YSU study finds Youngstown-Warren area lagging

February 13, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

GRADING THE BUSINESS CLIMATE

In June 2007, Youngstown State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Studies conducted a comparative evaluation of the business and innovation
climate in the Youngstown-Warren Metropolitan area, compared with 11 cities of similar size and economic background. Overall, Youngstown ranked last.

A SAMPLING OF ITS FINDINGS:

Youngstown-Warren ranked fourth-highest for high-tech employment, with about 6 percent of its work force employed in a high-tech field. Flint, Mich., ranked first in this category, Gary, Ind., ranked last.

Youngstown-Warren ranked fifth in violent crime. Toledo was first in this category, Birmingham, Ala., finished last.

Youngstown-Warren ranked last in per-capita income at $27,720. Harrisburg, Pa., scored highest in this category with $35,067.

Youngstown-Warren fell into last place in categories for corporate presence, new business employment growth rate, patents and research and development funding.

For a full report of the findings visit: cfweb.cc.ysu.edu/psi/economic_research.htm.

Source: YSU’s Department of Regional Studies, “A Comparative Evaluation of Business
and Innovation Climate Indicators in the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman MSA,” June 2007