CINCINNATI (FOX19) - New fareboxes on Cincinnati Metro buses will make it possible to get on a bus with any bill up to 20 dollars and get change for future rides, use a variety of passes, and get transfers more easily.

By the end of the year, Metro will install new fareboxes on all 333 of its buses, thanks to almost $3.6 million in federal funds (80% of the cost of the project).  Metro fareboxes collect about $23 million in fares annually, representing about 27% of Metro's operating revenue.  Metro's current fareboxes are 17 years old and in need of replacement.  

Metro signed the $4.5 million contract yesterday to purchase GFI Odyssey "talking" fareboxes that offer many improvements over Metro's old fareboxes:

·         Smartcards: Customers will be able to buy a monthly pass or load money on a "go*SMART" smartcard.

BLUE ASH, OH (FOX19) - Despite an explosion in consumer conversation technology, Americans have cut back substantially since 2008 on the opinions they share by word-of-mouth (WOM) about companies and their offerings, research by a Blue Ash firm shows.

Of 3,295 U.S. consumers surveyed by COLLOQUY, a customer loyalty company headquartered on Lake Forest Drive, 58% said they often have conversations with family, friends and coworkers about products and services they’ve used. That’s down from 73% when COLLOQUY posed the same question in a 2008, a 20% drop off.

Additionally, 57% of respondents in the latest survey said they often recommend products and services to others, compared to 75% in 2008, a 24% decline, according to the research from COLLOQUY, a LoyaltyOne company that provides loyalty marketing publishing, education and research.

The reduction in WOM activity can’t be attributed to a shortage of ways for WOM views to spread.

MONTGOMERY, OH (FOX19) - State Representative Connie Pillich (D-Montgomery) announced Monday that two Cincinnati area companies will receive state grants to expand and add jobs.  

Devicor of Sharonville will receive $250 thousand to buy new machinery and equipment, creating 105 new full-time jobs.  

itelligence (spelled with a small "i") is getting $250 thousand for road work in support of their new headquarters in Blue Ash, creating 45 new full-time jobs.

Devicor Medical Products, Inc. will use their grant to buy research and development software, video conferencing equipment and mechanical test equipment.