Helping businesses to successfully operate by using the power of the Web is an essential component of the Youngstown Technology Initiative. Building and promoting web-based businesses that capitalize on connectivity, mobile and web applications, while using data to operate in modes that are not dependent on foot-traffic or reliant upon physical location. In fact, much of the effort is put into eliminating as much physical overhead as possible. By ‘physical overhead’, we mean office and retail space, vehicle fleets (and associated costs), and in many cases — merchandise.
The goal is to develop a number of businesses that begin as web-based only, but grow into start-ups that require hiring business-tech savvy people to run bring them to growth phase.
With the elimination of office and retail space needs, this also relieves entrepreneurs and business-owners of the need to apply, pay, and wait for permits and building inspections or other administrative red-tape to be cleared in order to even begin operations. As well, it is a cost that can be eliminated from their operational expenditures altogether in many cases. It also goes without saying that with the elimination of these costs, it opens the door to many more people who otherwise would not be able to embark on a business venture due to many of the start-up and operational costs that are often associated with physical needs.
In addition to helping businesses succeed with the cost-eliminating nature of the Web, we also are seeking to replace the reliance upon big corporations that have no vested interest in Youngstown, but who are more than happy to have a presence in the area which only results in exploitation of the economically disadvantaged people who are dependent on them for extra income or as their entire source of sustenance. This is also applicable to area businesses such as restaurants and retail shops that rely on delivery and mobile ordering. We are working with RunningH20 to develop viable alternatives to these platforms to provide an equitable choice in the shared-economy space.
These businesses will be locally-based and locally-registered, will use local banks (as much as possible), and be beacons of tech-based, Web-operating, data-driven companies. Locals, especially younger people, will be able to look around and see the presence of innovative firms that call Youngstown home and will be inclined to do the same. Furthermore, with the success of these endeavors and the growth of the businesses, it will empower and position them to be able to recruit talent to the area in high-tech employments positions such as programmers, project managers, and more. With the presence of several high-tech businesses with needs for programmers systems architects, and data-center technicians, this brings about the need and incentive for the school systems to being to churn out students with tech skills who will then have an environment which allows them to manifest these skills, and of course — remain in the area rather than move away!