Why Launch Your Tech Start-Up in Youngstown?
Location, location, location. The real estate mantra drummed into every buyer’s head is just as relevant to a start-up. Technology has made it possible for entrepreneurs to run a business from virtually anywhere. So why locate your start-up or even your established company to Youngstown, Ohio? In this article, we’ll discuss and go into the benefits.
Youngstown’s physical location played a major factor in the city’s success during the Industrial Revolution. Ideally located by waterways and connected by railways, Youngstown is centered between two of the U.S.’s major commerce centers – New York City and Chicago. Today, easy accessibility to both are considered essential. Whether you are seeking funding or clients — by air, you can be in either city in less than two hours. As well, since Youngstown is centrally located between the Cleveland Hopkins Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport, it gives you lots quite a set of options for direct flights to New York, Chicago and many other major cities. You also have easy access to the Akron Canton Airport for even more flight choices. If the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport is ever developed and opened up in the future, this will be ultra convenient and ideal. For now if you have a private jet, this is where you’d park it and wouldn’t have to travel that far to access it whenever you need or want to.
Cultural Enjoyment
The Butler Institute of American Art is a world-renown art museum in Youngstown and is a premier feature of high-culture in the area.
Youngstown is what you could consider a small town as far as population is concerned. Nonetheless, it has cultural amenities usually found only in larger cities. The Butler Institute of American Art, known as America’s Museum, is a world renowned museum. Housing over 20,000 individual works of art, the Butler’s mission is to collect and preserve works of art in all media created by citizens of the U.S. In addition, the Butler houses the first museum dedicated to new media and electronic art.
Adding to the rich cultural experiences found in Youngstown, is the Youngstown Playhouse, one of the oldest continuously operating community theatres in the country. The Playhouse’s mission is to present quality theatre arts performances, provide educational initiatives, as well as establish and maintain community partnerships while supporting and participating in the revitalization of the city of Youngstown.
Youngstown Playhouse on Glenwood Avenue on the city’s south side
Rounding out the cultural scene are the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra for those who have an affinity for classical music, and the Ballet Western Reserve for more of the high cultural enjoyment.
You will find plenty of opportunities to satisfy your cultural appetite and after you’ve taken in a show or visited the Butler, you can count on satisfying your food appetite for a great meal. The Youngstown area is home to restaurants offering dining experiences that rival those found in New York, Chicago, New Orleans and other foodie favorite cities. The city is also home to Handel’s Ice Cream, recognized by National Geographic as one of the top ten ice creams in the world. The area’s summer festivals, which showcase the area’s diverse ethnicity, are a delightful way to spend a warm summer evening. To usher in the fall, the Canfield Fair, Ohio’s largest county fair, in existence since 1846, is an experience that you will not soon forget and will look forward to repeating year after year.
Work / life balance is vital and there are few better places in the the city to enjoy life through the lens of nature than in Mill Creek Park, which many regard as the crown jewel of Youngstown.
Mill Creek Park is often referred to as the crown jewel of Youngstown. It is a great relaxing area and an aesthetically pleasing way to pass from the western edge of the south side of town to the west side.
Hiking trails, bike trails, golf, tennis, boating, nature preserves, historic sites, exquisite gardens, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and much more await you at the 2,600+ acre park. It’s ranked among the largest urban parks in the U.S. During the winter months, there are thrills to be found sledding on the hills inside of the park.
If you’re more into skiing, then you are just an hour’s drive from Boston Mills and Brandywine. Sports fans will also find lots to love living in Youngstown, with major league football, basketball, soccer and hockey games all within a 90-minute drive in either Cleveland or Pittsburgh (Note: Pittsburgh doesn’t have a professional basketball team, but does have the Penguins in the NHL, while Cleveland doesn’t boast a hockey team.) If college football is your thing, you can head downtown and watch the YSU Penguins, who were dominant in the 90’s being four-time National Champions and making 11 playoff appearances. The games are still spectacular as they play against many well-known teams and you can catch pre-NFL talent.
For those who are music buffs, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is less than an hour away, and is a world attraction. A quick trip to Cleveland will have you in the halls of legends. It’s really a great benefit to be that close to such a historical attraction. Make it an extended time off and take a weekend to explore Geneva on the Lake, where you can visit some of Ohio’s finest wineries set against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Erie.
Academic & Tech Environment
Behind every great economy is a great University and Youngstown State University is poised to propel Youngstown forward, no pun intended. Ranked as the 7th most affordable college in the nation, YSU is also recognized among the best in the nation for its online programs. YSU is also Ohio’s first and only college dedicated to STEM.
This is Jones Hall at Youngstown State University, which is the 7th most affordable college in the U.S., and which holds osme of the finest STEM programs in the nation. This provides a great amount of talent for any company that operates in the Mahoning Valley to recruit from.
Your company can tap into the resources of the nationally recognized Youngstown Business Incubator chartered to facilitate the creation of high-value businesses through collaborative partnerships that promote innovative technologies and long-term sustainable employment opportunities, with a focus on Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Women and Minority Owned Enterprises.
There is something to be said for being a big fish in a smaller pond. Cities like San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Austin, and Chicago see thousands of tech start-ups each year. The competition for visibility is intense. In addition to vying for investors, start-ups need to form partnerships with Universities, local governments, economic development groups, and other vital resources that nurture the growth of emerging companies. When you are one of thousands, the competition is intense, and it is much more difficult to garner the support you need to reach the next stage. In a smaller city and one that is looking to make a comeback, like Youngstown, you will have a much greater chance of standing out in a less crowded field.
History In Business
Youngstown has been the launch pad for many successful businesses and people. The Good Humor ice cream bar was created in Youngstown; the Warner brothers, founders of the world famous Warner Brothers Studios lived in Youngstown; Clarence Darrow first practiced law in Youngstown; Thomas Bopp, co-discover of the Hale-Bopp comet is a YSU graduate; Bob Stoops, former head football coach at the University of Oklahoma is from Youngstown; and Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., a pioneer in the development of shopping malls, was born and raised in Youngstown. Youngstown is waiting for its next legacy. Is it you?
Affordability
Commercial and office space is a key factor in deciding where to set up shop, if your business is indeed needing to operate in a brick and mortar location. If you’re looking for a place ot establish a headquarters for your company with low overhead and reasonable taxes, then Youngstown is a place to consider. The average price per square foot for office space in Youngstown is much lower than most of the nation. If your product or service is mostly or entirely accessible online and isn’t dependent upon foot traffic, then Youngstown is an ideal location in order to keep costs low. As well, the presence of a tech-oriented or web-driven business is a good way to help foster the future-forward culture in the area as it gives confidence, affirmation, or inspiration to an area that is in great need to get its foot into the 21st century business models. This is to say that you’d be highly welcome to the area by people and organizations who are desiring to see the Mahoning Valley (where Youngstown is situated) make a turn towards tech-driven endeavors. We’re positive that the municipal governments will also be thrilled to see your company migrate to the area as well.
For your employees, and of course yourself, the residential real-estate is not only extremely affordable, but it is beautiful and has a great deal of character. Sporting the classic Midwest architecture, there are so many fine brick homes with lots of space, as well as double-family structures that could also serve as real estate investments. These homes which can be acquired for quite a reasonable price can also be used for guests who need to travel to your offices on business — eliminating the need for hotel or air BnB expenses. For companies that are needing to relocate employees or offer housing incentives, this is another benefit to the affordable real-estate in Youngstown.
Closing Arguments
As you can see, Youngstown is a city that is an ideal geographic location (an hour between both Pittsburgh and Cleveland); has a moderate climate so you get to experience all four seasons and not any of them on extreme levels of weather; is home to a university that can provide a great deal of emerging talent in the STEM sectors; offers a great deal of high cultural entertainment as well as leisure (with the downtown revitalization project having been complete some 5 years ago and offering a remarkable night life); and has affordable real estate as it relates to commercial and residential. It truly is a city that can soon be on the ascension, once companies begin to take up occupancy and contribute to the revitalization of the industrial and entrepreneurial culture, and inspire future forward ideation.
Have a look at the area through the web or make a visit to see the metro area for yourself in person. Take some time to soak in the environment and visit the places and things mentioned in this article, and see if you can feel the possibilities in the air. Hopefully, your company will be on of many that take Youngstown Forward.
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