Despite challenges, 2017 won’t be all doom, gloom

Despite the MANY challenges confronting the Mahoning Valley this year, which we detailed in our New Year’s Day editorial, there is nonetheless good reason for a fair degree of optimism and hope for our region over the coming 12 months.

Though we are anxious about the economic and political uncertainties that await the Valley this year, we also recognize that 2016 did not end without its fair share of positive developments and that 2017 does not begin without some room for spillover confidence.

From growth in our tech sector to progress in downtown Youngstown redevelopment to a near billion-dollar investment in clean-energy production, the Valley can boast many 2016 assets, some of which are bound to increase in value throughout this new year.

Prime among them is America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute based in downtown Youngstown. In 2016, it continued to expand as the nation’s leading partner in additive manufacturing and 3-D printing research. Projects in partnership with such blockbuster corporations as General Electric, Honeywell Aerospace and Boeing continued to fuel its growth in 2016.

America Makes clearly has established itself as one of the enduring positive legacies of the administration of President Barack Obama, who spearheaded its creation in 2012. Its success should be clearly evident to the incoming administration of Donald Trump, which should continue Uncle Sam’s support and funding.

SUCCESS AT YBI

Speaking of Youngstown’s growth as a tech hub, the next-door neighbor to America Makes made significant advancements in 2016. The internationally acclaimed Youngstown Business Incubator acquired and began massive renovations of The Vindicator’s former office building for use as a startup center for advanced manufacturing enterprises.

Elsewhere downtown, ongoing rejuvenation continued at a brisk pace. Among projects of note included the full opening of the renovated Wick Tower apartment complex, completion of the massive Wells Building renovation and early work to transform The Downtown Circle deli into the downtown’s first full-line grocery store in decades.

On tap for construction and completion this year include two significant pieces of downtown reinvention. The NYO Property Group is continuing renovations to the 110-year-old landmark Stambaugh Building into DoubleTree Hotel opening by year’s end. A few blocks down from Central Square, a 3,250-seat amphitheater and a riverfront park are expected to open to complement the Covelli Centre’s increased success in attracting big-name acts and tens of thousands of patrons downtown.

Up the street, Youngstown State University enjoyed a banner year as well. For the first time in six years, enrollment increased and the urban college received many prestigious honors, not the least of which is selection of one of its students as a Rhodes Scholar. Physical growth continued with the opening of the University Edge apartment complex with plans on tap for substantially more student housing and retail growth in the university corridor this year. 2016 ended with the university’s football team advancing to the FCS national championship game on Saturday, an apt metaphor for the optimism and positive spirit that pervade YSU as 2017 classes begin.

$900 MILLION ENERGY CENTER

Elsewhere in the Valley, ground was broken last summer for the $900 million Lordstown Energy Center. The massive project to construct a plant to generate electricity from natural gas will move into high gear this year with approximately 500 workers involved in its construction. The economic impact of that project to the Valley economy over the next 40 years is predicted to be about $14 billion.

To be sure, the projects and success stories noted above represent only a partial slice of 2016’s success stories. Others include the growth of downtown Warren’s Tech Belt Energy Innovation Center, renewed excitement at the recently renovated Stambaugh Auditorium, and ongoing commercial growth in the Valley’s largest suburban communities of Boardman and Austintown.

In a new year sure to be filled with many uncertainties and challenges, the promise of the plethora of uplifting projects and developments must not be forgotten in our collective community consciousness.