Population and Talent Expansion

To meet the rapid rate of job creation in the region, the Chamber is co-piloting an effort to grow the Valley’s population by retaining, returning and receiving talent, as well as increasing workforce participation rates by removing barriers to employment.

The objectives include:

• A Marketing & Media campaign to promote living and working in the Valley that also engages high school students and international college students to make them aware that career opportunities exist in the region.
• A program to receive and return professionals in the high-demand fields of health care, technology and advanced manufacturing.
• Create coalitions to remove the top barriers to employment­—transportation, childcare, behavioral health and substance abuse—using a Community Needs Assessment created by the Regional Chamber and Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries. The PNC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PNC Bank, has given $50,000 to the collaborative effort to remove barriers through communications, training and long-term planning efforts.

Learn more below:

LINKS TO RELEASES

Community Needs Assessment launch - https://regionalchamber.com/media/latest-news/2024/10/17/Regional-Chamber-Partners-with-Goodwill-Industries-for-Community-Needs-Assessment

PNC support - https://regionalchamber.com/media/latest-news/2024/12/09/YoungstownWarren-Regional-Chamber-Receives-50000-PNC-Foundation-Grant-Supporting-Initiative-to-Help-Expand-Local-Workforce

LINKS TO MEDIA

https://www.wfmj.com/story/52146385/youngstownwarren-regional-chamber-and-goodwill-work-to-grow-mahoning-valleys-workforce

https://businessjournaldaily.com/assessment-reveals-barriers-to-employment-in-the-valley/

https://www.vindy.com/news/local-news/2024/07/goodwill-chamber-partner-on-workforce-needs-study/