Economic development generally follows the availability of basic utilities, rather than acting as a catalyst for their creation. Consequently, the development of the region’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, water/sewer lines and communications networks) is critical to the future of the Mahoning Valley.

As is true throughout the nation, the Mahoning Valley’s economic vitality is dependent upon reliable and adequate transportation, water and sewage systems. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, “If an area does not have infrastructure in place, including basic roads, sewers, telecommunications capability and transportation, they will not even be considered by the vast majority of companies.” (Dennis Donovan, Wadley-Donovan Group, industrial site selection consultants, Wall Street Journal, August 12, 1997).

Recognizing its importance to job creation, the YWRC through its infrastructure committee Grow Mahoning Valley, will work to promote infrastructure development within the Valley by supporting efforts:

• To identify state, federal and local monies for specific priority projects and to work with the Transportation Review Advisory Council, the Ohio Department of Transportation and other entities to secure funding.



• To encourage state and federal officials to develop policies that will equitably distribute funds that are collected for infrastructure development and other projects.



• To maximize funding for clean water programs through reauthorization of programs like the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act, and to ensure that good public policies are created to implement those programs.



• To increase the overall funding of maintenance and new construction programs for infrastructure.




Grow Mahoning Valley

Comprised of members of the public sector, the business community, and the labor community, Grow Mahoning Valley is the infrastructure committee of the Regional Chamber. The goal of the organization is to promote economic development in the region through the completion of key road, highway, water, and sewer projects. That goal will be accomplished by identifying and obtaining additional state, federal and local dollars for priority projects.

Grow Mahoning Valley has received several awards in the last few years. In September 2003, GMV was honored by the National Economic Development Council, while in 2002, Dominion East Ohio Gas honored the initiative. Grow Mahoning Valley was honored as the best public/private/labor partnership in 1999 by Business Facilities Magazine, winning the publication's prestigious Platinum Award.

Since 1997 the partnership has been responsible for helping to secure over $65 million from federal and state governments for Mahoning Valley infrastructure improvements. Phillip Dennison, President of Packer Thomas, chairs the organization.

Grow Mahoning Valley members will continue a public education campaign to keep the issue of infrastructure development to the forefront of the public debate, and to demonstrate the importance of the issue to the region's long-term economic vitality. Members meet with elected officials and their staff at the state, federal, and local levels to discuss the needs of the Mahoning Valley and promote the committee's agenda. The committee will also identify non-traditional sources of funding for infrastructure, and will work to obtain that funding.

Grow Mahoning Valley Project List
2006

* Previously unranked
Higher points indicate the projects that will have greatest impact