couldn't agree more.
| February 02, 2010
As I mentioned last year, the future of the Mahoning Valley is dependent on the success of Youngstown State University. Under the leadership of Dr. David Sweet, enrollment has risen from 11,787 in Fall 2000 to 14,425 in Fall of 2009, a 22% increase in nine years. With new dorms being constructed next to Ursuline off Bryson and Elm Streets, enrollment is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. Despite the University's success and growth in recent years, it should come as no surprise that there are only a few other major success stories in our Valley, Humility of Mary Health Partners being one of the other few examples. If our citizens truly want to the Mahoning Valley to make a comeback, we will need to rely on Youngstown State University to be our catalyst to bring in good paying jobs for our area.A major reason for the urban comebacks of cities like Columbus and Pittsburgh are due to the popularity and growth of such universities like The Ohio State University in Columbus and the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. These two universities, which combined have over 80,130 students, have been a catalyst for technology, health care, science, and business growth within the greater Columbus and Pittsburgh metropolitan areas. When their students graduate, they do not have the same difficulty finding a job like YSU students are accustomed to here in the valley, because those areas are thriving with small business growth.
I truly believe that in order for a city/metropolitan area to grow, we need a strong, vibrant university to allow our adolescents to get a top quality education to prepare them for the 21st century economy. For the Mahoning Valley, that university is Youngstown State. For this area to make a comeback, Youngstown State will need to lead the way.
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