An Ohio community partnership in Trumbull/Mahoning Counties designed to strengthen the region's Image, Economic Growth Opportunities, Education and Workforce Development initiatives.

Jobs For Our Valley was launched June 8, 2000 during a meeting at the United Autoworkers Local 1112 Hall in Lordstown, Ohio.

This community improvement effort is coordinated and funded by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and is comprised of three committees.

• Education and Workforce
• Image
• Regional Growth

For more information, contact the Regional Chamber's Reid Dulberger at 330-392-6140, extension 11.

Beginning in early 2000 Mahoning Valley business, government, labor, economic development, and educational leaders have worked together to analyze the regional economy and strategize effective solutions to the region's major economic challenges. This regional strategic planning process is called the Jobs For Our Valley project. The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber organized and sponsored this process.

A Leadership Team comprised of elected officials, business, labor, education and development officials was created to direct the project. Three Action Teams were then created to study regional opportunities pertaining to:

• Image & Collaborative Partnerships
• Regional Growth Opportunities
• Workforce & Education

The Action Teams developed 23 individual recommendations by the Fall of 2000. Of these, the Leadership Team identified 16 initiatives for short-term attention. The recommendations for immediate attention are grouped under the following categories:

1. Area Image Improvement: Improve the region's local, regional and national image as a center for economic growth through a carefully designed and well-funded image marketing campaign. Specific recommendations are:
   • Create a Regional Marketing Team
   • Develop a 3-phase local/regional/national image campaign
   • Create a research center to support the campaign
   • Institute a target marketing campaign to attract businesses
   • Start a relationship marketing initiative
   • Total Estimated Cost For Three Years Is $2,295,000


2. Technology Cluster Development: Create a series of programs to help existing firms adapt new technologies, while working to attract and grow new technology-based companies in targeted job-rich industries. Specific recommendations are:
   • Designate/develop a lead technology entity for the region
   • Conduct a detailed analysis of technology needs/opportunities
   • Provide technical support for existing/new technology entities
   • Create a University-Business Alliance to support technology
   • Market the region to attract "knowledge workers"
   • Institute an "Angel Investor" network to provide funding
   • Create a Regional Technology Business Investment Fund
   • Total Estimated Cost For Three Years Is $4,080,000
   
   
3. Regional Airport: Accelerate development at and around the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and reap the benefit of a multi-modal freight and passenger facility, by instituting an aggressive marketing program. Total Estimated Cost for two years is $352,625.



4. Educational/Workforce Improvement Initiatives -- K-14 Education, Tech Prep Improvement and Fourth Grade Learning Competencies: Improve the workforce and life readiness of Mahoning Valley children and young adults by developing the best K-14 and Tech Prep programs in the State of Ohio. Improve the learning foundation of the region's children by strengthening existing and adopting new initiatives to increase 4th grade reading, math, and science competencies. Specific recommendations are:
   • Create a Council for Regional Educational Excellence
   • Develop programs to insure that all 4th graders achieve required competencies in math, science and reading
   • Expand tech prep opportunities to all high schools
   • Conduct a detailed survey of current/projected workforce needs
   • Increase the percentage of 18-25 year olds going on for post high school education, and achieving two/four college degrees, to exceed the national average
   • Total Estimated Cost For Three Years Is $1,870,000

The total estimated cost of these initiatives is $8,597,625. With the publication of this report, the planning phase of Jobs For Our Valley is complete. The Leadership Team will now begin work to implement its recommendations. Two of the initiatives identified, the Regional Airport Marketing Program and the Workforce Study are already underway.

• Henry J. Angelo, Mayor, City of Warren
• Joseph J. Angelo, Trumbull County Commissioner
• Nick Borders, President, IUE Local 717
• Phillip B. Dennison, President, Packer, Thomas & Co.
• Larry Fauver, President, Greater Youngstown Area AFL-CIO
• Donald French, Executive Director, Mahoning Valley Economic Dev. Corp.
• John Getchey, Executive Director, Eastgate Regional Council of Gov'ts
• Jim Graham, President, United Auto Workers Local 1112
• Thomas Humphries, President, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber
• Ralph A. Infante, Mayor, City of Niles
• David N. Ludt, Mahoning County Commissioner
• George M. McKelvey, Mayor, City of Youngstown
• Michael J. O'Brien, Trumbull County Commissioner
• Ed Reese, Mahoning County Commissioner
• Michael Rowan, President/CEO HM Health Partners
• Vicki Sherlock, Mahoning County Commissioner
• Dr. David C. Sweet, President, Youngstown State University
• James G. Tsagaris, Trumbull County Commissioner

• Eve Bevilacqua, Bodyworks Fitness Center
• John Brautigam, Simon Southern Park Mall

• Dave Collins, Diamond Steel Construction

• Margaret Croyts, Kent State University Trumbull Campus
• Sandy A. DeSantis, Ohio Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
• Kim Pillin, Ryan Alternative Staffing, Inc.
• Felita Rouse, Flex-Temp Employment Services, Inc.

• Reid Dulberger, Executive Vice President; Project Director
• Barbara Ewing, Vice President, Public Policy Initiatives