Totals

Totals
Year-end figures show 233,700 people were working locally at year's end, compared with 237,500 at the end of 2002.
Many found work outside the three-county area. Add in those working elsewhere, and the Valley ended 2003 with many more people employed -- 257,100, up from 255,534 at the end of 2002. It's the first time that number has grown, year to year, since 1999.
Even allowing for a margin of error in the data the chamber gets from the state, Dulberger said, the job stats suggest the region has turned the corner.
"By the end of 2004 we expect to see clear evidence of a turnaround," Dulberger said.
Looking at the region's 6.8 percent year-end jobless rate, Curry noted that the number is only about a percentage point higher than the state and national rates, and a big improvement over the Valley's 9.2 percent July jobless rate.
"From everything we've seen, there is an economic recovery going on," he said. "Locally, we're usually six to nine months behind the rest of the state and the country."
Curry said manufacturing jobs will continue to decrease in numbers as companies work to improve efficiency with technology, but business services and health services will see growth. "Those are the things you can't outsource to Mexico or China," he said.
Reasons for optimism
Dulberger said the Valley has several optimism-building projects in the works:
U General Motors' $500 million investment in its Lordstown Complex.
U The 711 Connector highway project.
U The arena planned for downtown Youngstown.
U The commercial airline planning flights out of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
There are some other positive economic indicators as well.
The Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp. assisted a record 54 local businesses with loans for expansion projects and new development in 2003.
Don French, MVEDC executive director, said the projects, worth more than $30 million, will create 395 jobs and preserve 330 jobs.
The $7.5 million regional processing center that Cintas Corp. is building in Youngstown Commerce Park in North Jackson was one of the larger projects, but there were numerous small projects as well, he said, and low interest rates continue to be an incentive for businesses looking to grow.
Vehicle sales increase
New and used vehicle sales were up in 2003, and Steve Chos of the Automobile Dealers Association of Eastern Ohio projects healthy sales this year with the launch of the Lordstown-built Chevrolet Cobalt and many other new models.
Chos said he's never seen so many new cars introduced in his 15 years working in the auto industry. The Valley has traditionally been a big supporter of the local GM products, so the Cobalt is sure to be a big seller, but he expects the other newcomers to attract more business to showrooms, too.
Low interest rates, rebates and other incentives will likely continue as well, he said.
Although new vehicle sales were "down a hair" from last year, Chos said, the 60,295 total for new and used vehicles sales was an improvement over 2002.
The value of new construction projects increased 21 percent in the five-county Mahoning and Shenango Valley area last year, and more high-dollar projects are on the books for 2004.
Last year was an average year for project starts and man-hours worked, said Kevin Reilly, executive vice president of the Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, and he expects 2004 to be similar.
Ongoing projects
GM's work at the Lordstown complex will be providing steady construction work for a while, he said. The 711 Connector in Youngstown, Girard and Liberty will also continue, along with several new public school buildings and health-care facilities that are in the works.
Retail development has continued unabated for the Cafaro Co., the Youngstown-based shopping center developer that owns and operates more than 34 million square feet of commercial real estate in 13 states, including the Eastwood Mall complex in Niles and several smaller local shopping centers.
Norm Peters, senior vice president for Cafaro, said the company has had no trouble attracting retailers to its Valley centers.
In 2003, the developer made improvements at its Union Square Plaza and its McGuffey Plaza, both in Youngstown, and added some new tenants at both locations. Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods and Circuit City are among the "big box" retailers Cafaro has added recently at Eastwood, Peters said.
The Homebuilders Remodelers Association of Mahoning Valley is still compiling statistics on 2003 home sales, but executive director Mike Wilson said it wasn't a growth year. The region isn't attracting a lot of new residents, he explained, so most of the new homes are built for people who are moving from one home into a larger one.
Still, the builders group is feeling optimistic enough to plan two Parade of Homes events this year -- one in Howland in June and one in Canfield in the fall. The group is also working on a three-year plan to promote the Valley's recreational and cultural advantages to attract new residents.
vinarsky@vindy.com