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		Issue Date
Local economic development conditions		In This Issue – 5 places to start a biz

boardman, ohio

Boardman, Ohio is considered to be a new hotbed for retail businesses and restaurants. It is the home of the DeBartolo family as well as the famous Southern Park Mall. The Boardman Plaza was one of the first plaza type shopping centers in the country. Boardman is home to many well-known retail businesses like Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart, Fin, Feather and Fur, Kohl’s, DSW, Buckle, Sears, Macy’s. Local restaurants include Michael Alberini’s, Springfield Grille, Café Capri, Blue Wolf Tavern, Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden.

Boardman is included in the reporting of the state unemployment rate. According to an article from July 2016, DepartmentofNumbers.com stated that the unemployment rate for the entire Youngstown area is 6%, which is 1.2% higher than the average in the state. This means that there is plenty of opportunity for employment from local talent.

There are four colleges or universities within 30 minutes of Boardman. The accessibility of continuing education is readily available. The Big Ten has Penn State University to represent in the area. Jim Tressel’s Youngstown State Penguins are a quick trip to downtown Youngstown. Eastern Gateway Community College is an inexpensive alternative to a University. Kent State has a Trumbull County branch that offers technology and business classes.

The United States Department of Labor website showed that in 2015, the salaries in Boardman are generally lower than the U.S. average. Food Prep and Server salaries are approximately 11% lower than the U.S. average. Management salaries are 22% lower than the US average. Having low average salaries is desirable for businesses wanting to move to the area.

Boardman does not have an income tax, although there is a county sales tax which is 7.25%. Property tax is a main source of income as well as investments made by the fiscal office as stated on Boardman Township’s website for the Fiscal Office.  

In Sperling’s Best Places article in 2016, Bert Sperling stated that cost of living is at 72% of the national average. This means that the majority of purchases for food, health, housing utilities and transportation will cost about 28% less than the average American is currently paying. This is key because of the lower average of salaries.

The growth industries are Retail, Healthcare and Transportation according to the Regional Chamber’s website for Youngstown and Warren. Boardman has three hospitals that are all new within the last 10 years. The Youngstown Warren Airport has flights to major vacation cities. Recently, flights have also been scheduled to Chicago. Boardman is centrally located between Cleveland and Pittsburgh and has a major thoroughfare of route 80. Trucking and rail are both viable options for freight as there are many local companies within the area.

Boardman is also home to two beautiful parks that cover over 3,000 acres with three lakes, three waterfalls and two golf courses. Many activities and performances are scheduled throughout the year at little or no cost to the public. This information and more information about the parks can be found at millcreekmetroparks.org and boardmanpark.com.

Employment Base: Unemployment is 6%

(Department of Numbers, 2016)

Education:

Penn State University

Youngstown State University

Eastern Gateway Com. College

Kent State University

Salary Average:

Food Prep/Server $9.72/hr

Management   $43.27

(United States Department of Labor, 2015)

Cost of Living (Average 100):  

Overall       72

Groceries 89.1

Health 83

Housing 26

Utilities 103

Transportation  96

(Sperling’s Best Places, 2016)

Growth Industries:

Retail, Healthcare, Transportation

(Largest Employers of the Youngstown-Warren Area, n.d.)

Taxes:

Sales, Motel Gasoline, and Property Tax

(Fiscal Office, n.d.)

Infrastructure:

Aiport 17.5 miles

(Google, 2016) Railroad 4 miles

Trucking  1.3 miles

Parks: Boardman Park, 227 acre park

Mill Creek Park 2,882 acre park

(Mill Creek MetroParks, n.d.)

(Welcome to Boardman Park, n.d.)

The Beauty of Mill Creek Park

Boardman is home to two parks with over 3,000 acres. It is home to two golf courses, three lakes and three beautiful waterfalls.

Horsham, PA

The local economy of Horsham, Pennsylvania appears to be going strong with an unemployment rate of 4.3%, which is below the national average.  In recent years the township has seen job growth of 1.44%.  The outlook for future job growth is fantastic with a forecast of 38.6% expected growth.  In 2011 the Willow Grove Naval Air Station was closed down and the land was turned over to Horsham Township.  Currently, plans are being made to rezone the land for new business to support the growing local economy.

Horsham had 3.07% income tax.  Being located within Montgomery County, Horsham is also subjected to the county wide sales tax of 6%.  Income per capita is $32,196 and the cost of living rates at 120.70 or 1.2 times the national average.  

Horsham is approximately 16 miles north of Center City Philadelphia.  Public transportation is provided by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).  SEPTA provides two commuter rail routes which travel to and from Center City Philadelphia with the nearest stations being located in the neighboring towns of Ambler and Willow Grove.  There is also a bus route that runs from Philadelphia to Doylestown, PA that passes through Horsham.  In addition to local transportation, Philadelphia International Airport is approximately a 40 minute drive from Horsham.  Philadelphia International can also be reached via SEPTA commuter rail after transferring in Center City.  AMTRAK’s station is approximately 30 minute drive to and from Horsham and can be reached via either commuter rail line without transfer.

Hatboro-Horsham school district provides public schooling for residents of Horsham.  There is one high school, Hatboro Horsham High School, one middle school, Keith Valley Middle School, and five elementary schools, Crooked Billet Elementary, Hallowell Elementary, Simmons Elementary, and Blair Mill elementary.  The school district's Math and English proficiency averages are both above the state average scores.

There are nearly 400 acres of public parks in Horsham to enjoy.  Along with the parks, there is a walking/running trail that spans five miles in length.

Parks (http://www.horsham.org/pView.aspx?id=25456&catid=611)

· Deep Meadow Park (55 acres)

· Koehler Park (71 acres)

· Samuel Carpenter Park (31 acres)

· Chestnut Creek Park (80 acres)

· Cedar Hill Road Park (87 acres)

· Lukens Park (51 acres)

· Meetinghouse Park (6.5 acres)

· Power Lines Trail

dubois, PA

Dubois, PA has been around since 1812.  It was originally a town built on lumber; it later became a town thriving on coal mining.  It is located just off of interstate 80, actually containing two interstate exits.  There is a small airport called DuBois Regional Airport located just minutes away from DuBois. Fullington Trailways operates a bus terminal that resides within Dubois as well.  This town does very well with not only the residents of the town but with the heavy traffic that is always passing through.  DuBois is located in Clearfield County.  It is roughly 2 hours east of Pittsburgh and 1 hour west of State College.

DuBois is not only a rural community but also has a large business infrastructure due to the location off of the interstate.  There is a population of roughly 8,000 people.  Of course this does not account for the large amount of people who are staying in the town for work or traveling through.   Penn State DuBois campus is also located right here in the center of town.  There are over 10 hotels just in DuBois.  Most of which are continuously booked full.  Studies show that the population living in the town is somewhat flat.  However, new businesses are being built now more than ever in our area.  CVS, Starbucks, and Harbor Freight are just to name a few of them.  A very large portion of the population in our area is here because they work for the Penn Highlands Hospital.

I believe that DuBois is in an upward trend as a business location.  The statistics as far as common population that resides here, but with the location just off of I 80 and the heavy traffic going through, I feel this would be a good location for any startup business.

Population in 2014: 7,632

Median Resident Age: 39 years

Pennsylvania median Age 40.6 years

Estimated median household income in 2013: $32,839

Estimated per capita income

in 2013: $20,139

Mar. 2016 cost of living index in DuBois: 87.1 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Land area: 3.34 square miles.

For population 25 years and over in DuBois:

High school Degree or higher: 92.1%

Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.0%

Graduate or professional degree: 8.0%

Unemployed: 5.1%

Pittsburgh

I have heard that Pittsburgh is one of the greatest cities on the face of the Earth. No matter where I am when I tell someone I’m from Pittsburgh I’m proud of that statement. People always seem to tell me how they love the city, enjoy all the lights and how hard working and motivated everyone is. Pittsburgh is a city that loves their sports and will always bleed black and gold.

The Steel City is a great place to relocate and find a job. In a recent March article employment had risen by as much as 2,200. Leisure and hospitality were atop the list with the largest gain by an addition of over 6,000 jobs; that’s more than a 2% gain over the nation. The salary range is between $34,000 and $94,000.

Pittsburgh is world renowned for its accomplishments in the medical field; UPMC is ranked in the top 15 hospitals in the nation. This hospital is at the forefront of delivering rehabilitation, neurosurgery, and finding ways to cure cancer. Children’s Hospital, which is associated under UPMC, was the “first pediatric hospital to achieve HIMSS stage 7.” There is no shortage of what these amazing places can do.

Sperling’s Best Places listed the cost of living in Pittsburgh an overall 84 compared to the 100 US benchmark. Health and housing were under the benchmark while grocery and transportation exceeded. The education system in Pittsburgh is not lacking any form of expertise as it is home to some of the top private schools.

Pittsburgh is located in Allegheny County, which has a 7% sales tax rate. The rest of Pennsylvania shares a 6% sales tax rate. PennDOT is the main source of service when it comes to road construction and repair. Pittsburgh Police are focused on making the city safer by zoning in on group violence.

Pittsburgh’s Beautiful Views

The views one can receive in Pittsburgh, PA are definitely one of a kind. Stationed above a passerby stops for a look of the city atop Mt. Washington. Many a landmark can be spotted after making the climb on the famous inclines. The three rivers Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela can all be seen coming together at the point from above.

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Glen Mills

Glen Mills is an incorporated community within the Concord Township. This community is famous for its elegant gardens and its golf course. The community is home to major offices including Deloitte that has a headcount of nearly 100 people operating from there. The community is part of an original land grant offered to William Penn back in 1681. The name Glen Mills derives from two paper mills that were built by Wilcox family (Sperlings, 2016). Glen Mills is also famous for casual beach-themed restaurant features where they serve varieties of food including chicken wings and fish. The community has spacious homes which are prominent features offering luxury estate homes to the residents.

The rate of unemployment in Glen Mills is 5.10%, with notable job growth of 1.44%. Future job growth forecasted in the next ten years is expected to be 37.80%. Based on this, unemployment is considerably high. However, efforts are underway to ensure the ten-year projection is achieved within the stipulated time. This makes the community a hotbed for new economic opportunities in different sectors.

The schools in Glen Mils provide a year-round education model for learners. Instructional programs are provided through the twelve month calendar year. Education is offered in universities, colleges, and technical schools. Top colleges and universities include Huntington Learning Center, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College and Neumann University among others. This shows that the community is affluent in educational facilities (Yelp, 2016). The facilities are accessible to all residents in his community.

Glen Mills per capita is around $46,056. This includes all adults and children. The median household income is in the range of $83,513. Economically, this is an indicator of significant economic growth in this community. The residents enjoy considerably good terms regarding employment and income.

Considering the taxes in this community, sales tax rate is 6.00%. This is considerably affordable, and business people can enjoy better terms within this environment. Income tax is 3.07% which is significantly low. This indicates that the governance is well aware of the economic conditions and status of people. As stated in the official community website, employment and property ownership are the primary sources of income.

Sources indicate that public cost of living is at 72%. The implication is that the greater part of the purchases made including food, health, transportation and house utilities costs 28% less than the average American pays. This is quite significant considering the level of salaries for workers in this Glen Mils.

The major industries experiencing tremendous growth in Glen Mills are the retail industry, real estate, transport, and healthcare. There are several malls and retail shops in this region. Numerous healthcare facilities have been established over the last ten or so years. The hospitality industry is also sprouting up and expanding rapidly all thanks to the favorable economic condition prevailing nationwide. Concord is one of the major affordable apartment communities in this community. It contains sixty-four rental units. It serves seniors in this area. It is home to more than 136 people when fully occupied. Real estate is doing pretty well (Affordable housing online, 2016).

Golf course designed by Bobby Weed is connected to the Glen Mills Schools. The golf facility is essential for training students in golf operations as well as turf management.

Unemployment base: unemployment rate is 5.10%

Education: Huntington Learning Center, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College and Neumann University among others

(Yelp, 2016)

Income: per capita-$46,056

Household: $83,513

Cost of living: overall 72

Health 80

Transportation 93

Utilities 100

Housing 25

(Affordable housing online, 2016)

Taxes: sales 6%

Income tax: 3.07%

(Sperlings, 2016)

Infrastructure: rail way (5 miles)

Tracking: 2.0 miles

Bibliography

Department of Numbers. (2016, July). Retrieved from Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, Ohio Unemployment: http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/ohio/youngstown

Fiscal Office. (n.d.). Retrieved from Boardman, A Nice Place to Call Home: http://www.boardmantwp.com/fiscal-office/

Google. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Youngstown,+OH+44512/Youngstown-Warren+Regional+Airport,+1453+Youngstown+Kingsville+Rd,+Vienna,+OH+44473/@41.1409391,-80.8449603,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x8833faf844be45bf:0x5aaaa0cac6586cfc!2m2!1d-80.6659842!

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Mill Creek MetroParks. (n.d.). Mill Creek Park. Retrieved from Mill Creek MetroParks: http://www.millcreekmetroparks.org/visit/places/mill-creek-park/

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Welcome to Boardman Park. (n.d.). Retrieved from Boardman Park, The Green Oasis: https://www.boardmanpark.com/

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Horsham, Pennsylvania. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2016, from http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/pennsylvania/horsham

Finance/Tax Department. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2016, from http://www.horsham.org/pView.aspx?id=10500&catid=611

City-Data. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from

http://www.city-data.com/city/DuBois-Pennsylvania.html

DuBois PA Chamber. (n.d.). Retrieved September 25, 2016, from

http://www.duboispachamber.com/

"Pittsburgh." , PA Sales Tax Rate. N.p., 1 July 2016. Web. 25 Sept. 2016.

"Message from Chief Patron." 2014 International Conference on Intelligent Computing Applications (2014): n. pag. Annual Report: City of Pittsburgh. Web.

Sperling, Bert. "Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cost of Living." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Cost of Living. N.p., 2016. Web. 25 Sept. 2016.

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"Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Salaries - City of Pittsburgh Average Salary - PayScale." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania City Salary, Average Salaries. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Sept. 2016.

Affordable housing online. (2016).Concord pointe. Retrieved from, http://affordablehousingonline.com/housing-search/Pennsylvania/Glen-Mills/Concord-Pointe/3820/. (Accessed September 26, 2016).

Sperlings. (2016). Glenn Mills, Pennsylvania: economy. Retrieved from, http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/zip-code/pennsylvania/glen_mills/19342. (Accessed September 26, 2016).

Yelp. (2016). The best 10 colleges and universities in Glenn Mills, PA. Retrieved from, https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=collegeuniv&find_loc=Glen+Mills%2C+PA. (Accessed September 26, 2016)