WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners are working with the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau on its second phase of an economic tour to highlight businesses and infrastructure in the county’s northeast region today.

The tour, described as a “brainchild” to connect county officials with local businesses, aims to foster economic growth and better understand the needs of rural communities. Commissioner Denny Malloy, who spearheaded the initiative, stressed the importance of face-to-face engagement with business owners to strengthen county representation.

“We can’t represent someone if we don’t know what they do,” Malloy said during the commissioners’ weekly workshop on Wednesday. “This is about rolling up our sleeves and seeing what we can do for them.”

The tour will begin at Strimbu Trucking in Brookfield, a company with a global reach, and continue to W.I. Miller and Sons Farms, a major agricultural operation farming more than 5,000 acres and exporting products worldwide. Other stops include Heritage Hill Farms in Kinsman, known for its infrastructure contributions, and Scenic Lakes and Trails along the Shenango River, a key economic and recreational asset.

The itinerary also includes visits to D&R Speedway and Gorilla Fireworks, businesses that employ local residents and attract visitors, and concludes at Uniserve, an aluminum processing plant in Hubbard. The tour will end at a festival at a cigar shop in Hubbard, which is expected to draw hundreds of visitors.

Beth Carmichael, executive director of the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, highlighted the tour’s success in engaging businesses, noting that Uniserve’s Jeremy Corolla specifically requested inclusion.

“Businesses are actively reaching out to say they want to be involved,” Carmichael said.

The tour follows a successful 2024 event in the county’s northwest region, where officials visited businesses such as a cabinet shop and a trailer manufacturer employing dozens of workers. Malloy said the initiative addresses the historical neglect of rural areas, which have been “grossly underserved by the government for years.”

Representatives from state and congressional offices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Regional Chamber, the Western Reserve Port Authority and Eastgate Regional Council of Governments are expected to join the tour, alongside county department heads.

Future tours are planned for the southeast and southwest regions, with additional focus on Warren, Girard, Niles, Liberty and Newton Falls.