Regional development posts being created

COLUMBUS — State officials hope to name a new regional director in coming weeks to act as a liaison between the governor’s office and economic development efforts underway in northeastern Ohio.

Mark Barbash, who earlier this month became chief economic development officer at the Ohio Department of Development, said the position will be based in Youngstown and will complement the department’s existing operational structure in the area. The state already has a dozen regional economic development directors who assist in business recruitment and expansion in different parts of Ohio. Those positions will remain, and four additional governor’s regional director positions will be created in Youngstown, Toledo, Cincinnati and Cleveland, Barbash said.

The existing directors will continue to work with local business leaders and economic developers in securing incentives individual projects, provide rapid outreach for workers affected by closings or layoffs and proactively engage community officials, unions and others with other business-bolstering initiatives.

The four new directors will provide additional support on economic development projects, as well as initiatives involving education, health care and other priorities of the governor’s office, Barbash said, adding that their efforts in the four cities ultimately will strengthen suburban and rural areas.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com