YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The city of Youngstown’s community planning and economic development department will host a business solutions summit March 29 at Ohev Beth Shalom synagogue, 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. The program will begin at 9 a.m. with remarks from Mayor Jamael Tito Brown.
The need for such a summit emerged from several experiences that Nikki Posterli, CPED director and chief of staff to Brown, had while transitioning into her role. A “common theme” emerged of companies not understanding how to do business with the city and the resources available to start a business.
“It seemed like none of them have had a smooth transition,” she said.
Businesses sometimes find themselves having to “ping pong” to various partners and sometimes go 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 it fits now,” Posterli said. “What can we change? What can we do better?”
Representatives from local banks, the Small Business Administration, and companies based in the city will present information at this event.
Lunch will be provided. Click here to register.