I'm considering moving back to Youngstown from Columbus, but find myself conflicted. I miss my family and friends, but driving through Youngstown and the surrounding suburbs is extremely depressing. The loss of jobs is also disheartening. I looked to the 2010 plan hoping, and actually expecting, that part of the plan would focus on economic growth. Unfortunately, according to the plan, "The Youngstown’s New Economy working groups had intentions of analyzing the city economy in relation to the regional economy,with a more detailed analysis of commercial centers and downtown economic functions. But budget constraints and timing have pushed this component of the plan to an identified project in Youngstown 2010. "http://www.youngstown2010.com/plan/final_plan/Ytown2010_chapter2.pdf . The plan appears to focus on zoning along with attempts to make the city, "cleaner, greener, and better planned and organized." It also focuses on the reality of a city stabilized at 80K, rather than 170K as originally planned for in the 50'2 and 70's. While that makes sense and is a great start (things will at least look nicer), I would like to know what the plans are for economic development and attracting new businesses to the city. How are businessed being "sold" on Youngstown? Is there even an effort to do this? While it's great to publicize these efforts in the local media (and in some cases the national media as well), I would like to be assured that additional efforts are being made which focus on courting new businesses to the area and that if I would like to move back to Youngstown (and truly, I would), that I would have a job to which I could move back. Lack of a job (despite a bachelor's from YSU and master's from Kent State) is the reason I had to relocate in the first place.
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I'm considering moving back to Youngstown from Columbus, but find myself conflicted. I miss my family and friends, but driving through Youngstown and the surrounding suburbs is extremely depressing. The loss of jobs is also disheartening. I looked to the 2010 plan hoping, and actually expecting, that part of the plan would focus on economic growth. Unfortunately, according to the plan, "The Youngstown’s New Economy working groups had intentions of analyzing the city economy in relation to the regional economy,with a more detailed analysis of commercial centers and downtown economic functions. But budget constraints and timing have pushed this component of the plan to an identified project in Youngstown 2010. "http://www.youngstown2010.com/plan/final_plan/Ytown2010_chapter2.pdf .
The plan appears to focus on zoning along with attempts to make the city, "cleaner, greener, and better planned and organized." It also focuses on the reality of a city stabilized at 80K, rather than 170K as originally planned for in the 50'2 and 70's. While that makes sense and is a great start (things will at least look nicer), I would like to know what the plans are for economic development and attracting new businesses to the city. How are businessed being "sold" on Youngstown? Is there even an effort to do this?
While it's great to publicize these efforts in the local media (and in some cases the national media as well), I would like to be assured that additional efforts are being made which focus on courting new businesses to the area and that if I would like to move back to Youngstown (and truly, I would), that I would have a job to which I could move back. Lack of a job (despite a bachelor's from YSU and master's from Kent State) is the reason I had to relocate in the first place.
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