To build a strong region requires us to collaborate across government borders — county, city and state.
The cross-border collaboration between Northeast Ohio and Pennsylvania provides an example of how that can be done. As mentioned previously , state and local officials on both sides of the state line are working together to develop talent and growing industries.
The effort involves representatives of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Lawrence and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania.
The collaboration’s first steps to develop the region will be revealed at an open summit on April 23 in Sharon, Pa.
Here’s a preview from a recent article in the Youngstown Vindicator: Bill Turner, Trumbull County One Stop administrator, said the Interstate Region will ultimately work to unveil new industries, retool current industries and identify a work force for developing industries in the area.
“This really makes sense because of the Pennsylvania and Ohio connection in the work force and industry,” Cene said. “We wanted to bring focus to those things in the area.”
Dr. Robert Garraty, of the Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board, said collaboratives such as the Interstate Region are not more popular because many municipalities and neighboring states fail to see how they are connected through work force and industry, but the federal government likes to see joint efforts when spending federal dollars.
Lisa Patt-McDaniel, Ohio Department of Development Workforce and Talent Division, said the current state of the economy is another reason the Interstate Region is needed. “We know that regional collaboration is needed in any economy, but especially in this economy,” she said.
