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The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber is leading a delegation of about 80 local business, elected, nonprofit and education officials to the state capital to engage top law and policymakers on some of the most pressing issues in the Mahoning Valley.
The Columbus Drive-In is one day, Wednesday, at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
Among the state officials scheduled to meet the local group are former U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, president / CEO of the Ohio Chamber, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, House Speaker Jason Stephens and Gov. Mike DeWine.
The chamber launched the event in 2018 to try to level the playing field for the Valley against Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, colloquially known as the three "Cs" regarding funding.
"We felt our fair share wasn't coming back to the Mahoning Valley," said Guy Coviello, regional chamber president / CEO, especially in comparison to those cities.
"When searched for reasons why, it became obvious. As a community, we weren't identifying our priorities and asking with a single collective voice," Coviello said. "Nor were we effectively communicating with our elected delegation or sufficiently supporting our elected delegation when they're in Columbus trying to deliver for the Valley."
Previous Drive-Ins have resulted in millions of dollars of state funding and policies important the region, officials said.
For example, the effort helped secure state funding for the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission, which in turn parlayed that support into more than $1 billion of federal investment at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center.
The key issues on this year's agenda are:
• The Appalachian Communities Grant Program, which is being used to develop a strategy to increase the local population as a means to develop a workforce;
• Investments in additive manufacturing for America Makes and more broadly, according to Coviello, to build a state hub of innovation focused on manufacturing in Youngstown.
Already, the Youngstown and local economic development organizations have partnered to advocate some of the $150 million set aside in the state's budget for such hubs for one anchored to America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute;
• Funding for BRITE Energy Innovators in downtown Warren to help Ohio companies connect into U.S. Department of Energy opportunities;
• More help for Flying High Inc. to expand its workforce development programming, especially for underserved demographics like returning citizens; and
– Support for the OH WOW! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children's Center for Science & Technology in Youngstown to partner with school districts on STEM education.
Said Coviello, "We have heard time and time again from state and federal policy makers that these events get their attention and make a significant difference in their decision-making. The participants should be proud of what they are accomplishing."
Josh Prest will attend on behalf of EOMAC for the group's work at the two military installations, including securing funding to resurface the runways at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in anticipation of the arrival of eight new C-130J planes to the air reserve station in Vienna.
The facilities share the runways.
Prest is policy and advocacy director for EOMAC, but will transition to executive director in June.
"The Drive-In is a great way to advocate for the Mahoning Valley on a variety of issues directly with our elected officials, both in the legislative and executive branches," said Prest, who also runs Prest Strategies, a firm that focuses on government affairs, advocacy and issue and project management work.
"Coming down to Columbus to advocate in addition to advocating with our elected officials right here in the Mahoning Valley is crucial," he said. "The chamber does a great job bringing people together to go down to Columbus and to go out to (Washington) D.C. to meet with individuals."
The chamber also has a Washington, D.C., Fly-In, which this year is June 7-8. Its purpose is similar, but on the federal level.