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BUSINESS SEMINAR SCHEDULED: The Business Resource Center at Valley Economic Development Partners will hold a lunch and learn event on business and accounting principles 1 to 2:15 p.m. Thursday at the Wean Foundation, 147 W. Market St., Warren.
The presentation will feature Tim Petrey, managing partner at HD Davis CPAs, CEO at White Glove Payroll and founder of the Penguin Collective. He will discuss the importance of financial management, understanding financial statements and how they correlate to a business's success or failure, and success stories and lessons learned.
Lunch will be provided.
RSVP by 3 p.m. Tuesday to Matt Longmire at matthew@valleyedp.com or 330-759-3668, Ext. 111.
VALLEY STEM TO HOST INNOVATION DAY: Valley STEM + ME2 Academy will host STEM Innovation Day, a hands-on event designed to inspire and engage students in grades six to eight in the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The event is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 27 at the academy, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, Canfield.
The day will be an engaging and educational experience for middle school students, providing them with hands-on activities and the opportunity to explore the academy and all it has to offer.
The event is free and includes lunch for all attendees. Due to limited space and resources, interested participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to secure their spot.
To register, visit www.mahoningctc.com or contact Jessica Cene at jessica.cene@mahoningctc.com or 330 729-4000, Ext 1214.
HIGH SCHOOL TECH INTERNSHIP OPEN: The High School Tech Internship program is now open for Ohio students to enroll. The goal of the program is to provide Ohio businesses with the tech talent they need while providing students with valuable work experience at an early age.
To enroll, students or school districts must contact the intermediary in their region to be connected to a business that is hosting an internship experience.
Interns will perform job duties similar to what is expected of an entry-level employee in technology roles that focus on software development, data, cloud and IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband / 5G, advanced mobility and other tech-focused roles.
Ohio employers hosting interns will be reimbursed up to 100% of the wages paid to interns, up to $5,000 per intern. Employers are also eligible to earn bonuses for each student who earns certain industry-recognized credentials. Interested businesses can contact the intermediary in their region to apply to host summer interns.
Intermediaries allow the program to be administered between schools and businesses.They also support the growth and administration of the internship program, including helping place students with participating employers.
Last year’s program created the opportunity for 510 Ohio students to participate in internships with 141 employers across the state.
The northeast Ohio intermediary is Youth Opportunities Unlimited. Email to edillenbeck@youcle.org.
FIRM SOUGHT MORE THAN $19M IN DECEMBER: KO Consulting in Youngstown announced they applied for $19.1 million in funding for their clients in December. The funding that was applied for is applicable to a wide range of clients,including school districts, municipalities and nonprofit organizations.
The firm consults business owners, nonprofits and government entities with economic development tools and strategies that will make project planning and development successful.
The grant funding is only a portion of the value we applied for throughout 2023. The firm will announce in early January the total amount of funding applied within the year.
New businesses
RIBBON CUTTING: A ribbon cutting to mark the grand opening of Las Casa Mexicana, 7334 Market St., Boardman, was scheduled for Wednesday.
Las Casa Mexicana offers authentic Mexican food and drinks.
People on the move
NEW DESIGNER: Jo Reese Coupland and Jackie Dell of Reese Floral Art, 49 Vienna Ave., Niles, welcome Bill Billion as a new designer to the more than 70-year-old business.
Billion is a graduate of Warren Western Reserve High School and the horticulture program. He has 41 years of experience in the floral and greenhouse business.
Billion began working at age 16 at Kunkel Florist in Warren, then associated with Higley’s and Creative Design in Niles. Billion has been associated with Michael’s Arts and Crafts in Niles since 2001.
Billion has been on board of directors and past president of the Niles Historical Society, Friends of the McKinley Memorial Library Board, Partnership for a Greater Niles and is board chair and board member of Niles Community Services since 2002.
RICHBERG JOINS CHAMBER: Vernard Richberg has joined the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber as director of economic opportunity and inclusion initiatives. In the role, he will drive initiatives that provide economic opportunities for businesses, particularly among diverse groups.
Richberg will collaborate with stakeholders to design and implement programs that foster economic growth, job creation and entrepreneurship; be an advocate for transformational change; and foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. He will also spearhead strategic projects and programs, creating a more inclusive workplace while unlocking economic opportunities for existing and potential members.
Having served as chair of the chamber's DE&I Committee since 2020, Richberg will continue to convene and oversee the efforts of the group and serve as a liaison to the chamber's staff, board and community partners. He will assist with public outreach campaigns; provide technical assistance, resources and relationship management support for diverse businesses as a chamber member benefit; create new member benefits for diverse businesses; and oversee an ambassador program for diverse business owners to network at chamber events.
Richberg, founder & CEO of digital technology company Micro Solo Digital and founder of EntreNetwork Entrepreneurial e-Learning Management Platform, is a certified business advisor who has dedicated much of his career to supporting minority-, women- and veteran-owned startups and small businesses.
He worked for more than five years at the Youngstown Business Incubator as managing director, director of supply chain diversity and regional director of the Youngstown Minority Business Assistance Center, after prior opportunities that included the position of financial advisor at Morgan Stanley for 10 years.
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