Companies mentored in foreign commerce

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FirstEnergy Corp. leads trade mission

For the past 12 years, Ohiobased FirstEnergy Corp. and its subsidiaries have sponsored trade missions to Canada and Mexico for small- and medium-size businesses in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In December, South America will be the destination instead. The energy company will take 15 local businesses for an opportunity to establish themselves in foreign markets.

"We decided to do something a little out-of-the-box this year," said Larry Morris, FirstEnergy's senior economic-development executive.

FirstEnergy will prepare pre-trip market analysis and organize meetings with foreign officials for the …