Sharing charges

The two biggest providers of electric car charging stations — Ecotality and ChargePoint — are forming a venture to share customers and allow billing across their networks.

The venture will give drivers access to about 15,000 locations, or about 90 percent of public chargers in the U.S., according to Ecotality chief executive officer Ravi Brar.

“It increases the number of chargers available to someone without them having to go around joining multiple networks,” Brar said.

Student-managed fund

Directors of the University of Central Missouri Foundation in Warrensburg have approved funding of $500,000 for a new student-managed investment program through the school’s Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies.

The funds, which will be available in 2014, will be used to create a portfolio that will be managed by undergraduate and graduate students in three finance courses offered during the fall, spring and summer semesters.

Barkley is fest partner

The Barkley advertising agency said it will be a creative partner in Ink’s Middle of the Map Fest, a music, forum and film festival now in its third year.

The Kansas City agency will be responsible for managing brand identity on the website and in other promotional materials.

The event, sponsored by Ink magazine, a sister publication of The Kansas City Star, and the Record Machine recording label, is scheduled to begin April 4 with a music festival.