Name: Building a Thriving Workforce: Fair Wages, Local Growth, and the Future of Youngstown’s Economy
Start: 2025-09-18T15:00:00-04:00
Location: 151 W Wood St, Youngstown, OH 44503-1034, United States

$Building a Thriving Workforce: Fair Wages, Local Growth, and the Future of Youngstown\u2019s Economy$

Hosted by the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor and in collaboration with the Center for Working Class Studies at YSU, we are having a panel discussion on how wages that reflect the true cost of living, worker value, and industry standards play a key role in attracting and keeping talent in the Valley, attracting new businesses, and strengthening local neighborhoods. Panelists will discuss:
• How competitive compensation impacts worker retention and productivity.
• The ripple effects on small businesses and community stability when residents have stronger spending power.
• The importance of aligning workforce development, employer practices, and public policy with long-term economic vitality.
• Stories of innovative employers who have successfully adjusted their pay structures while still growing.
Moderated by Genna Petrolla, our speakers include:
YSU Economics Professor AJ Summel
Grace Heffernan, Northeast Ohio Workers’ Center

This event is free and open to the public, please RSVP so we can plan appropriately.
Light refreshments will be served.