn Center West, Robinson, by the end of 2011, laying off 76 workers. Health Dialog, a subsidiary of the former British Union Provident Association, provides analysis and support for patients' health care decisions.