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Economic development plan presented to Economic Action Group
YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown is the city of “YOU.”
The new branding for the city was unveiled at the Economic Action Group’s 18th meeting Tuesday at the Youngstown Business Incubator.
YBI staff wore T-shirts with “THE CITY OF YOU” written above the city’s name.
R.J. Thompson of Youngstown Design Works, which collaborated with the city, designed a new logo along with the city’s updated website, which will go public in the winter.
The rebranding is part of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University’s development of an economic-development plan to be released in September. The center received a $220,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration in January 2014 to develop the plan.
Ron Chordas, associate provost for university outreach and executive director of the center, sought feedback on the plan’s strategic portion presented at the meeting.
Goals include filling the gaps in the workforce, improving downtown and creating an “anchor institution consortium” consisting of YSU, hospitals, banks, the city and others to direct and focus economic-development activities.
“I’m really pleased with the product,” Chordas said. “It was a team effort.”
Part of the plan also includes an opportunity-sites catalog, which highlights areas for economic development. Nick Chretien, a student researcher at the center, said it has identified sites on South, Belmont, Mahoning and Poland avenues and Market Street.
The final catalog will be designed by Youngstown Design Works, he added.
Chordas said the center is looking for feedback by Aug. 15 from community stakeholders, who will be invited to the September summit when the actual plan is presented. The center will then be involved with developing funding to implement parts of the plan, he added.
Dominic C. Marchionda, city-university planning coordinator for the center, said it will then be up to institutions and members in the community to move the plan forward.