In conjunction with U.S. Rep Tim Ryan and Youngstown State University, the Regional Chamber welcomes YSU alumni to GROW HOME,  a focused effort to attract businesses to the Mahoning Valley and to help existing business owners succeed and stay in the area.

For those who left the area, the campaign encourages YSU alumni to return home to the Mahoning Valley in order to build or establish a business.

The Regional Chamber's Economic Development Action Team can help by providing alumni with assistance in securing project incentives, strategic information, available building and site data, and project financing.

The Youngstown-Warren metro area is a great place to start or expand your business.

The area features:

-    Transportation infrastructure with east-west and north-south routes enabling Just In Time logistics.

-    The only metro area with effective overnight ground access to New York City and Chicago.

-    Is positioned at the heart of the Cleveland-Pittsburgh business/tech corridor.

-    Environments to grow and nurture startup tech-based businesses.

-    An available and skilled workforce.

-    More than 95 higher education campus locations within a two-hour drive.

-    A low cost of living.

-    Affordable housing, consistantly one of the top metro areas.

-    Rich cultural, social and recreational activities.

-    A tradition of exciting sports entertainment.

-    Outstanding health providers, integrated with world-class centers such as Akron Children's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 
The Grow Home campaign is an effort to encourage successful YSU alumni to invest in their home community.  This is an opportunity to play an active role in our future economic success and reverse our community's brain drain.
- Tim Ryan, U.S. Representative

Many YSU Alumni who left the community after graduation might not know about the positive economic news that is occuring as we speak.  Grow Home is a great mechanism for us to get the word out.
- Walt Good, Regional Chamber - Vice President,
Economic Development Business Retention and Expansion

The Grow Home campaign dovetails with YSU's committment to advancing the regional and state economies.
- George E. McCloud, YSU Vice President for Advancement