Valley native seeks to promote airport

Staff report

VIENNA

YNGAir, a group led by a Springfield Township native, wants to help the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport secure additional air service and move forward.

“I believe in that area. ... And I think Youngstown could be a diamond in the rough to attract high-tech businesses, the next Silicon Valley,” said Doug Kibby of North Canton, 43, originally from Springfield Township in Mahoning County.

Kibby will make a presentation to members of the Western Reserve Port Authority, which runs the airport, today to describe the ways YNGAir can become a voice for the community.

Kibby, who is a business consultant, says he would like to establish YNGAir as a nonprofit corporation and have a website that will enable supporters of the airport to communicate.

Already, he has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/YNGAir-Coalition/128579103860841 to get things started.

“YNGAir is a grass-roots organization with a primary goal of providing support for new air service” at the airport, he said in an e-mail.

“Our other objectives are to work with the airport and [Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber] by being advocates for increasing and expanding YNG’s competitiveness and promote it as a continued success to compete in the global marketplace,” he said.