State Rep. Tim Ryan speaks during a Mahoning River Corridor Mayor's Association meeting Friday at Covelli Enterprises Headquarters while local leaders listen. Ryan spoke about moving towards the future of the Mahoning Valley and the importance of collaboration.

WARREN — The overall message to the Mahoning River Corridor Mayors Association on Friday was the importance of cooperation among communities.

“One of the advantages we have in this community is that we are very well connected with each other,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Howland, the keynote speaker at the annual legislative meeting, which took place at Covelli Enterprises in Warren.

He said the Mahoning Valley’s recent successes have come to fruition through community cooperation — which presents a united front to state and federal legislators and gives the Valley political leverage.

“Often Columbus has remarked about the collaboration in the Mahoning Valley,” said state Rep. Michael J. O’Brien, D-Warren, after the meeting. He said such collaboration is not found in other parts of the state. When the leaders of the Mahoning River region speak in unison, it makes it easier for the area to secure capital funds, he said.

Also at the talk were other state representatives, Mahoning and Trumbull county commissioners and representatives from area economic drivers such as the Western Reserve Port Authority.

Girard Mayor James Melfi said the mayors association meeting — where “almost everyone was in the room” to discuss the future of the community — brings attention to the area’s needs.

“It brings to light our plight in a clear and dramatic fashion,” said Melfi.

Hubbard Mayor Ben Kyle said the coalition also works toward a common good.

“We do not share a border with the river, but our city works together with those communities to promote economic development,” said Kyle.

In speaking about the Mahoning Valley’s future, Ryan pointed to additive manufacturing, electric vehicles and automation.

He said the Valley must “get on the surfboard and ride the jobs of the future.”

He pointed to the Lordstown Motors Corp., which has purchased the massive former General Motors car plant in the village and intends to produce electric trucks and pay good wages. Ryan also spotlighted the GM and LG Chem battery-cell manufacturing plant, which is set to bring more than 1,000 jobs.

In Youngstown, where a “tech belt” initiative is underway, there will soon be an automated vehicle testing lane. Ryan said though some people may find automation and autonomous vehicles “scary,” the real question lies in how the changing technology can help the area.

“You can either be scared about it or figure out how it helps us,” he said. He said companies are moving toward automation to increase productivity. “If we embrace this and look like the area that really understands this…they’re going to want to be here.”

Ryan said the other key to developing the area is creating a quality of life that will keep young people here. This includes redeveloping the river corridor for entertainment and outdoor recreation.

He pointed to Warren, where in recent years the private-sector downtown has flourished with the renovation of the Robins Theatre and the opening of several new restaurants on or near the river.

avugrincic@tribtoday.com