Briefly: Displaced GM auto workers, suppliers get job help

General Motors' workers displaced by the recent closure at the automaker's Spring Hill assembly plant — as well as suppliers that served the plant — may get job help through new grants totaling $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, state officials said.
The Recovery Act money will go to the South Central Tennessee Workforce Board, which provides training services together with the Tennessee Career Center of Columbia, Tenn., near the GM plant's location.

Dislocated workers can get training in a variety of areas, including business information technology, solar panel installation/welding, medical coding, practical nursing, health information technology, an accelerated teacher's certification in education, as well as other green jobs and health careers.

Workers must show proof of dislocation from employment to be eligible. Training providers include the Tennessee Technology Center at Hohenwald, the Tennessee Technology Center at Pulaski, and Columbia State Community College. For more information call the Tennessee Career Center in Columbia, Tenn., at 931-490-3800.

— RANDY MCCLAIN

Chapman to retire from Baptist trust

Erie Chapman, the founding president and chief executive of The Baptist Healing Trust, will retire from the Nashville-based nonprofit foundation on Feb. 1.

Chapman, 66, plans to focus on a ministry to prisoners and the homeless as well as developing his family's enterprise, The Erie Chapman Foundation. Chapman was ordained a minister nearly two months ago.

The Baptist Healing Trust was formed about eight years ago with proceeds from the sale to Saint Thomas Health Services of the Nashville-based Baptist Hospital System of which Chapman had been president and chief executive officer. St. Louis-based Ascension Health is the parent of Saint Thomas Health Services.

— GETAHN WARD

Synergy's 401(k) subject of lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a federal court suit against Mark Black, Tom Black and their former company, Synergy Holdings Inc., in Nashville for allegedly violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) by failing to administer the company's 401(k) plan.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duty when they failed to terminate the company's 401(k) profit-sharing plan and distribute the assets to plan participants after the company stopped operating three years ago. The suit asks that a judge appoint an overseer at the defendants' expense to terminate the pension plan and distribute the assets.

— STAFF REPORTS

Bank of America appoints Moynihan

SAN FRANCISCO — After a trying period that saw an economic meltdown, a controversial acquisition and mounting ire directed at its leader, Bank of America Corp. announced Wednesday that it has named a new chief executive: Brian Moynihan.

Bank of America said in a statement that Moynihan, 50, will replace Ken Lewis, effective at the end of this month. Moynihan is currently president of the bank's consumer and small business banking unit.

— MARKETWATCH

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