New Youngstown gets a nod

By Jim Cossler

Vindicator

“The Surprising New Youngstown!” That’s a phrase gaining currency across the country, and around the world, as people are learning of the new story of Youngstown from the likes of NPR, the BBC, and from publications such as The Economist, Inc., Entrepreneur, and shortly Business Week.

Certainly the Youngstown Business Incubator has played a role in the renaissance of my hometown. But, the story is being played throughout our community.

It’s being told in the $1.46 billion expansion of our manufacturing capacity in just the past two years at places like V&M Star, GM, Exal Corp., Patriot Specialty Metals and Reinforcement Systems.

Research institution

It is being told at Youngstown State University that is rapidly repositioning itself through its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) College as a research institution to drive economic development and where a new $34 million Williamson College of Business Administration building will open shortly with a renewed focus on entrepreneurship.

It’s being told by Congressman Tim Ryan who knows it’s far more important to chase after funding for research centers than to chase after funding for convocation centers, with the fruits of his efforts already blossoming at high-tech local businesses such as Zethus Software, Syncro Medical Innovations, and Fireline TCONN, Inc., and in the creation of the TechBelt Energy Innovation Center in Warren.

It’s being told by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber that understands that our business community needs to be, and clearly can be, globally competitive, and where their trade missions to China and Israel already are bringing very promising leads to Valley businesses like AST2 and M-7 Technologies.

It is being told through the return home of our very talented Diaspora like Jack Scott, the former president/COO of the $5 billion global engineering firm Parsons Corp., and Jeff Hermann, vice president of the New York City-based media giant Nielsen Co.. Both of them now work from the YBI campus to assist in the growth coaching of our portfolio companies. Two amazingly accomplished gentlemen who could live anywhere but who have chosen to live here.

It’s being told in the relocation of technology companies to Youngstown, like AST2 from Utah, Revere Data’s research center from India, and shortly, software companies from Austin, Texas, and Miami, Fla. Relocations we could not even begin to imagine just a few years ago.

Exciting place

It’s being told through our again vibrant arts, music and entertainment communities that have been revitalized by the ideas and inspiration of our returning Diaspora in those fields and who have made downtown Youngstown the region’s most exciting place to live, work and play.

But, it’s perhaps being told best by I Will Shout Youngstown, a blog that covers all that is iconic, innovative, and creative in the Surprising New Youngstown. It’s written by John Slanina, who has literally lived, worked, and studied all over the world, before coming home this year to take an employment position with a YBI portfolio company. If you cannot participate in the amazing changes happening in the Mahoning Valley, you are cordially invited to read about them here: http://shoutyoungstown.blogspot.com/.

The Surprising New Youngstown!

We have a whole new story to tell.

Jim Cossler is the chief executive officer and self-described “Chief Evangelist” for the Youngstown Business Incubator.