By Ted Schmidt
PNC Regional President

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – By most measures, the U.S. economy was on solid footing as 2024 came to an end.

According to PNC chief economist Gus Faucher, U.S. job growth significantly exceeded expectations in December, with an increase of 256,000. The unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1% in December, with increases in both employment in the household survey and the labor force.

The solid labor market should remain in good shape in the coming months. With more jobs and higher wages, consumer spending will continue to increase in the near term, supporting overall economic growth.

Ups and downs in the economy are inevitable. That’s why it’s vital that people can trust that their bank will be there to provide the financial tools and knowledge they need to meet their personal and business goals.

As one of the nation’s strongest banks, PNC offers exceptional technology, cutting-edge products and services, and an enduring dedication to exceed our clients’ expectations.

As PNC regional president for Youngstown, I’m extremely proud of the bank’s state-of-the-art products and services, and its people, who are committed to helping individuals, families and businesses meet their financial goals.

I’m also proud of PNC’s efforts to make the Mahoning Valley a better place to live, work and play.

In 2024, we demonstrated our commitment to this community through employee volunteerism and collaborations with local organizations.

Here are just a few examples:

• In June, we awarded a $75,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to Alta Care Group to reimagine the outdoor play area at the Alta Head Start McCartney Learning Center. The project, which will open this summer, reflects PNC’s focus on supporting the development of outdoor play and learning environments. It’s part of the 20-year  anniversary of PNC Grow Up Great, a $500 million, bilingual initiative created to help prepare children from birth through age 5 for success in school and life, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities.

• In August, PNC brought its mobile branch directly to students and faculty at Youngstown State University to meet their banking needs at the beginning of the fall 2024 semester.

• In November, the PNC Foundation announced a $50,000 workforce development grant to support a Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber initiative to expand the workforce in collaboration with Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries.