YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Andy Verhoff of the Ohio History Connection presented a $17,574 grant to Youngstown State University in support of the upcoming “Mahoning Valley 250” exhibit, a collaborative project highlighting the region’s role in American history.
Verhoff said the funding comes from the Ohio History Fund and supports a yearlong effort to develop an exhibit that showcases the Mahoning Valley’s impact on the nation, particularly its contributions to innovation, industry and culture.
Amy Fluker, an associate professor at YSU, said the exhibit will explore key moments from the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on how the region helped shape the national economy and identity beyond the traditional Rust Belt narrative.
The project, developed in partnership with local historical organizations, will include both a permanent display at the Steel Museum and a traveling exhibit that will visit communities across Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
Organizers say the exhibit aims to give residents multiple opportunities to engage with local history while highlighting the Valley’s broader significance in the American story.