Businesses urged to focus on seniors

By Denise Dick

BOARDMAN — Mahoning County’s population of people 60 and older is expected to double in the next 15 years, and businessman Ed Muransky encourages businesses and entrepreneurs to plan accordingly.

“We’ll need more access to health care, more home health care, more assisted living, more nurses,” Muransky, CEO of the Muransky Co., told attendees Friday morning at a Good Morning Boardman event at Antone’s Banquet Centre.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber hosted the breakfast meeting of community and business leaders.

The average health-related professional’s salary is about $50,000 annually, but if the facilities to serve that growing population aren’t developed here, they will develop in Pittsburgh, Akron and other communities, Muransky said, and people will go to those cities for those jobs.

“Don’t wait for someone else to change the Valley,” he said. “The Valley is going to change one or two at a time.”

Muransky developed the Surgery Center at Southwoods, and his Southwoods Commons office complex is being constructed in phases along Market Street.

He recently bought the former Fonderlac Country Club, renovated it, made some policy changes and renamed it the Lake Club.

Muransky said the location of the surgery center, which opened in 1996, is ideal for access from all over the county.

“Boardman has truly become the downtown of Mahoning County from a business standpoint,” he said.

Larry Moliterno, township trustees chairman, said the township continues to be a “great place to do business.

In the last year, the chamber has hosted 19 ribbon-cuttings at new or expanded businesses in the township, he said.

Moliterno told attendees that one of the goals of a newly developed master plan for the township is marketing Boardman to both residents and businesses.

The Boardman plan includes short-term goals, such as hiring additional police officers, and long-term objectives such as establishing a community beautification plan.

Dr. Linda Ross, director of instruction for Boardman schools, told those attending Friday’s breakfast that the district works to maintain its excellent report-card rating by using data.

Students’ Ohio Achievement and Ohio Graduation test scores are analyzed to determine areas of strength and weakness. Goals are then set to improve the areas where improvement is needed, and tutoring or other intervention is provided to assist students who may need more help.