Alexa Sweeney Blackann, interim CEO of Lake to River Economic Development, speaks to local village, city and Columbiana County officials at a recent meeting hosted by the Columbiana County Port Authority. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)

LISBON — Officials from local villages and towns as well as Columbiana County government learned how Lake to River economic development can help local communities during a recent meeting.

“We are excited to introduce our new Lake to River team,” said Penny Traina, CEO/Executive Director of the Columbiana County Port Authority, during the event hosted by CCPA at its Lisbon headquarters.

In late April, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the creation of Lake to River Economic Development, a new region in the JobsOhio network to cover Columbiana, Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. The four-county area was previously included in Team NEO, which is another JobsOhio network partner for Northeast Ohio, which includes Cleveland.

A press release issued at the time of the announcement stated that “The four-county region, anchored by Youngstown, was the state’s only major metropolitan media market without its own JobsOhio region. The addition of the Lake to River region completes the JobsOhio network.

Lake to River means exactly that: the system extends from Lake Erie in the north to the Ohio River in the south. The press release states that Lake to River is “dedicated to transforming Eastern Ohio’s economic landscape by fostering growth, innovation and community development. »

Alexa Sweeney Blackann, Interim CEO of Lake to River Economic Development, spoke briefly about creating JobsOhio as an economic development engine for the state of Ohio that is not government funded but funded private. She said this allows JobsOhio to make long-term commitments to businesses. She also said the Lake to River region came about because business and community leaders talked to the governor about these areas being self-governing, the counties having relationships with Pennsylvania and West Virginia and being considered part of Appalachia and were in a different media market. than Cleveland.

“This is a huge opportunity for our four counties” » said Blackann.

In addition to Blackann, Lake to River staff members featured included: Vice President of Engagement and Investor Relations Michael McGiffin; Sarah Boyarko, vice president of economic development; director of project management David Wilaj; director of site strategies Jason Neal; and Director of Talent Engagement Matt Falter. Research director Michelle Phillips was also part of the team, but she was not present.

McGiffin spoke and said “Every time I’m in this room, there’s a huge collaborative effort,” commenting on how communities and public officials work together in the county. “I don’t see that anywhere else.”

He said he has two jobs: customer service to make sure communities get what they need and keeping tabs on funding. He said it’s important to have investment from Columbus, but it’s even more important to have local participation.

Boyarko also spoke and said that she “oversees the support of local expansion projects and the attraction of new investment to the region as well as our active business retention program.”

All of the work done by Lake to River members in Columbiana County is done in partnership with Traina and her CCPA team, she explained.

“We are really excited about this next stage of the partnership. » » said Boyarko.

She asked that if anyone knows of a project in their community or if a business is growing, they should contact Traina and his team, who will then contact Lake to River.

“Let’s see how we can meet your needs” she said.

The meeting began with introductions of all those present and remarks from County Commissioner Roy Paparodis and state Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Columbiana. Paparodis said the commissioners fully support the cause and want the region to have a voice. Blasdel said it’s all about collaboration and she needs to listen and provide tools in her toolbox. She also highlighted some pending legislation regarding the Ohio River that she believes will open up opportunities for communities along the river.

The announcement provided an opportunity for attendees to learn more about JobsOhio’s vibrant communities and small business grant programs during a session from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Timberlanes complex in Salem. To RSVP, contact Wilaj at [email protected] or call 234-255-0954.

To learn more about Lake to River, visit www.laketoriverohio.org.

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