YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Business Incubator is expanding into Ashtabula County with the addition of a new business program coordinator, a woman who formerly led the United Way of Trumbull County.

YBI announced Monday that Ginny Pasha has joined its staff to work with entrepreneurs to support small business development in the eastern corridor of Ohio through what’s called the Lake to River Small Business Success program.

It will help emerging and small business development in Ashtabula County through services that include entrepreneurial counseling, contract procurement, loan packaging assistance, business management, accounting principles, networking opportunities, marketing strategy and completing federal / state certification processes.

A key component of the program is to help small businesses secure Minority Business Enterprise and Economic Dividends for Gender Equality certifications, which is the mechanism by which Ohio diversifies its supply chain, according to YBI.

“Working with our partners, this program will strengthen the recovery of the local economy by assisting small businesses in accessing capital, pursuing procurement opportunities, developing business plans, adopting advanced technologies (in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing settings), and supporting startups,” said Barb Ewing, CEO of YBI.

Support is through a $1.35 million grant YBI received in March from the Appalachian Regional Commission to support small business development in Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Ashtabula, Jefferson, Belmont and Monroe counties.

The award was part of a $21 million package supporting 21 projects serving 211 coal-impacted counties through an initiative of the commission that targets federal resources to communities affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations and coal-related supply chain industries.

The state, the Veale Foundation and local philanthropy also is providing support for the local program.

Pasha stepped aside as president and CEO of the United Way of Trumbull County on June 30. She had been with the agency since 2013.

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