Youngstown Plans Business Solutions Summit

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown’s community planning and economic development department will host a business solutions summit March 29 at Ohev Beth Shalom 1119 Elm St.

The objective of the summit is to provide information on how to start and develop effective partnerships with city government, local banks and other community partners, according to a news release announcing the summit. The program will begin with opening remarks from Mayor Jamael Tito Brown at 9 a.m..

The need for such a summit emerged from several experiences Nikki Posterli, CPED director and chief of staff to Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, said as she took on the additional role of interim economic development director last year. A “common theme” emerged, as she sought to build the city’s partnership base, of companies not understanding how to do business with the city, what resources were available to even where to start.

“It seemed like none of them have had a smooth transition,” she said.

Businesses sometimes find themselves having to “ping pong” to various partners, sometimes going to other communities in frustration, she said.  She wants to bring the business community, the administration and representatives of City Council together to work on updating processes.

“Just because we’ve been doing the same thing for so long doesn’t mean that it fits now,” she said. “So what can we change? What can we do better?”

She also wants to help better define for businesses what kinds of support the city can offer, such as technical assistance. Administration and council members will also share and explain administrative and legislative processes and procedures, during the summit, and information will be available on how to cultivate effective partnerships with city government and other available community resources.

Representatives from local banks, The Small Business Administration, city partners, and owners of existing businesses located in the city of Youngstown also will present information at this event.

Lunch will be provided for all registered attendees. Those interested can register HERE.  

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