$100,000 to reboot downtown Youngstown | News, Sports, Work

YOUNGSTOWN — Rebooting the future center is the goal of a $100,000 plan jointly funded by the state’s private Economic Development Corporation and the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber Foundation.

The money — $50,000 each from the foundation, a charity of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber that supports economic and workforce development initiatives in the region, and JobsOhio — is earmarked to implement the pathways “aimed at positive restructuring” the future of the central part of the city, says the press release.

Lake to river to Economic Development, the seventh and final region of the JobsOhio network announced in April, “supported the financing of the revitalization plan”, in the issue of states.

The money from JobsOhio is a pre-project planning grant, part of a program that helps communities move a project from idea to implementation “and, as a result, to attract future investment, business activity and jobs”, in the issue of states.

The downtown revitalization grant is the largest of its kind awarded by the agency since the program launched in 2019.

According to JP Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, the grant is “aims to elevate downtown Youngstown in the short term while expanding a local vision that can catalyze future economic success.”

The Chamber will co-lead the project, engaging and gathering input from downtown stakeholders.

“The focus will be on creating an individual plan, promoting incentives and business engagement, and identifying gaps in the sector for future growth,” in the issue of states.

The local organization Group Economic Action Group developed “Reboot Strategy / Review Plan” and will facilitate its implementation. The plan consists of two parts.

The first phase, the Reboot Strategy, involves engaging with businesses and other stakeholders, identifying priorities to address urgent needs to restore confidence and revitalize downtown through targeted programming with existing assets.

In the second phase, the EAG will develop a comprehensive long-term vision and action plan “build a vibrant, sustainable city center through strategic investment in people, placemaking and sustainable programming while continuing to build on existing assets”, in the issue of states.

The plan also includes finding additional sources of funding to cover implementation costs.

“Achieving the sustainable, long-term success of our downtown district requires a comprehensive strategic plan that includes broad representation and input from our stakeholders, which this project will include.” said Stephanie Gilchrist, Youngstown’s director of economic development. “We appreciate the cooperation, timely action and financial commitment from JobsOhio and the Regional Chamber Foundation, and we are excited about the prospect of identifying additional sources of investment when the time comes to execute this plan.”

Lake to River, according to the release, used connections at the local and state level to highlight the importance of the reboot plan as the first step to the city’s much-needed economic revitalization.

“This project is the first of what we believe will be many wins in the coming months, not only for Lake to River, but also for the local business and community leaders who have lobbied for our own JobsOhio region.” said Alexa Sweeney Blaken, interim CEO of Lake to River.

Additional support for the project was provided by the City Center Revitalization Committee.