Connecting Youngstown to Ohio’s Next Economy
A Youngstown Forward proposal for workforce transportation between the Mahoning Valley and Central Ohio
Read the analysisIndependent civic & economic analysis
Ideas for a stronger, better-connected Youngstown.
Youngstown Forward examines the systems that shape growth—and develops practical proposals for improving the city’s economic position.
What we examine
Structural conditions, not surface-level fixes.
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Economic capacity
Investment, business formation, earnings, and a stronger municipal tax base.
Infrastructure & mobility
Roads, rail, airports, utilities, and access to larger labor markets.
Technology & workforce
Digital skills and modern work that connect residents to wider opportunity.
Regional relevance
Population, metropolitan strength, and Youngstown’s position between major markets.
Featured analysis
A closer look at the systems shaping Youngstown
Latest research
Ideas, proposals, and explainers
The Cost-to-Benefit Analysis of Extending I-680 In Youngstown
Investing in Youngstown’s Future: A Cost-to-Benefit Analysis of Extending I-680 This is presentation a high-level analysis relating to Part II of the Imagine A Youngstown ideation series for economic resurgence—Revamping The Freeway. It is…
Read the analysis→Multiplier Effect: A Definition & How It Relates To Youngstown
How the Multiplier Effect Works Initial Spending (Injection): The process starts with an initial expenditure, such as the construction of a rail system. For Youngstown, this might be $1.5-$2 billion spent on infrastructure—paying contractors,…
Read the analysis→GMP: Gross Metropolitan Product Explained
GMP, or Gross Metropolitan Product, is the total economic output of a metropolitan area, analogous to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the national level. It measures the market value of all final goods and…
Read the analysis→Why Youngstown Needs a Passenger Rail System Now
For decades, the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has grappled with the economic fallout of a declining steel industry. Once a powerhouse of American manufacturing, the region—known as the Steel Valley—has faced population loss,…
Read the analysis→Youngstown’s Rental Market
A Data-Driven Dissection of Trends and Challenges Youngstown, Ohio, a city forged in the fires of steel and reshaped by decades of decline, presents a rental market that mirrors its broader economic struggles. This…
Read the analysis→Youngstown At A Low Level View
A Comprehensive Economic and Urban Assessment Youngstown, Ohio, once a steel titan of the Rust Belt, stands today as a city grappling with the long shadow of deindustrialization. This analysis, grounded in the latest…
Read the analysis→A long-term view
Youngstown should think and act like a place with a future.
That means stronger institutions, modern infrastructure, greater connectivity, productive investment, and clear measures of progress.
Read about the initiative