By Guy Coviello
President and CEO, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber redefined its focus and work in 2024, shifting its resources toward transformational initiatives and strategies to prepare the region for sustained job and economic growth.

The organization – the third largest metro chamber in Ohio – handed off certain operational and transactional economic development duties to Lake to River Economic Development in April. Doing so freed up vital resources for the chamber to address big-picture initiatives such as population and talent attraction, housing, removing workforce barriers, developing the next generation of industry and community leaders, nurturing nonprofit organizations to maximize their impact and helping women-, minority-, disabled- and veteran-owned businesses.

It’s all part of an aggressive and vibrant strategy called Valley Vision, meant to increase economic prosperity and improve the quality of life across Trumbull and Mahoning counties.

The chamber isn’t alone in the endeavor but a partner with key nonprofit and philanthropic groups, governments and other economic development agencies that collectively share the same goal of bettering the future for businesses and residents in the region.

For example, understanding the growth potential within the Valley Vision plan, commissioners in Trumbull and Mahoning counties agreed to invest $1 million each into the program.

Or, consider the partnership between Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries Inc. and the chamber to increase the region’s workforce and remove barriers to employment. The organizations in July announced they would coordinate on a workforce needs study, the results of which were revealed in October.

Take, for instance, the work the chamber is doing with Eastgate Regional Council of Governments and other partners to stabilize and strengthen the housing market in the Mahoning Valley.

In 2024, the organization also worked with the Ohio Small Business Development Center’s Export Assistance Network at Youngstown State University to host a trade mission with representatives of Vietnamese companies and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The four-day event was meant to boost the local economy and bolster the supply chain for area businesses.

In fact, plans are being worked out for a mission of local business representatives to visit Vietnam this year in what could grow into a long and prosperous relationship.

We’re also excited about the newly formed Business Advisory Council to the Fed that will ensure conditions in Trumbull and Mahoning counties and Mercer and Lawrence counties in western Pennsylvania are considered when creating monetary policy.

We’re proud of our member events, several of which last year set attendance records, as well as appreciative of their support, which allows the chamber to advance its mission, vision and values.

Some quick stats about 2024 events:

• Our Salute to Business breakfast in August experienced its highest attendance, with nearly 600, since 2007.

• Salute to Elected Officials, attended by Gov. Mike DeWine, broke a record for attendance for that event, with 465.

• Two of our other signature events, Economic Forecast and Annual Meeting, brought about 400 people each, and our Good Morning/Evening program routinely drew an average of 200 people per event.

• And let’s not forget the vitally important public policy advocacy events, the Columbus Drive-In and the D.C. Fly-In, both of which were sellouts in 2024.

Pictured at top: Trumbull County commissioners presented a check Jan. 8 for the remaining $500,000 of support for Valley Vision, a strategy to increase economic prosperity and quality of life in the Mahoning Valley. Trumbull and Mahoning County each committed $1 million to Valley Vision. From left are Jim Kinnick, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments; Trumbull Commissioner Tony Bernard; Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber; Teresa Miller, executive director of Valley Partners; Alexa Sweeney Blackann, interim CEO of Lake to River Economic Development; Sarah Lown, public finance manager, Western Reserve Port Authority; JoAnn Stock, director of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence; and Trumbull Commissioners Denny Malloy and Rick Hernandez.