WARREN, Ohio – Mahoning Valley small-business owners are entering 2026 with cautious optimism, citing steady demand and improved project pipelines despite higher costs and ongoing economic uncertainty.

Plus, Austintown Local Schools unveiled a $12 million, 44,000-square-foot athletic center designed to give students a year-round space for practices and activities during inclement weather.

And Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and local players in workforce development hailed the state’s new initiative to connect Ohioans with in-demand jobs near them.

Small Businesses in the Valley Expect Uptick
Austintown Schools’ New $12M Athletic Center Unveiled
Tressel, Local Workforce Development Partners Hail WorkOhio
3 Minutes With: WorkOhio Program Connecting Ohioans to Local Careers