Center City Youngstown Business Survey:

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Center City Youngstown Business Survey
A Framework to Coordinate Economic,
Workforce
and Community Development
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Objective To use data and other empirical
information to gain a better understanding of
economic activity in Center City Youngstown.
The study is not intended to reveal an ultimate
fix but to support rational and informed
discussion. It provides a starting point that key
stakeholders gain insight about the
interdependencies of business firms, government,
education, arts and culture organizations and
health services. It can serve as an ideal
opportunity for leadership to isolate and invest
in an Ohio historic community. It may help shape
Youngstowns regional future economic environment
whereby existing key assets are leveraged to
increase economic growth and a higher quality of
life necessary to attract talented workers.

• The Center City Youngstown Initiative is intended
  to be an initial quantitative framework for
  coordinating economic, workforce and community
  development in Youngstowns economic hub
• This report gathers and examines data that will
  provide support for near term decisions,
  priorities and action plans
• Will include economic trends shaping Center City
  Youngstowns current economic circumstances

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Methodology

• Inventory of the largest businesses and
  institutions in Center City Youngstown to
  ascertain the following data
• Employment and wage levels
• Annual operating budgets
• Capital expenditures
• Total number of patrons, visitors, students,
  patients, and constituents
• Businesses and institutions identified employed
  at a minimum 10 workers or were considered to be
  vital arts, cultural or entertainment venues

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Methodology

• Businesses and institutions were contacted
  through a mailed survey
• 126 business and institutions were surveyed, with
  60 responding either by way or mail or after an
  extensive period of follow-up telephone
  conversations
• Information acquired through the survey was
  supplemented by second quarter 2008 employment
  and wage data from the Ohio ES202 Network (the
  most recent available)

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Survey Respondents
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Survey
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Survey Results and Findings

• Businesses and institutions in Center City
  Youngstown employed 14,414 workers and accounted
  for 523.6 million in wages
• Four largest employers were
• St. Elizabeth Health Center (2,355)
• Youngstown State University (2,155)
• Mahoning County (1,171)
• City of Youngstown (815)

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Four Largest Employers
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Top Ten Employers
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Survey Results and Findings
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Survey Results and Findings

• The period between 2000 and 2009 saw a gradual
  uptick in total employment in Center City
  Youngstown
• Total employment in 2000 was 12,934 with 485.6
  million in wages
• In 2004, employment stood at 13,105 with 558.3
  million in wages
• By 2008-2009, employment had grown to 14,414 with
  523.6 million in wages

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Average Wages, 2000-2009
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Employment, 2000-2009
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Survey Results and Findings

• Of the 13,247 employees, volunteers and contract
  employees identified through the survey only,
  48.4 were full-time workers
• Only 3 lived in downtown Youngstown
• The majority lived either in Mahoning County, but
  not Youngstown, or outside Mahoning County

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Survey Results and Findings

• Businesses and institutions in Center City
  Youngstown that responded to the survey have
  served over 2.4 million patrons, customers,
  students, constituents, and patients over the
  past year
• Arts and culture institutions alone served 1.3
  million patrons over the past year
• 69 of the visitors to Center City Youngstown
  resided in either Mahoning County, but not
  Youngstown, or outside Mahoning County

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Survey Results and Findings

• Average annual salaries for full-time employees
  were relatively even across the five sectors
• The health care sector had the highest average
  annual salary at 41,524
• Arts and culture institutions reported the lowest
  average annual salary for full-time employees, at
  28,369
• Capital expenditures varied wildly across the
  five sectors
• The education sector spent an average of 22.3
  million on capital expenditures
• YSU spent a total of 64.6 million on capital
  expenditures, including 50 million on the
  Williamson School of Business

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Conclusions

• Modest Center City Youngstown workforce reported
  14,414
• Four large employers within Center City
  Youngstown St. Elizabeth Health Center,
  Youngstown State University, Mahoning County, and
  the City of Youngstown
• Most Center City Youngstown workers and visitors
  live outside the city of Youngstown
• Center City Youngstown is an activity center
• Capital expenditures reported (152 million) from
  a variety of sources
• Draws residents county-wide for arts and cultural
  functions
• Draws workers county-wide and beyond
• Draws volunteer workers
• Relatively small number of residents

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Implications
Can we hold on to what we have? Where do new
recruits come from? What amenities do they
seek? Can we grow? To what extent can the four
large employers be leveraged as engines of
growth within Center City Youngstown? Can we
encourage smaller, but growing sectors within
Center City Youngstown? What is the role of YSU
as large employer and center of knowledge? To
what extent does YSU reach out to firms in the
region? Do firms locate to be near YSU
technology/expertise? Does YSU spend
locally? Can a core taxpayer base of residents
be built up the Center City? What income
densities are required for residential services
to be provided?