Grow Mahoning Valley

Grow Mahoning Valley (GMV) formed in 1997 under the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to help secure federal and state funding for critical development-related infrastructure projects. Comprised of public infrastructure officials, business leaders and labor representatives from Mahoning and Trumbull counties, GMV takes major infrastructure projects and prioritizes them using a 13-category scoring system. The group then works collaboratively to secure funding for these road, water and sewer projects.

Since GMV’s inception, more than 50 priority projects totaling $463 million have been funded. 

Applying the unique approach that a community’s problems can only be resolved when business, government and labor work toward a common goal, this committee developed an overall strategy for identifying infrastructure projects that promote economic development and then focusing on obtaining more state and federal dollars for those projects.

In order to secure support and avoid duplication of efforts, GMV includes the local metropolitan planning organization and other regional organizations, the planning organizations of Youngstown and Warren; highway and sanitary engineers and planning commissions from Trumbull and Mahoning counties; and other public-sector officials.

The partnership has proven that business, labor and government leaders can put aside their inherent differences to address specific issues and improve the quality of life in a region. GMV has received several accolades, including: recognition by Dominion East Ohio Gas in 2002; the National Economic Development Council in 2003; and Business Facilities Magazine, winning the publication's prestigious Platinum Award for the best public/private/labor partnership in 1999.