YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Western Reserve Building Trades and Construction Council projects 2025 to be another active year for its membership, trade union officials say.

“It looks like work is going to be steady in the Youngstown area,” says Jesse Wright, business representative for Local 33 Sheet Metal Workers and trustee for the Building Trades.  “A couple of large projects we’re keeping an eye on that would be very good for trades and bring other jobs to the area.”

Among the most anticipated projects is a potential Kimberly Clark plant in Warren, he says. The paper goods manufacturer purchased former steel mill property along Pine Avenue and is considering a major investment there. 

Another possible development is a large warehousing and reconditioning operation by Bartlett Maritime, initially targeted for Lordstown.

“There’s also a lot of work in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Wheeling areas,” Wright says.

He says Local 33 should keep busy this year with assorted work at area hospitals and school construction projects. “Overall, I think 2025 is going to be a good year, filled with medium-sized projects right now.”

Building Trades President and Plumber & Pipefitters Local 396 Business Agent Marty Loney says 2024 was a “pretty average” year based on hours worked by members. He expects business to increase slightly this year.

Loney says between 85 and 100 of the local’s members worked on projects in other parts of Ohio or out of state. “It’s more work out of district than usual,” he says.

Roadway and bridge projects resulting from funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – which took effect two years ago – should filter through the local economy in 2025, Loney says.

The Building Trades say they see interest rising among younger people. More than 6,000 high school and middle school students attended the Skilled Trades Expo at the Canfield Fairgrounds over a three-day period in September. 

“The first year we did it, in 2019, we were hoping to get 750 kids,” Loney says. “This thing has really grown.”

The Western Reserve Building Trades membership consists of 16 crafts and 23 local trade unions.