Appalachian Regional Representative Caleb Knowlton, Sen. Sherrod Brown’s Office, East Liverpool Mayor Bobby Smith and others will be joined by Gateway Group Chairman Thomas Chema from the Small Business Administration to establish an East Liverpool business hub. Watch as they announce $650,000 in funding. (Photo by Christy R. Garabrant)
EAST LIVERPOOL — The East Liverpool Community Revitalization Project (ELCPR) announced Monday morning that it has received $650,000 in funding through the Small Business Administration (SBA). This fund is the hub.
“The hub aims to foster entrepreneurship and will focus on the arts, entertainment and hospitality sectors and other industries that have historically fueled the East Liverpool economy,” True North Holdings said. Marketing Director Drew Dawson said. “This project marks a significant step in the revitalization of East Liverpool, positioning the city as a center for creative and economic growth.”
According to a media release, the hub will be a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to innovate, collaborate and grow their businesses.
Gateway Group’s Thomas Chema said the entrepreneurship program had been in the works for several years, but now that the funding had been raised, the project could move forward.
The funds will be routed through the SBA, a federal agency. Chema said. This funding is a Congressional-directed appropriation from Sen. Sherrod Brown and is administered through the SBA.
“The Senators have done a great job for us here in East Liverpool. People like Senator Brown understand East Liverpool and what we need, and we want to help them get somewhere. So instead of putting money into an agency, we specifically designated it here for a specific project that we know can do all sorts of great things. It’s money. It’s an important program,” Chema said.
Chema pointed out that students at East Liverpool High School can take an entrepreneurship program, but what happens after that? The program is open to anyone who is an entrepreneur in the tri-state area, not just students who have graduated from the program.
“In the 19th and 20th centuries, this region was one of the most entrepreneurial in the country. Unfortunately, the 1960s and ’70s were not good for us, but The family spirit is still there,” Chema said.
He also said that although the hub focuses on the arts, culture and hospitality industry, anyone with an entrepreneurial idea can come to the hub for support.
Chema said there is no current location for the hub, but there is good communication with Kent State University about housing the hub until a permanent location for the facility is found. He also feels there are some buildings that would be a good fit downtown, and he plans to rent them initially if he finds a good location, but he couldn’t make any commitments until the money is raised, but now He said he was able to sign a contract. .
Mayor Bobby Smith said he is grateful to all those who work hard to make East Liverpool what it once was. He also said he believes the time has come to stop saying things as they have been and start saying things as they are.
Smith said everything the city is currently working on, including giving more vitality to neighborhoods by focusing on arts and hospitality, especially areas that bring in more people, will increase the number of people by 50%. He said that he believes that this can be expected. He gets really excited about all kinds of things.
Asked if he saw the hub as an opportunity to create a brighter future for young people in the area, Mr Smith said: “Absolutely.”
Chema said the hub is not trying to teach someone to be an artist or work in the hotel industry, but to help people understand the business side of their profession or hobby and turn that interest into a business for themselves or their community. He said it would help change. whole. He also said this definitely applies to young people who have great ideas but don’t know how to make them a reality. He also hopes that companies in the tri-state area with ideas for how to expand their product base or market will want to take advantage of the hub and its resident entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs-in-residence are experts in things like accounting, drafting legal documents for businesses, marketing and business plan writing.
The hub will be a multi-mentor mentorship for people who want to explore business opportunities.
The hub also works with other hubs in Akron, Youngstown, Warren and Pittsburgh, among others, and has a variety of focuses that can be used to support local business development in East Liverpool.
Mr Dawson said the focus on arts and hospitality stems from the fact that it is ingrained in the local DNA, with many artists in the area, and he was looking for an easy starting point to point them in the right direction. He said that art is a place where there are many artists. A small business where entrepreneurship can be started in the area.
“We used to be a very entrepreneurial space, and now we’re moving away from that. So this is just a starting point for us to move in that direction,” Dawson said. Ta.
Pursuing art and hospitality is like returning to the region’s roots, which began with pottery and ceramics, and looking to those strong roots for new beginnings. He also pointed out that while the region has had success with music festivals, many musicians don’t know what they can do with their music from a business standpoint.
ELCPR chairman Rick Dearinger said: “This is a pivotal moment for East Liverpool.” “These projects and funding represent a major step in the revitalization of our city.”
According to a press release provided by Dawson, ELCPR is actively seeking entrepreneurs who share its long-term vision for East Liverpool. “By fostering partnerships with regional entrepreneurial networks and supporting local businesses, this project is poised to create lasting economic and cultural impact.”
If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved with ELCPR or the future plans for this initiative, please contact Dawson at draw.dawson@truenorthllp.com or 330-708-9608.
Once funding is awarded, work can begin to establish the hub as a business entity. The first step will be to appoint a board of directors to oversee the effort, with Mr. Dieringer serving as president and managing director.
The pilot program is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025, but Chema said it is not ready to announce details of the pilot program.
This latest investment, along with the $4.2 million Thompson Building renovation and construction of the new True North headquarters, is a key component of the city’s broader revitalization strategy, according to a media release. These projects will bring workforce housing, retail space and high-tech jobs, strengthening East Liverpool’s role in Ohio’s economic recovery. ”
ELCPR is working to establish East Liverpool as a vibrant hub of creativity and entrepreneurship.
“ELCPR’s mission to foster entrepreneurship in the arts, entertainment and hospitality sectors is exactly what East Liverpool needs to drive innovation and economic growth,” said Drew Cooper, ELCPR board member. . “By providing local entrepreneurs with the resources and support they need, we are laying the foundation for a thriving creative economy that will benefit our entire community.”
Founded in 2015, ELCPR has nine directors and is a community-focused initiative aimed at revitalizing East Liverpool by fostering entrepreneurial initiatives in the arts, entertainment, hospitality and other key industries. I am. They are committed to creating sustainable economic growth by supporting local businesses and leveraging partnerships with regional entrepreneurial hubs.
kgarabrandt@mojonews.com
WELLSVILLE — Members of the Wellsville Volunteer Fire Department are challenging all local fire departments…
The jury trial for a Lisbon man accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife last year has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. April.
LISBON — The victim of a July 7, 2022 knife attack identified defendant Joseph Boyer as his assailant.
The incumbent state representative representing the Mahoning Valley has raised significantly more money than his challenger…
