The PNC Foundation has approved a two-year, $100,000 workforce development grant to the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber to help strengthen the chamber’s efforts to remove barriers to employment and connect more Valley residents with job opportunities.

The award, announced Thursday, brings the foundation’s total investment to $150,000 over three years

“At PNC, we’re committed to helping communities thrive,” said Ted Schmidt, PNC regional president for Youngstown. “This investment builds on our ongoing partnership with the chamber to address the region’s workforce challenges.

“Together, we’re working to connect more residents with meaningful jobs and strengthen the economic future of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys.”

According to the chamber, workforce participation in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys averages 57%, below the state and national rates of 63%.

The chamber and Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries are working to close that gap by addressing barriers identified in a 2024 Community Needs Assessment they conducted. The study, based on surveys, focus group interviews and statistical data, found the top obstacles to employment are transportation, childcare, and mental health or substance abuse issues.

Over the past year, the chamber and Goodwill, joined by community leaders and business partners, have worked to address these challenges through public discussions and community convenings. They have focused on issues such as child-care costs and availability that keep potential workers out of the labor force. The chamber has advocated for childcare solutions and co-hosted webinars on topics including mental wellness in the workplace and reentry opportunities for justice-impacted residents.

The chamber also is part of Goodwill’s newly formed Assembly for Workforce Solutions steering committee, leading efforts to overcome the identified barriers.

In addition, the chamber recently launched the Population and Talent Expansion Council, a group of business and community leaders exploring ways to grow the local talent pool to meet the region’s increasing workforce needs.

All these initiatives were undertaken with the financial assistance of a PNC Foundation grant awarded in 2024 and will continue to expand under PNC Foundation’s renewed funding.

“We’re grateful for the PNC Foundation’s continued support of our efforts to help marginalized individuals overcome barriers to employment,” said Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the chamber.