MAHONING, SHENANGO VALLEYS Survey to determine what businesses need

The study will pinpoint the needs of employers in a five-county region encompassing Ohio and Pennsylvania.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
SHARON, Pa. -- Mercer and Lawrence counties are joining a work force development survey already under way in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.
Dennis Reichard, executive director of the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce, said chambers of commerce and development groups in Mercer and Lawrence decided now would be a good time to gauge the needs of employers in the area after learning the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce was launching a similar survey on the Ohio side of the border.
The Youngstown/Warren group agreed to have Mercer and Lawrence participate, and all five counties will share in the results, Reichard said.
The West Central Workforce Investment Board, which oversees job training programs in Lawrence and Mercer counties, will pick up the $17,500 tab for the Pennsylvania portion of the study, he said.
The Ohio portion is already started and the Mercer and Lawrence surveys should be mailed out next week, he said.
Consultant: The Pennsylvania work will be done by Great Lakes Marketing of Toledo, the same consultant handling the Ohio side of the border.
A six-page survey will be sent to every business employing more than five people, Reichard said, noting there are 2,725 of them in Mercer and Lawrence Counties.
Great Lakes is hoping for 1,000 returns but Reichard said the local chambers are hoping for more and are encouraging all businesses to complete the questionnaire.
All companies with 500 or more employees will get a direct contact from Great Lakes, he said.
The survey is designed as a "business needs assessment," targeting three areas: jobs available now, particular education or training needed to competently perform those jobs and the compensation paid for those positions.
Reichard said it will also ask employers to make a two-year projection on future needs of their companies.
Use for results: The survey results will be used in planning the allocation of resources for workforce development and to create programs that will assist businesses in attracting and keeping workers.
Reichard said the findings will be presented to high schools, colleges and other job training facilities in the targeted area.
The survey should be completed by May 31, he said.
The last survey of this nature was done five years ago, Reichard said.
In addition to the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Greenville Area, Grove City Area, Mercer, Lawrence County and Ellwood City chambers of commerce, Penn-Northwest Development Corp. and the Lawrence County Economic Development Corp. are participating.