eBay Selects Warren, Akron for ‘Retail Revival’

AKRON, Ohio – Small businesses in the cities of Warren and Akron will benefit from a partnership being launched by e-commerce giant eBay.

Devin Wenig, eBay CEO, was at Akron’s Northside Marketplace this morning, where he announced the two cities would be the U.S. pilot communities for the company’s Retail Revival program. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO

Several Warren business owners joined Warren Mayor Doug Franklin and Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan for this morning’s news conference.

“We’re going to put our energy, our money and our passion into trying to help Main Street businesses become fully thriving participants in the digital economy,” Wenig said.

“Our small businesses make up the soul of our community,” Franklin said. “Their success is our success.” He also praised the city’s entrepreneurs for the “great job” they did representing Warren.

eBay will provide 50 small businesses in the two cities with an e-commerce platform as well as wraparound services, training and marketing assistance, Horrigan said. He called this morning’s announcement “transformational” for the city.

“You could not have selected a more determined, creative industrious community,” he remarked. He also said he was pleased to have Warren as an additional partner in the initiative.

“Thank you for allowing us to tag along,” Franklin said.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13 Ohio, hailed eBay’s commitment to investing in cities like Warren and Akron in a statement issued from his office. Ryan, whose congressional district encompasses both cities, was in Washington today as Congress wrangles with a potential shutdown.

As technology and entrepreneurship form the foundation of the 21st century economy, government needs to be able to answer the question of how to plug every community into the global economy, Ryan said.

“We have the perfect opportunity right now to help rebuild and rejuvenate communities that have been struggling with the loss of manufacturing by connecting them with tech companies traditionally located on the coasts,” he continued. “There is talent located all across America, but investments must be made in order to harness it.”

Read more Monday on our website about this initiative and how Warren merchants are reacting to it.

Pictured: Devin Wenig, eBay’s CEO.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.