Valley ranks seventh for business attraction

By Don Shilling

It was the first time the Valley has been chosen since the survey began 30 years ago.

The Youngstown-Warren metropolitan area is ranked among the best in the country for business expansions.

Site Selection magazine said the area tied for seventh in the nation among midsized metropolitan areas for new and expanded facilities last year.

It is the first time the area has been in the Top 10 since the rankings began in 1978.

“Although 2008 was a challenging year, there were very significant local project announcements that garnered national attention,” said Walter Good, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber vice president.

Good cited the start of a $350 million renovation of the General Motors’ Lordstown complex and a new $64 million steel processing plant in North Jackson by Republic Special Metals.

Good said the ranking validates what chamber officials tell companies about the area.

“It’s great publicity. Site Selection is highly regarded by site selectors and people in decision-making positions,” he said.

The magazine recorded the local metropolitan area — which includes Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Mercer County in Pennsylvania — as having 24 projects last year.

Dayton was ranked first among mid-size areas with 41 projects. Both areas were listed in the categories with areas that had populations between 200,000 and 1 million.

The ranking did not count retail stores, government or school buildings or hospital facilities. To be counted, a project must involve at least $1 million in investment, create 50 jobs or add at least 20,000 square feet.

The Houston area was named the top metropolitan area among those with populations of at least 1 million. It had 179 projects. Sioux City, Iowa, was named the best performer among the smallest metropolitan areas. It had 20 projects.

In addition, Ohio was named the state with the most new and expanded facilities. It was presented with the Governor’s Cup by the Atlanta-based magazine.

Ohio recorded 508 projects. It was followed by Texas, 497 projects; Michigan, 296; Pennsylvania, 290; and North Carolina, 245.

Ohio also won the Governor’s Cup in 2007 with 399 projects.