Click HERE to watch the entire 75-minute interview with a group of Ohio newspaper editors, including representatives from the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator.

Gov. Mike DeWine said he supports a proposal to establish an economic development district to focus on job creation and business growth in the Mahoning Valley.

During an interview with a group of Ohio newspaper editors last week, DeWine said he’s been approached by officials with the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber and other area business organizations to permit Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties to create its own economic development region under JobsOhio, the state’s private economic development corporation.

The four counties at the moment are part of the 18-county Cleveland region with Cleveland-based Team NEO as JobsOhio’s network partner.

“The idea, the proposal from the leadership in the Mahoning Valley would be to create a seventh” district of the four counties, DeWine said. “I have told the leadership in the Valley that if they can figure this out from a dollars-and-cents point of view that I’m in favor of it. I prefer a local leadership on this. There’s some good arguments for being able to do that. We hope that will get done.”

DeWine said he’s heard from those in the Valley that the area is “separate and distinct from Cleveland and that they really need their own district. So that, to me, makes sense.”

While he supports the idea, DeWine said, “The money has to get figured out and frankly, the business community has to figure out: can they come up with the money they need to be able to do that and to have their own independent group?

DeWine added, “The argument that’s been made to me, and I think it’s a sound argument, is that you would have one group representing the Valley and could focus on the sale to businesses of the advantages of the Valley.”

Matt Englehart, communications manager with JobsOhio, said JobsOhio is not ready to “go beyond what the governor has said at this time,” however, he confirmed the organization is in talks with DeWine’s office, Team NEO and stakeholders in the Valley “about how to structure economic development efforts to best serve” the region.

The chamber approached DeWine’s office with the proposal in March, Guy Coviello, the chamber’s president and chief executive, said.

“Because of the groundwork performed by JobsOhio and the DeWine administration, Ohio is in the midst of a generational opportunity to grow the economy. The Lake-to-River region is feeling the impact with an overwhelming number of leads and projects for development,” Coviello said. “Business leaders here recognize that, and also recognize the unique assets in the Lake-to-River region, and decided to explore whether it made sense to form a new JobsOhio region.”

It’s unknown now just what the region, except geographically, would look like; whether it would be under the chamber or stand alone, Coviello said.

The governor’s office and JobsOhio are “bullish” on the local region’s economy, and “we are fortunate that they are diving deeply into those details,” Coviello said.

Alexa Sweeney Blackann, chamber board member and former president of the former Sweeney Chevrolet and Sweeney Buick GMC dealerships in Boardman, is helping lead the local effort.

“We’ve been working on it for months, and we’re still working on it. Hopefully, we’ll have something to announce in the next few months,” she said, expecting the plan to be finalized by the end of the first half of the year.

She said work that’s been done by multiple organizations across the four counties, from the chamber to Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to the port authorities to local governments to nonprofit and philanthropic groups to “come together in ways they have not done before” laid the foundation for the creation of a new JobsOhio partner for the region.

“Then it’s really the governor who deserves the credit,” she said. “He really took a special interest in the Valley and believes we have set the stage with those organizations working together in ways they have not done before … and believes we have a lot of opportunity, that we have so much interest, so much site interest in what this four county has to offer. It’s really his support getting this project off the ground.”

DeWine said there are a lot of positive things occurring in the area that will lead to further job growth.

One, he said, is the Valley’s location — halfway between Cleveland and Pittsburgh and within a day’s drive of 60% of the population of the United States and Canada.

Another is Youngstown State University, DeWine said.

“Youngstown State is vitally important to the future of the Valley,” he said. “I’m optimistic about where the Valley is going.”

Sweeney Blackann said the effort shouldn’t be viewed as separating from Team NEO, but “a unique opportunity,” given the logistical attributes, geography and opportunity for development within the region.

As for financing, Coviello said resources have been committed to “ensure that the financial wherewithal will be there to sustain this.”

“Through Valley Vision 2050, the commissioners from Mahoning and Trumbull have committed unprecedented levels of support for economic development, including a large chunk that can be used for this purpose,” he said. “Raising the necessary funds will not be an issue on our end.”

Valley Vision 2025 is an economic development and recovery project. Mahoning County commissioners committed $1 million toward the plan. The Trumbull County commissioners, however, guaranteed only $500,000. They agreed to commit another $500,000 in mid-2024 if organizers can show progress toward their goals.

The plan aims to stabilize and expand existing businesses; increase public awareness of arts and cultural industries; increase public participation in workforce training; expand education and employment opportunities; and increase stability of nonprofit organizations and businesses.

Partners include the Western Reserve Port Authority, Eastgate, Valley Economic Development Partners, Youngstown Foundation, the chamber and others.

rselak@tribtoday.com

dskolnick@vindy.com