U.S. Congressman Tim Ryan

Innovative partnerships move Valley forward

Historically, the Mahoning Valley has been a leader in emerging industries, from steel and automobiles in the 20th century to laying the groundwork for a new phase of collaboration and prosperity in the 21st century. It is my goal to make the Valley a national leader in energy technology and green manufacturing.

Since I took office in 2003, I have worked with local elected officials and business leaders to transition to a knowledge-based economy. We recognize that the future of our once-great manufacturing communities is linked, and that our individual and collective success depends upon the creation of new products, technologies, and wealth.

Led by an innovative, interstate partnership between government, business, universities and nonprofit agencies, the Cleveland-Pittsburgh Tech Belt Initiative represents a potential annual economic impact of over $1 billion in research and development. By joining forces, former competitors in northeastern Ohio and southwestern Pennsylvania have significantly improved the probability for shared success and economic expansion throughout the region.

In the 17th District, unprecedented local collaboration has begun to foster significant economic investments and public-private partnerships. The cities of Youngstown and Girard worked together to secure necessary commitments for property and infrastructure improvements that will leverage $20 million in federal stimulus funds to set the stage for $1 billion in private investment in the former Briar Hill works.

In addition, the city of Warren has teamed with Cleveland’s NorTech to establish an incubator that will support the development of sustainable energy firms – utilizing $2.2 million in federal dollars and $500,000 from the state capital budget – to create jobs and draw new investment to the region.

We are also helping to create local and regional synergy by securing federal investments for infrastructure, local nonprofit agencies, and our research partners at Youngstown State University, Kent State University, the University of Akron and the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM).

In a technologically-advanced society, the sheer volume of problems to be solved and connections to be made has shifted the responsibilities of leadership away from any one individual to collections of leaders working together in creative group. Collaboration is not only desirable, it is necessary for success.

I strongly believe that the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation are key players in providing the leadership and vision that will help redevelop our community as a great place to work, educate and raise our families. They have already made a significant impact in this region, and I stand ready to work with them in the future.

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