The Vindicator / Allie Vugrincic Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine talks about the future of business in the Mahoning Valley and the importance of cooperation before the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber’s Salute to Business Thursday at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman.

BOARDMAN — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he was “very optimistic about the future of the Mahoning Valley,” when talking to local business leaders during the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber’s Salute to Business Thursday morning at Mr. Anthony’s.

“I’ve never seen this valley as united, and people coming together,” DeWine said during his speech.

He called Ohio unique in that the focus often falls on local governments, calling it a “state of city-states.” He said those local governments are setting priorities and making clear to state legislators what they need — and those needs tend to defy party lines.

“The issues we focus on in the valley are really not partisan issues,” DeWine said, noting creating jobs and improving early education are hot local topics.

Of course, DeWine addressed Lordstown, about which he said he is often questioned. The news was more-or-less that there is no news, but the state remains willing to help a business — whether it be General Motors or someone new — get back into the Lordstown plant.

“This is vitally important to Ohio…we stand ready as a state … we made that very clear to General Motors,” DeWine said.

He said he was “cautiously optimistic” about the future of that specific area.

Before his speech, in a media preview, DeWine responded to questions about Workhorse, a company that has reportedly been eyeing the Lordstown plant, by saying the state can only help them secure the location after they raise enough of their own funds. Workhorse Group Inc. is a company that produces electric vehicles for fleets.

“Their job at this point is to go out and raise the money,” DeWine said. He said if they do get that money raised, the companystill would have to convince GM to sell them the facility.

DeWine, who congratulated Salute to Business award recipients at the beginning of his speech, ended it with addressing Dayton, where earlier this month nine people were killed and more than 20 injured in a mass shooting.

DeWine, who spent time as a prosecutor, said he’d visited crime scenes before, but had never seen anything like the scene at Dayton. Shortly after the attack, he released a 17-point plan for reducing the possibility of a similar incident happening again in the state.

DeWine highlighted the importance of identifying problems related to mental health and getting at-risk people early help. He spoke at length about a proposed personal protection order, which would establish a due process for legally taking weapons away from a person deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. He said a family member or law enforcement officer would have to bring a person they believe is at-risk of violent behavior in front of a judge, who would determine if their weapons should be removed.

He said the due process would not infringe on second-amendment rights.

DeWine also spoke about increasing penalties for people convicted of violent crimes who are found to have weapons.

“The essential function of government is to protect the community,” DeWine said.

avugrincic@tribtoday.com

Award winners

• Business Professional of the Year

James Dascenzo, CPA, principal, HBK CPAs & Consultants

• Business Advocate of the Year

Michael Conway, executive director, Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation

• Nonprofit Professional of the Year

M. Brigid Kennedy, president, Ursuline Ministries

• Entrepreneur of the year

Mark Lamoncha, president and co-owner, Humtown Products

• Small Business Professionals of the Year

Jeff Curry, Lance Romeo and Jessica Smith, co-owners, Sheely’s Furniture & Appliances

• Salute to Labor Achievement Award

Bill Keel, AFL-CIO labor liaison, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley