Grant Paves the Way for Business Hub in East Liverpool
EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – A $650,000 grant awarded to the East Liverpool Community Project for Revitalization will pave the way for establishing a business incubator and accelerator hub aimed at promoting entrepreneurship.
The funding, from the Small Business Administration, was made possible through the efforts of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and was officially announced during a press conference Monday morning in the city’s historic Diamond area.
Representing Brown at the gathering were Sarah Benzing, the senator’s chief of staff, and Kaleb Knowlton, Appalachian regional representative. East Liverpool native Thomas V. Chema, chairman of The Gateway Group of Westlake, Ohio, a consultant for the ELCPR, made the grant announcement.
Chema said he and ELCPR board member Drew Cooper have worked on the idea of establishing an entrepreneurial hub in the city for a couple of years.
“We didn’t just dream this up. We got a couple of grants for a feasibility study first,” Chema said.
The focus of the business hub will be on the arts, cultural, entertainment and hospitality sectors, along with other industries that have historically fueled the city’s economy, according to those involved with the project who say it marks a critical step in East Liverpool’s revitalization, positioning the city as a hub for creative and economic growth.
The grant will help create a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to innovate, collaborate and grow their businesses, offering mentorship, investment opportunities and training programs to local entrepreneurs, particularly those focused on arts, entertainment and hospitality.
A board is being appointed to oversee the initiative, with ELCPR President Rick Dieringer to also serve as the hub board president.
Derringer is a lifelong East Liverpool resident who graduated from Ohio University and now owns Tri-State Supplies in the city.
“This is a pivotal moment for East Liverpool,” Dieringer said. “These projects and funding mark a major step in the city’s revitalization.”
Chema added: “Thanks to the wonderful work of Sen. Sherrod Brown, we now have some funds and can now move forward. Thanks to the senator for his willingness to provide this really important funding for us.”
Chema said although the “hub is going to have a focus on arts and recreation and cultural activity and hospitality, anyone with an entrepreneurial idea can come … and get support. That’s what is so important about this.”
Asked why the focus will initially be on arts, culture, entertainment and hospitality instead of revisiting manufacturing and potteries, which were once prolific in the city, Cooper explained: “Right now, we’re trying to find a starting point. You’ll see there’s a real community of sole proprietors and artists doing different things in this community. It’s almost like it’s in our DNA. It’s how we build off something that’s in our DNA and building from there. We look at it as an easy starting point. We see a bunch of small businesses or people doing hobbies and see how they can start to monetize this and start to build a new entrepreneurial mindset in this area.”
Chema said when he thinks of the pottery industry, his grandfather comes to mind. “My grandfather was an artist who worked for Homer Laughlin (founder of Laughlin Pottery Co.) and painted, hand-painted, the gold leaf on those plates. That sort of spirit, the history, that vibe, still exists, as Drew said, in our DNA, if we can take that and create new business.
“You’ve been so successful here with music festivals. A lot of music artists don’t realize what they can do in terms of a business,” Chema said. “They know their music and want to get it out there, but how can they make money and provide for their families?”
Chema pointed out the hub will have experts in helping to put together marketing and business plans.
The pilot project for the hub is set to launch in the first quarter of 2025, although neither Chema nor Cooper was ready to divulge what that pilot project entails at this point in the planning.
In addition to providing a collaborative environment for entrepreneurs, the hub will partner with existing entrepreneurial networks in Pittsburgh, Warren, Youngstown and Akron, leveraging their expertise to support East Liverpool’s local business development.
Now that funding is available, the ELCPR will be looking for an executive director. “We will cast a broad net to find the right woman or man” for the position, Chema said.
Some “really good conversations” have been held with Kent State University officials about providing the ELCPR housing for its operations until the group can locate its own space, according to Chema, who said there are numerous locations in the city to be considered when the time comes.
“I can’t be more appreciative for their efforts and their desire to make East Liverpool what it used to be,” Mayor Bobby Smith said. “It’s very exciting.”
Recent investments in the city, including a proposed $4.2 million renovation to the Thompson Building in the Diamond and the new True North headquarters on Fifth Street, are crucial elements of the city’s broader revitalization strategy, according to ELCPR officials, who say these projects will bring workforce housing, retail spaces and high-tech jobs.
Those interested in becoming involved with ELCPR or learning more about the initiative’s upcoming plans can contact Drew Dawson, director of marketing for True North Holdings, at 330 708 9608 or [email protected].
Pictured at top: Front row, from left, are Samantha Kinemond, treasurer; Kaleb Knowlton, Appalachian regional representative for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown; Sarah Benzing, Brown’s chief of staff; Thomas V. Chema, chairman of The Gateway Group; Drew Cooper, ELCPR board member; and Charles Bailey, True North CEO. Back row, from left, are Mayor Bobby Smith; ELCPR President Rick Dieringer; ELCPR board member Scott Smith; ELCPR board member Bill Reiner; and Bill Jones service-safety director.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
