Wean Foundation to present research findings

Staff report

WARREN

The Raymond J. Wean Foundation will host a presentation and discussion Thursday about one of its research projects.

The event will take place from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the D.D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center at Mill Creek MetroParks, 123 McKinley Ave., Youngstown. The research was conducted by the foundation’s Fund for Our Economic Future.

The report is a collaboration at private and corporate foundations that seek to improve the economic competitiveness of Northeast Ohio.

The research considered factors associated with economic growth in 115 midsize U.S. metropolitan areas in a post-recession economy.

“This is a unique opportunity for community leaders to learn about what these findings tell us about the Youngstown/Warren area,” said Jeffrey Glebocki, foundation president.

Students receiving college degrees particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, combined with technological innovation in higher education are important to the area’s economic success, according to the study. STEM degrees likely serve as a boost for many successful metropolitan areas.

“Northeast Ohio is at an important point in its evolution. In 2011, the region saw its first full year of job growth since the Great Recession, though still far from levels seen at its pre-recession peak in 2000,” according to the study.

The data from the study can be downloaded at www.whatmatterstometros.org and reservations for Thursday’s event can be made online at www.theciviccommons.com/whatmatters.

In addition to the Wean Foundation, the presentation is co-sponsored by the Trumbull 100, the Youngstown Foundation and the Community Foundation of Western Penn- sylvania and Eastern Ohio.