Local agencies report on ’11 job creation, retention

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley’s major economic-development organizations have released an annual report card highlighting gains in the amount of jobs both created and retained by their work during 2011.

In all, the 13 agencies reported that 2,700 jobs were created or sustained in 2011.

Some of the reporting agencies are the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp., the Youngstown Business Incubator and the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber.

The majority of the year’s expansion and attraction projects occurred in shale-related companies, which accounted for 30 percent of the growth, while the food industry accounted for 22 percent.

Together, the agencies were able to place 41 job- seekers in positions using more than $100,000 in on-the-job training program funds.

They also assisted 32 companies in obtaining $44 million in federal government contracts.

Throughout 2011, the agencies met with 26 foreign companies, foreign government agencies and international economic- development groups.

Extensive efforts also were made in working with shale-related companies to position the Valley as a supply chain for Utica and Marcellus shale activity.

“The cooperation between these development and support agencies is the driving factor in each project becoming a success,” said Sarah Boyarko, Regional Chamber vice president for economic development, retention and expansion.