WRTA Launches Campaign Spotlighting Small Business

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Western Reserve Transit Authority kicked off its “Give Local Small Business a Lift!” campaign to support local businesses during a Thursday morning event at Concept Studio.

The campaign, which is co-sponsored by The Business Journal, will recognize 12 local small businesses that have at least one location on, or very close to, a WRTA fixed bus route to allow for easy access by employees and customers, according to a news release announcing the campaign.

“Small business has a big impact on our standard of living across the nation and right here in the Valley.” Dean Harris, WRTA’s executive director, said in the release. “The business owners and their families invest and take big risks to open and maintain local operations, provide employment, and contribute to the community. WRTA has the privilege of providing transportation to many of the employees and customers of these organizations.” 

Beginning Sunday, the start of National Small Business Week, the selected businesses will be featured on signs on WRTA buses and on its giant digital sign above Federal Street station in downtown Youngstown. They also will be featured on the WRTA website and social media, as well as in ads in The Business Journal and stories on BusinessJournalDaily.com. 

One of the 12 businesses selected, Sugarpan Bakery in Campbell, will receive $3,000 in television advertising donated by WKBN-TV 27. WKBN and On-Demand Occupational Medicine also are co-sponsoring the campaign. 

In addition to Sugarpan Bakery, will feature:

• Cornersburg Italian Specialties, Youngstown
• Peaberry’s Café, Boardman
• One Step Forward, Boardman
• The Youngstown Flea, Youngstown
• Next Level Fitness Academy, Austintown
• Sarah’s Ceramics, Austintown
• Send It Packin’, Austintown 
• Fancey Boutique, Boardman
• The TakeOut, Youngstown
• Laugh and Learn Academy LLC, Youngstown
• Culture House Coffee Co., Youngstown

The campaign will run through July. See BusinessJournalDaily.com for more on the campaign and read more about Thursday’s event in George Nelson’s story Friday morning.

Pictured: On hand for the kickoff for the Give Local Small Business a Lift campaign were Makenna Ozenghar, head of client services for Farris Marketing; Dean Harris, WRTA executive director; George Farris, CEO of Farris Marketing; and Judy Rodriguez, WRTA director of transportation.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.