Thank you to our wonderful presenters & attendees for joining us yesterday afternoon at our Entrepreneurship Lunch-and-Learn Seminar! To learn more about the resourceful & educational opportunities on the way, check out our calendar and register for a seminar today at https://www.valleyedp.com/seminar-schedule.

Congratulations to our clients at Clever for recently winning both chapter AND district advertising awards! They won in the categories of website design, illustration, and logo design at the American Advertising Federation’s Akron Chapter Competition and Fifth District Competition. As they chose Valley Partners to join them on their entrepreneurial journey back in 2020, we are most excited to witness their many wins & victories. Congratulations, Clever Team! 🎉 💻 Read the full story about the awards won on the Business Journal's website today!

Save the date for Valley Partners' 10th Annual Golf Outing! Stay tuned for more details on how you can participate this year! ⛳️

Spring is here, and rates are out! Give our SBA Lender, Maureen Stenglein, a call today to see how our 504 loan can give your business a lift. 🌞

Check out a handful of upcoming resourceful workshops presented by SBA Cleveland District Office and local SBA Resource Partners! With topics ranging from marketing, business ownership, and grant writing, register for a session today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/sbaevents2025.

We are so proud to see Anne Ganno, owner of Salem's newest eatery—The Rumpled Queen (@therumpledqueen)—soar as she prepares for her grand opening on April 17! Valley Partners participated in the funding of this project with our 504 loan program, which is a partnership loan between a lender, the borrower, and SBA. The usual transaction is a 50/40/10 split, with the bank financing 50%, SBA financing 40% and the borrower injecting 10%. Our participation in the project—allowing the funds to be stacked—benefitted both the bank and the borrower. We are happy to be a part of The Rumpled Queen's success story! Celebrate its grand opening this week by reading the full story here: https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/salem-news/unique-eatery-the-rumpled-queen-opening-in-salem/ Be sure to contact our office to see how we utilize a 504 or our other loan programs to help your project with one of our financial partners at valleyedp.com/contact. Way to go, Anne! 🥳🎉🎈

$20,000 in match funds have gone towards VP's CDFI GrowBiz Fund—thanks to the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley! With the support of our partners, Valley Partners can continue our great work of educating and empowering our underserved entrepreneurs to better equip them with the knowledge and skills to grow and thrive, assisting them in equitable access to capital. Thank you for your support, Community Foundation! For those interested in donating, please email our executive director, Teresa Miller, at teresa@valleyedp.com.

Special shoutout to Nicolette Ventura, owner of Ciao Beauty Bar LLC, for moving her business forward by working with Valley Partners! 🥳 Learn more about her services by visiting her website at ciaobeautybar.glossgenius.com. We're looking forward to watching you soar, Nicolette!

Many thanks to Huntington National Bank (huntingtonbank) for donating $40,000 to our active CDFI GrowBiz Fund match campaign, putting us at $240,000 raised so far! 🎊 With a goal of $800,000, Valley Partners is most thankful for the support of our partners helping us further our mission. Match funds allow us to continue offering affordable capital to small business entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their business here in the Valley—located in an underserved geographic area designated by the CDFI Fund. We appreciate your support, Huntington!

Thank you to Richard Majzik, owner of Eastwood Quick Print, for choosing Valley Partners to be a part of your entrepreneurial journey! Eastwood Quick Print is a locally owned printing company located in the Marketplace Plaza in Howland [5000 E Market St #9, Warren, OH 44484]. Their print shop offers off-set printing and digital prints. Most jobs are done in-house and take less than a week from start to finish! To learn more about their unbeatable pricing, exceptional quality, & outstanding services, please visit eastwoodqp.com and request a quote today. We're cheering you on, Richard!

A very special thank you to The Raymond John Wean Foundation for donating $200,000 to our active CDFI GrowBiz Fund match campaign! 🎉 With the support of our partners, Valley Partners can continue our great work of educating and empowering our underserved entrepreneurs to better equip them with the knowledge and skills to grow and thrive, assisting them in equitable access to capital. 💻 Read the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/vpwean

Thank you for celebrating Women's History Month with us! Stay tuned to see what events we have planned in Quarter II. 😊 #WomensLeadHERshipSummit2025 #LetHERLead

Join Valley Partners' Business Resource Center for a FREE class to learn the roadmap from the startup of your business to the funding of your project! 📲 To hear from helpful resources throughout the region, click here to register: https://www.valleyedp.com/seminar-schedule

In honor of Women's History Month coming to an end, we'd like to remember Tonia L Farmer MD's phenomenal message delivered at the Women's LeadHERship Summit. Her ability to relate, empower, educate, and inspire those around her moved every person in the room. We were so honored to have her as our keynote speaker and are most thankful for her time and knowledge. The impact she left behind at this year's summit won't be forgotten. Thank you so much for celebrating with us, Dr. Farmer! 💜

We were honored to graduate 26 entrepreneurs yesterday afternoon from the fifth cohort of our Business Accounting & Legal Assistance Grant Program! These dedicated and hard-working business owners attended 6 courses over the span of six weeks to learn more about accounting & legal business principles, marketing, tax returns, financial statements, legal & insurance principles, business plan development & more. As a result of their completion of the course, each entrepreneur is walking out with an updated business plan & an $8,000 grant to go towards accounting & legal professional services—not to mention the experience of pitching their business idea to a panel of funders! HUGE congratulations to you all, Cohort 5! We thoroughly enjoyed spending the last 6 Tuesday mornings with you all. 😊 A special thank you to our funders who continue to make this program possible: 🎉 The Raymond John Wean Foundation 🎉 The Youngstown Foundation 🎉The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund 🎉 The Valley Vision

From our team at Valley Partners: We would like to express a heartfelt, "THANK YOU!" for celebrating the strong, powerful female leaders in the region with us at our second-annual Women's LeadHERship Summit! Our team appreciates your dedicated support & the many ways each of you contribute to the summit's success. At Valley Partners, we are committed to celebrating women's leadership & will continue to #letHERlead in 2025 through impactful small business lending & invaluable technical assistance. More pictures & fun memories to share are on the way! In the meantime, learn more about who we are at valleyedp.com. Thank you so much for your support. 😊 #WomensLeadHERshipSummit2025 #LetHERLead

These #leadHERs are ready to empower YOU at tonight’s second-annual Women’s LeadHERship Summit. 💜 We’ll see you soon!

Many thanks to our Empow-HER sponsors for supporting this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit!

Empower women with our EXCLUSIVE $20 Women's LeadHERship bundle! 💪 ✨ 🤩 As we are excited to gather next Thursday to celebrate the female leaders in the region, this year's carefully curated collection of merchandise is designed to inspire and uplift you & the #leadHERs you love. Perfect for showcasing your commitment to women's empowerment, be sure to snag yours next week!

We would like to thank Brittany Brantley for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! Brittany is a shareholder in Ogletree Deakins' Cleveland office. She represents employers in various labor and employment legal matters, including traditional labor and representing employers in a wide variety of employment litigation in state and federal courts and before various administrative agencies. In addition to her litigation and advocacy practice, she also proactively counsels her clients in the education, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and real estate industries on achieving their business goals and avoiding potential litigation. Brittany’s foresight and solution-based approach enables her to counsel and advise employers on everyday employment issues related to hiring and discharge decisions, discrimination, medical leave, wage and hour compliance, and unfair competition. While in law school, Brittany was the Senior Articles Editor for the Journal of Legislation, and her student Note was selected for publication. She also studied in the United Kingdom at the University of Notre Dame’s London Law Centre, and in China at Renmin University Law School in Beijing. In addition, she spent a summer at the Universidad de Alicante in Spain during her undergraduate studies. To request her services, please email Brittany.Brantley@Ogletree.com. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Brittany!

We would like to thank Lake to River for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! Lake to River is at the forefront of fostering equitable economic development in Eastern Ohio, centered in a four-county region bordering western Pennsylvania, extending from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. The Lake to River corridor is an advanced manufacturing and energy hub centered between Columbus, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh within a one-day drive of 50% of the US and Canadian populations. Their unique assets include abundance of low-cost electric and natural gas, deep water ports on Lake Erie and the Ohio River, vast network of rail and road infrastructure, quality educational institutions, and productive workforce. To learn more about their important initiatives, please visit https://www.laketoriverohio.org/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Lake to River!

We would like to thank Huntington National Bank (huntingtonbank) for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! Huntington is a full-service banking provider primarily operating across an eleven-state banking franchise of Ohio, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Their “Welcome” philosophy centers around deep relationship-building capabilities to best meet each customer’s specific needs. They serve their customers through a banking network of over 1,000 full-service branches, including 11 Private Client Group offices, and over 1,600 ATM locations. Huntington Bancshares Incorporated provides full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services, mortgage banking services, treasury management and foreign exchange services, equipment leasing, wealth and investment management services, trust services, brokerage services, and customized insurance brokerage and service programs Through automotive dealership relationships within their primary franchise area and select other states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers. To learn more, visit https://www.huntington.com/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Huntington!

We would like to thank the Youngstown Business Incubator for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! The YBI brings together extraordinary entrepreneurs, business leaders and technical experts to create something greater than the sum of their parts. They're working to capture the interest of the next generation of entrepreneurs in order to create a more diverse business community; one that is fully invested in re-energizing the economy, urban redevelopment, and restoring the region’s manufacturing competitiveness. YBI is a place where new, disruptive technologies and ideas can be explored, young people can find career opportunities, wealth is created, and diversity is celebrated. YBI is home to world class organizations like Steelite International and America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute. Over the course of the past two decades, they’ve redefined the west end of downtown, creating a 200,000-sf campus across five buildings. However, their work doesn’t stop there. Their entrepreneurship programs reach across the full 21 counties of northeast Ohio – and they're attracting companies from California, Colorado, Israel and the UK to the region. They're looking to continue transforming the area and solidifying northeast Ohio as the epicenter for additive manufacturing. However, they're also looking to inspire our young people through their Youth Entrepreneurship and XPerience augmented/virtual reality programming. Bring your idea to the table by visiting their website at ybi.org. YBI will be ready to provide the resources, guidance, and connections necessary to become a successful, sustainable business! Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, YBI!

We would like to thank Capriotti's Sandwich Shop for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! Founded in 1976 in Wilmington, Delaware by siblings Lois and Alan Margolet, Capriotti’s was born from a desire to create something unique while honoring family heritage. To this day the whole roast turkeys, quality meats & cheeses, and fresh rolls and produce continue to impress their patrons and earn awards across the country. To try their delicious menu, check out their website at https://capriottis.com/ and give them a visit at 6442 S Raccoon Rd Suite B, Canfield, OH 44406. Be on the lookout for their new location to open at 2484 Niles Cortland Rd in Warren, OH as well! Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Capriotti's!

We would like to thank DAWN Incorporated for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! They don’t view ourselves as just your contractor— They are your partner from beginning to end. Dawn Incorporated began with a single dump truck and is now an award-winning construction industry leader across the Mahoning Valley and beyond. In 1993, 25-year-old Dawn Ochman chose to build her legacy. Dawn started out as a dump truck company servicing the greater Youngstown area and quickly grew into a full-service construction company with an expanding reach in markets across the Midwest. Now, Dawn Incorporated operates with a team of project managers, estimators, project coordinators, field managers, site superintendents, quality control managers, site safety and health officers, skilled trades, and support staff. They are proud to be a leading construction company in Ohio with an ever-growing list of prestigious commercial, industrial, and federal projects. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Dawn Incorporated! To learn more, please visit https://www.dawnincorporated.com/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Dawn Incorporated!

We would like to thank Sherman Creative for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! In 1996, Sherman Creative's founders—Bruce & Carol Sherman—set out to bring the best promos and best customer service to their hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. Fast forward to 2018, when Stephanie Shapiro and Brittany Mendez joined the then two-person team, with plans of major growth and expansion. The key to that growth and expansion was maintaining the culture of caring that Bruce and Carol so delicately and deliberately wove into the company culture. Stephanie and Brittany also had plans of a fresh look, new tools, and lots of trending ideas to really expand the customer base and breathe new life into the mission at Sherman Creative. If you want to learn more about their super cool history, visit their website at www.shermancreative.com. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Sherman Creative!

We would like to thank QUICKmed Urgent Care for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! QUICKmed is a community-oriented, locally owned, and operated urgent care here in Northeast Ohio. They have multiple standalone urgent care clinics (some also housing specialties such as women’s health and primary care) and YOUcare clinics located on school campuses. They give back to our community by donating, sponsoring, and participating in local events. They offer the same types of services as a primary care physician, but on a more urgent basis. Their experienced and compassionate team is ready to provide prompt medical services to address a wide variety of non-emergency health issues that can’t wait for a scheduled appointment. To learn more, please visit their website at https://quickmedclinic.com/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, QUICKmed!

We would like to thank Platt Insurance for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! At Platt Insurance, their team makes the process of finding the best insurance simple again. Because their agency is 100% independent, they have the freedom to shop the marketplace to find you the best possible combination of cost and coverage. Unlike captive agents and online companies, Platt Insurance offers access to multiple companies and wide range of products, easy switching from company to company without hassle, unbiased and objective advice, claims assistance and advocacy, and policy service from the same person you bought from. If you’d like to get started with a complimentary quote and/or policy review, please visit their website at https://www.plattinsurance.com/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, Platt Insurance!

We would like to thank United Returning Citizens (URC) for sponsoring this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit as Innovat-HER! URC is a start-up, non-profit corporation that serves community residents of Youngstown, Ohio and the Tri-County area. Their organization provides job search and training, life and financial literacy skills and transitional and stable housing primarily for citizens reentering society from correctional facilities. As there is a well-established correlation between joblessness and homelessness, and the overall impact on daily existence, URC seeks to provide a holistic approach to enable all citizens who are otherwise disadvantaged and disenfranchised to become productive contributing members of society. To learn more, please visit https://unitedreturningcitizens.org/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, URC!

504 Program Rates are under prime! Contact our SBA Lender, Maureen Stenglein, today to see how we can fund your small business & partner with your bank to get a low interest rate.

Thank you to this year's CONNECT-HER Sponsor for our Women's LeadHERship Summit—Western Reserve Port Authority (WRPA)! The Western Reserve Port Authority was created in 1992 to operate the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. Using the unique powers granted to port authorities by Ohio law, the WRPA has evolved into a dynamic, multi-faceted agency dedicated to promoting growth and economic development in the Mahoning Valley. The WRPA combines leading-edge financing tools, consulting services and partnership opportunities into a unique suite of development solutions for business, government and non-profit institutions. Whether you’re a company or non-profit seeking ways to finance growth, a developer looking for help with the public infrastructure needed to move your project forward, or a governmental entity searching for ways to retain or attract jobs and development, their professional, experienced staff is eager to put their solutions to work for you. To learn more, please visit https://neodfa.org/. Thank you for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit, WRPA!

THANK YOU for your interest in Valley Partners' Women's LeadHERship Summit 2025! The deadline to register was on Thursday, March 6th. However, we are excited to announce that we have reached our capacity, and tickets are sold out. 🎉 Therefore, registration is now closed. If you would like to support the celebratory efforts behind this event by making a donation, we welcome you to do so HERE: valleyedp.com/summit2025 We look forward to seeing you at next year's Women's LeadHERship Summit in 2026! If you have any questions, please contact TaMyah Petty at tamyah@valleyedp.com.

We had the pleasure of touching base with some of our favorite #leadHERs today in preparation for the Women’s LeadHERship Summit! Thank you to all the women bosses at Platt Insurance for having us. 😊🎉

We had a blast at our Annual Lenders Appreciation event last night at the AMAZING Past Times Arcade (@pasttimesarcade)! Special shout out to Farmers National Bank for taking home both the SBA Lender of the Year [awarded to Pete Noll] AND the Economic Development Lender of the Year [awarded to Greg Ensley] awards for 2024! And, a special shoutout is owed to John Montgomery of Premier Bank for most referrals of 2024. 🎉 We greatly appreciate our lenders! Thank you to our partners for joining us last night!

Hey, fellas— We want you in the room at this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit! Be a #support-HER by bringing your sisters, daughters, mothers & friends to help celebrate the strong, female leaders in the Valley! 🎉 Register here: valleyedp.com/summit2025

We would like to thank this year's CONNECT-HER Sponsor— HD Growth Partners (@hdgrowthpartners)—for supporting our Women's LeadHERship Summit! HD Growth Partners was founded in 2007 with a unique spin on the traditional accounting firm from day one. Their firm was built on a model that was focused on shared success. As their employees and clients succeed, so does the firm. Their goals are hyper-focused on providing value to their clients, employees, and community. Since its inception, HD Growth Partners has grown from a total staff of four to over 70 in our multiple locations, including those who work from home full-time! The expertise added by the entire team allowed them to offer a full suite of services at the level of quality that their customers have always been accustomed to. Their firm is committed to providing the highest level of customer service and their team of professionals understands that their client's success is directly correlated to theirs. Thank you, HD Growth Partners, for being such a great resource in this region!

Thank you to The Business Journal (@the_business_journal_ytown) for featuring our upcoming Women's LeadHERship Summit! 📲Check out the article to hear from our keynote speaker & title sponsor! https://businessjournaldaily.com/valley-partners-to-host-second-womens-leadhership-summit/

We were honored to have 7 17 Credit Union’s Commercial Lending Support Specialist, David Kovacs, as our guest speaker this afternoon! Entrepreneurs were able to learn practical and strategic ways on how to build a strong financial future for their business at our Securing Business & Personal Credit lunch-and-learn seminar. Thank you, David, for your excellent presentation! 📲To join us for our next seminar, check out our schedule on our website at https://www.valleyedp.com/seminar-schedule.

Cohort 5 of our Business Accounting & Legal Assistance Grant Program officially commenced yesterday morning! We are excited to spend the next five weeks of class with these dedicated & hardworking entrepreneurs. 😊

Join us for our second-annual Women's LeadHERship Summit—an evening of celebrating strong, powerful, & dynamic female leaders in the Valley for National Women's History Month! Both women AND men are invited to the celebration as we #LetHERLead in 2025! 💜 Register you and your favorite #leadHERs by Thursday, March 6th: valleyedp.com/summit2025

Meet Traci Miller, Women's LeadHERship Summit 2025 panelist! Traci Miller is a local entrepreneur and the founder/owner of Color 3 Embroidery Inc. located in Warren, OH. Her “boot strap” startup was launched in 1995 from her parent’s home and has blossomed into a flourishing wholesale apparel decorating company, which outfits corporate accounts nationally and globally. While growing her business, she faced much personal adversity, local and international competition, and various economic conditions which brought to the surface her passion for continuous learning and growth for herself and others. 💜 Be encouraged by Traci at the Women's LeadHERship Summit by registering you and your favorite #leadHERs TODAY at tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit.

Meet Dionne Dowdy, Women's LeadHERship Summit 2025 panelist! Dionne Dowdy is the co-founder and Executive Director of the United Returning Citizens or URC. URC is a Youngstown-based nonprofit that provides, among other services, job search and training and stable housing primarily for citizens reentering society from correctional facilities. URC’s holistic approach, which Dionne has long been a champion of, has been instrumental in helping countless individuals in our community successfully build a life of self-sufficiency. Through URC, Dionne has also mentored several local businesses to success. In addition, Dionne runs a lawncare and landscaping business that introduces the youth and returning citizens to entrepreneurship, URC Staffing Specialists, an initiative supporting returning citizens into return to the workforce, and is a part of AYE Consultants & Cultural Advisors for Businesses and Personal Development. Outside of URC, Dionne currently serves as the President of the Community Legal Aid Board. She is a member of the Emerging Leaders Alumni Association, the Rockwood Leadership Institute, the League of Women Voters, and the Neighborhood Success Resident Council. Currently, she is working towards launching “YO Cleanup,” “Fixin’ My Hood”, and a Tiny Homes initiative. 💜 Be inspired by Dionne at this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit by registering you & your favorite #leadHERs TODAY at tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit.

Meet Ellie Platt, Women's LeadHERship Summit 2025 panelist! Ellie Platt is the owner and president of Platt Insurance, an independent insurance agency in Howland, OH, offering a full spectrum of insurance and risk management services. Ellie is known for her strong ties to the community and passion for helping others. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ellie's love for her hometown inspired her to start her own insurance agency from scratch 13 years ago. Under Ellie's leadership, Platt Insurance has experienced remarkable growth, now employing 10 talented individuals. She holds a Master of Business Degree (MBA) from Geneva College, which has also equipped her with valuable knowledge and skills in the field of business. Ellie's commitment to her community extends beyond her business endeavors. She currently serves as Board Chair for OH WOW Science Center, contributing to the advancement of STEM education for young minds. Additionally, Ellie holds the position of President Elect for the Rotary Club of Youngstown, where she actively participates in community service initiatives. She also serves on the board of the Better Business Bureau of Mahoning Valley. Her expertise and knowledge in the fields of insurance, marketing, and entrepreneurship have led her to speak nationally on these topics, sharing her insights and empowering others. She gives of her time locally through insurance education classes for entrepreneurs involved in the Youngstown Business Incubator and Valley Partners. 💜 Be empowered by Ellie at the Women's LeadHERship Summit on March 20th by registering TODAY: tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit

Meet Dr. Fareedah Goodwin-Capers, Women's LeadHERship Summit 2025 panelist! Dr. Goodwin-Capers was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio and was a 1996 graduate of The Rayen School. She attended the University of Akron’s combined B.S/M.D accelerated degree program, from which she graduated and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in 1998. She then attended the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and graduated in 2002. She decided to pursue a career in Family Medicine and completed residency in 2005. Dr. Goodwin-Capers began her own private medical practice in 2005 and began seeing patients from newborn to elderly ages. She remained in private practice until 2015 when she joined with Mercy Health Physicians, her current employer. After her husband and she followed a plan to get out of debt and turned their finances around, Dr. Goodwin-Capers felt led to help others get out of debt and improve their own financial literacy. She has organized several community-based seminars and workshops to facilitate her goal to teach others how to improve their financial plights. She completed training to become a Ramsey Master Finance Coach and started her own business, Capers Financial LLC, in 2024. 💜 Be encouraged by Dr. Goodwin-Capers at the Women's LeadHERship Summit by registering you and your favorite #leadHERs TODAY at tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit.

Check out two upcoming Lunch-and-Learn seminars designed to help your business build a strong financial future! With presentations from both Huntington Bank & 7 17 Credit Union representatives, view each flyer for more information and register today! + Securing Business & Personal Credit Seminar | Thursday, February 20th, 2025 from 1 pm - 3 pm — Register by Tuesday, February 18th here: https://tinyurl.com/brccredit + Access to Capital Seminar | Thursday, March 6th, 2025 from 1 pm - 3 pm — Register by March 4th at tinyurl.com/vpcapital.

Joining the Women's LeadHERship Summit 2025 as a panelist, meet Lena Esmail, CNP! Raised on the North Side and seasoned by diverse experiences along Belmont Avenue, Lena Esmail’s journey epitomizes the fusion of education and community service. A graduate of Liberty High School’s class of 2004, Lena pursued a path of academic excellence, earning dual baccalaureates in nursing and biology from Youngstown State University. Her thirst for knowledge propelled her to obtain a master’s in nursing from Ursuline College, followed by a post-master’s certificate in critical care nursing from YSU. Undeterred by the rigors of academia, Lena attained the pinnacle of her educational pursuits with a doctorate in nursing practice from Kent State University. At the helm of QUICKmed Urgent Care, Lena Esmail orchestrates a transformative approach to healthcare delivery, anchored in accessibility and excellence. Through a novel model leveraging advanced practice providers, QuickMed extends its reach beyond traditional confines, encompassing urgent care, primary care, and in-school clinics. This innovative paradigm resonates with Lena’s ethos of empowering communities through localized interventions. QuickMed’s footprint spans across the region, with clinics in Akron, Austintown, Columbiana, Cortland, Medina, Strongsville, Warren, Ravenna, and its inaugural site in Liberty. Each clinic epitomizes Lena’s vision of healthcare democratization, transcending geographical barriers to deliver compassionate and comprehensive care to all. 💜 Be empowered by Lena at the Women's LeadHERship Summit on March 20th by registering TODAY: https://form.jotform.com/250334157660150

Meet this year's moderator for the Women's LeadHERship Summit panel discussion—Lisa Resnick! Lisa is a passionate entrepreneur, community builder, and founder of Dandelion-Inc, a membership-based organization that empowers entrepreneurs through personalized guidance, community-building, and strategic consulting. With a proven track record of creating spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued, Lisa draws on her experiences as a business owner, writer, and dedicated mother to inspire and support others in balancing their personal and professional lives. An active board member for organizations such as OH WOW! Science Center, the Youngstown Marathon, and the Fund for Women and Girls for the Community Foundation, Lisa is deeply committed to driving positive change in her community. She is also the creative mind behind successful campaigns like Homes and Hops, which combined community-building and real estate marketing to drive local impact. Lisa’s work is guided by her belief in the importance of connection, accountability, and resilience. She brings a unique blend of warmth, humor, and strategic focus to her endeavors, ensuring that every project aligns with her mission to uplift and empower others. 💜 Be a part of the insightful panel discussion with Lisa & your other favorite #leadHERs by registering for the summit TODAY: tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit

New month, new 504 Program rates! Contact our SBA Lender, Maureen Stenglein, to learn how the 504 loan can help fund your business' next project!

Meet this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit Master of Ceremonies—Tanay Hill! Tanay is one of Valley Partners' well-respected business resources advisors, helping entrepreneurs develop strong business plans, generate financial projections, apply for loans, and more. She has also served as a member, mentor, mentor coordinator, vice president, president, and growth coordinator for Business Networking International (BNI) from 2008 until present day in Warren and Youngstown. She also serves as a board secretary of the YWCA Mahoning Valley, as well as a committee member for YWCA's internal and external affairs committees. Additionally, she was a financial literacy coach for the 21st Century Program for Warren City Schools where she created and implemented a curriculum to teach students basic finances. With a bachelor's degree in business administration, a Certified Business Advisor (CBA) certificate from Kent State University, and twelve years of banking experience, she is excited to empower and be empowered with YOU at this year's summit! 💜 Join Tanay & your other favorite #leadHERs on March 20th at the Eastwood Event Centre by registering TODAY: tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit

🎉 Mark your calendars! 🎉 Valley Partners’ second-annual Women’s LeadHERship Summit is making its return on Thursday, March 20th, 2025 at the Eastwood Event Centre! Join us for an evening of celebrating strong, powerful, & dynamic female leaders in the Valley for National Women's History Month. This FREE, highly anticipated event will feature a delightful dinner, an insightful panel discussion, a compelling keynote speaker, live entertainment, and valuable networking opportunities. Both women AND men are invited to the celebration as we #LetHERLead in 2025! As we are excited to announce that the Cafaro Foundation is the title sponsor for this year's summit, you can begin registering TODAY at this link: https://tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit Invite the #LeadHER in your life by tagging them in the comments below! 💜

Valley Partners is honored to present the work our team has done in 2024 in the Business Journal's Growth Report 1: Economic and Community Development Edition Issue! 🖥 Read about our community impact HERE: https://tinyurl.com/vpbjgr Thank you to the Business Journal staff for featuring us! @the_business_journal_ytown

Presenting this year's keynote speak-HER... Dr. Tonia L. Farmers! Tonia L. Farmer, MD is a board-certified Otolaryngology/Head and Neck (ENT) Surgeon with 23 years of experience in private practice. She received her undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the prestigious institution, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She continued her medical doctorate and residency training at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia. She was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society as a junior in medical school representing the top 5 percent of her class. She went on to be the first female ENT resident at the institution, paving the way for many more female residents to come behind her. Being an entrepreneur at heart—launching an eCommerce company called Salt Me Pink [saltmepink.com]—she has positioned herself as a sought-after speaker, educator, and social media influencer with a well-known platform, Dr. Nose Best®️ [@drnosebest]. Her educational platform focuses on sharing reliable, fact-based medical information. She encourages others to be intentionally informed and empowers them to be their best health advocate. Dr. Farmer is also a writer for the Buckeye Review, a locally-owned newspaper. Her column is entitled, Dr. Nose Best®️. She enjoys being an on-air medical expert for 21 WFMJ [@wfmj] and has become a trusted and respected source in her community. 💜 Want to hear Dr. Farmer's compelling message to female leaders across the region? Register for VP's Women's LeadHERship Summit TODAY at https://www.valleyedp.com/women-s-leadhership-summit-2025.

We are excited to announce that the Cafaro Foundation is this year's Women's LeadHERship Summit title sponsor, otherwise known as, this year's Trailblaz-HER! 🎉 The mission of the Cafaro Foundation is rooted in the generosity of William M. Cafaro, the founder of the real estate development and management company that bears his name in Niles, Ohio. For over a half century, Cafaro and his wife Alyce enthusiastically, but quietly, supported churches, schools, hospitals and other charitable causes. In many instances, Mr. Cafaro would insist on making his gifts anonymously. After his wife’s death in 1996, Mr. Cafaro formed his foundation to perpetuate her memory and the legacy of good works they shared. Mr. Cafaro passed away in 1998. Over the years of its existence, the Cafaro Foundation has bestowed gifts amounting to more than $5 million. The causes that have benefited are many and diverse. They include the United Way of Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Youngstown State University, Wheeling Jesuit University, John Carroll University, the Cleveland Clinic and numerous smaller charities throughout the Mahoning Valley. A second and third generation of the Cafaro family have now passionately embraced the philanthropic vision of William M. Cafaro. His descendants now direct the efforts of his foundation, striving to improve the quality of life in the region they call home. Valley Partners is grateful to have their support this year! 💜 To register for the Women's LeadHERship Summit, visit https://tinyurl.com/vpwomensummit

We would like to express a heartfelt, "Thank you!" to Chris Colella, Senior Vice President of First National Bank & James Gibbs, Director of Administrative Services of The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District for their years of invaluable service to the Valley Partners team as they resign from our Board of Directors. Their commitment, leadership, and vital contribution has played a significant role in furthering our mission to support the small businesses in our community. Chris has been connected to Valley Partners for over 30 years, offering strategic insight and financial expertise. James has & will continue to provide remarkable wisdom and guidance as a loan committee member. As both members have left a lasting impact on our organization, we are sad to see them go. Yet, we celebrate their history with the company & wish them success in their future endeavors. You'll always be a part of our Valley Partners family, Chris & James! Help us celebrate them by leaving a comment below. 🎊

The Valley Partners team is fortunate & excited to present our 2024 Annual Report! We invite you to review the significant ways our team boosted the regional economy last year by finding the full report on our website's homepage at valleyedp.com. Many, many thanks to our clients, lenders, committee members, and partners for contributing to our organization's success. 🎉

🎉 Mark your calendars! 🎉 The Business Resource Center's lunch-and-learn seminar schedule is LIVE on our website. Each seminar will focus on a sole topic that is essential to running your small business and feature local expert guest speakers. Check out the topics that will be discussed, ®gister early TODAY to secure your spot: https://www.valleyedp.com/seminar-schedule

Valley Partners is proud to be a Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business! Check out our BBB profile to learn more about the services we offer, our staff, a brief historical overview of our organization, & more! 💻 https://www.bbb.org/us/oh/youngstown/profile/business-opportunities/valley-partners-0432-1131

Local entrepreneurs gathered at our Setting S.M.A.R.T. Business Goals Bootcamp last night to establish their 2025 entrepreneurial goals! As they've dedicated this year to taking their business to the next level, we were grateful to provide them with the opportunity to collaborate with one another, hold each other accountable, & cheer each other on. Keep an eye out for more seminars & events to come in 2025! Visit our website for more information on how our team can serve you in your entrepreneurial journey. 🔗 valleyedp.com

Today is the last day to register for our upcoming Setting S.M.A.R.T. Business Goals Bootcamp! If you want to achieve your 2025 entrepreneurial goals, these 4 workshops are for you! 📲 Register at tinyurl.com/vpbootcamp.

The SBA Cleveland District Office and local SBA Resource Partners are hosting FREE, virtual, and informational workshops all January and February long! With topics ranging from + "Taking the Guesswork out of Pricing" + "Navigating Health Insurance: A Guide for Small Business Owners" + "Capital Readiness for New and Startup Businesses" and more, be sure to secure your spot ®gister today! 💻 Register here: https://www.sba.gov/events?keyword&field_event_dates_value=All&district=75&in_person_or_online=All&fbclid=IwY2xjawH0yu9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQ8YLl-sa6waNSAss2f9w75IK59PrYFHmcAu24pH3e5NkHaQWb4nSYjJpQ_aem_Hxxl2ISgPF7_HSUpnetM9w

You asked, we answered! After much client feedback, our Setting S.M.A.R.T. Business Goals Bootcamp courses have been moved to an evening start time of 5 pm for your convenience! See program details below! -- 🎉 NEW year, NEW bootcamp. 🎉 Meet your business goals in 2025! Join Valley Partners & other entrepreneurs across the region for 4 sessions of dreaming, strategizing, planning, and executing in our newest 4-part bootcamp series: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Business Goals! See flier for more information on all sessions included! To set your business up for success in 2025, be sure to register by January 21st: tinyurl.com/vpbootcamp

Be informed on how to choose your source of capital, interview potential funders, and become loan-application-ready at Huntington Bank's and Valley Partners' informational Access to Capital Seminar! This seminar is designed to educate the region's entrepreneurs on practical, constructive ways to obtain the financing they need for their business. With presentations by The Huntington National Bank [@huntingtonbank] representatives and Valley Partners team members, valuable information will be provided to ensure you are selecting the right funding option for your entrepreneurial journey. See flier for more details! Register by March 4th at tinyurl.com/vpcapital.

Check out this month's 504 Program Funding Rates! Be sure to give our SBA Lender, Maureen Stenglein, a call to see how this program might be of benefit to your business! ❄️

Recent reports show that minorities & women received more small business help in 2024! VP's Executive Director, Teresa Miller, shares the initiatives that may have contributed to the overall increase in this morning's Business Journal [@the_business_journal_ytown] article. 💻 Read all about it by heading to the Business Journal's website!

This morning, Trumbull County Commissioners presented a check for the remaining $500,000 of support for Valley Vision, an aggressive strategy to increase economic prosperity and improve the quality of life across the Valley! Commissioners made the presentation to Mahoning Valley Partners, which is leading Valley Vision and comprises the Western Reserve Port Authority (WRPA) (serving as fiscal agent), Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber [@ywchamber], The Youngstown Foundation, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Valley Economic Development Partners, and Lake to River Economic Development [@ltrohio]. “Valley Partners is grateful for the support of the Trumbull County Commissioners. We are excited to be a part of Valley Vision’s regional efforts to continue advancing the economic growth and prosperity for the Valley.” — Teresa Miller, Executive Director, Valley Economic Development Partners

We are the Valley Partners team! Here to help you start, grow, and expand your small business in 2025. 💪 We combine our economic development expertise with our specialized flexible lending solutions to grow the region’s economy. Our staff is committed to the success of your business, which is why we work tirelessly on your behalf to collaborate with financial institutions to find the best lending solution. 💻 Learn more about who we are by visiting valleyedp.com. ☎️ Ready to work with one of our advisors? Contact our team at valleyedp.com/contact. 💭 Worked with us before? Let us know your experience by leaving a review on our Google profile! We are looking forward to continuing to boost our regional economy in 2025!

Happy 2025! 🎉 Lift your business off the ground this year with a grant opportunity through Valley Partners! If your business is in need of legal & accounting assistance, this program is for you. See flier for more details! 📲 Register by Friday, January 17th: https://www.valleyedp.com/businessaccountinglegalgrant

We LOVE hosting our annual golf outings. ⛳ This year's was a blast! Many thanks to all who participated! #Bestof2024

Our team can't help but celebrate our very own Business Resource Manager, Matthew Longmire, for being featured in the Business Journal [@the_business_journal_ytown] as an Impact Maker! His positivity, passion, and desire to help small businesses across the region are deserving of honorable recognition. Thank you for being such a positive Impact Maker, Matt! 🎉 Help us celebrate him by reading his feature here: https://businessjournaldaily.com/impact-makers-teamwork-makes-the-dream-work/

Who remembers our first-annual Women's LeadHERship Summit that took place this year in March? That evening is one of our team's favorite memories from this year! Stay tuned for more details on next year's summit. 😊 #Bestof2024 #WomensLeadHERship2025

🎉 Fun memories from the Valley Partners team this year—golf outings, conferences, million-dollar moments, and team-building fun! 🎉 Part 2: July - December #Bestof2024

🎉Fun memories from the Valley Partners team this year—seminars, program graduates, summits, and all! 🎉 Part 1: January - June #Bestof2024

The holiday came early at Valley Partners! 🎁 Applications for our Business Accounting and Legal Assistance Grant Program are officially open! To join us for the fifth cohort of classes, be sure to register your business before 5 pm on January 17th. See flier for more program details! 📲 Register your business here: https://www.valleyedp.com/businessaccountinglegalgrant

Nothing like some office holiday fun! Merry Christmas from the Valley Partners team. 🎄🌟🥳 [Special shoutout to The Federal (@thefederal110) for letting the city enjoy their beautiful decorations and yummy food! Be sure to make a reservation & stop in if you have the chance!]

We had a blast at the MVP Joint Holiday Party last night! Thank you to Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Western Reserve Port Authority (WRPA), Lake to River, JobsOhio, & Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber for partnering with us! We are grateful for those of you who came and celebrated the holiday season with the economic development organizations in the region. 🎄🌟

On the 12th day of Business Plan Development... Consult with a business advisor! One of our business resource advisors, Tanay Hill, is encouraging you to seek out our expertise to help you develop a plan that will grab the attention of potential investors. 📃 Find and download our business plan template for FREE from our website at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. — Thank you for joining us these last 12 days! Don't forget to like and share our posts from #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment social media campaign to help your friends and family members develop their business plan, too. Have a Merry Christmas!🎄

On the 11th day of Business Plan Development... Think it, write it, then type it! One of our business resource advisors, Ayana Beulah, is offering a helpful tip on how to keep your business plan neat, nicely organized, & thorough. 📃 Find and download our business plan template for FREE from our website at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

Valley Partners is honored to feature Tim Huber's success in developing Youngstown's newest showpiece—the Apollo Building! Future plans for this newly and beautifully renovated development includes an event center to hold about 120 people on the first floor, a local architectural firm to occupy the second floor, and a leased space on floor three for Steelite International's special guests visiting Youngstown and coming into the Apollo. Thank you for choosing to partner with us for this project, Tim! For more details on the Apollo Building development process, press play to tune into Tim's story. 🏢 #ApolloBuilding #CityofYOUngstown #Youngstown

On the 10th day of Business Plan Development... Write the executive summary! Our business resource manager, Matthew Longmire, is sharing his best practice on this section of the business plan today to help! 📃 Find and download our business plan template for FREE from our website at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

With much dedication & hard work, all 3 of our Business Resource Center / MBAC Tier 1 team members have officially completed the Certified Business Advisor (CBA) program from Kent State University! Congratulations Matthew Longmire, Tanay Hill, & Ayana Beulah on graduating! 🎊

We are always happy to learn about our clients' recent successes! Congratulations to Broadway Recovery Services [@broadwayrecoveryservices] on receiving funding from OneOhio Recovery Foundation to continue the great work they are doing in the region. 😊 🎉 To help us celebrate their team, check out the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/BRSVPBJ 💻 Learn more about Broadway Recovery Services by visiting their website at https://www.broadwayrecoveryservices.org/.

On the 9th day of Business Plan Development... Project your company's revenues & expenses! Financial projections are significantly useful for helping business owners think strategically about the future of their company. Having realistic, but optimistic expectations for your business' cash flows, revenues, expenses, and other financial aspects can help you as the entrepreneur budget accordingly, as well as seek access to capital in a timely fashion. Potential lenders require financial projections to be included in the business plan to assess how the company is valued, and ultimately, to evaluate how soon they will be able to expect a return on their investment. Therefore, it is important for entrepreneurs to project accurately as it can be used for internal and external decision-making purposes. If you need assistance on developing your financial projections, Valley Partners' Business Resource Center is here to help! 📃 Find our business plan and financial projections template at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

Our team got into the Christmas spirit with some festive cheer & friendly competition: A Christmas Door Decorating Contest! 🎄🌟🎁 Special shoutout to TaMyah Petty [Door #1] for winning our esteemed loan committee members' majority vote! She's not only VP's office manager & loan closer, but the owner & visionaire behind Artistry Afloat. Be sure to check her out! [@artistryafloat] Take a look to see how everyone's creativity turned our office into a winter wonderland. ❄️☃ Many thanks to our ED and SBA loan committee members for joining in on the fun by casting their vote!

On the 8th day of Business Plan Development... Develop your marketing strategy! Here is where you'll want to design a plan of action to promote and sell your product or service. There are many ways to strategically get the word about your business. It is up to you to discover which method is the most effective. Methods include, but are not limited to: 🗣 Word-of-mouth advertising: If your customer is happy with their product or service, they may spread the word about your business by telling their friends & family! 📱 Social media: While there are options to pay for boosted promotion, social media advertising is a vital marketing tool that is often free & invaluable to the business. 💻 Website: Ensuring that you maintain a professional website with high SEO performance can help potential customers learn about who you are and what you offer easily. What will your plan of action be? Design it today in section 6 of our business plan template by downloading it for FREE at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. Want additional assistance? 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

On the 7th day of Business Plan Development... Ask yourself: "Who is my target audience?" 🏢 Are you selling to consumers, businesses, or both? 👤 How old are your customers? Where are they located? 🏢 What industries are the businesses you're selling to in? How big are they in size? 👤 Are you targeting customers with a certain income level or occupation? Will mostly men buy your product or women? Identify your target customer groups, and create a demographic profile for each group in section 5 of our business plan template—available to download for FREE at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. Want additional assistance? 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

On the 6th day of Business Plan Development... It's important to assess the opportunity you have in the market. You can accurately do so by 📌 Conducting thorough market research 📌 Analyzing barriers you might face when entering the market 📌 Detailing threats and opportunities that could arise during operation 📌 Listing out your product's or service's features and benefits 📌 Specifying both major and minor competitors and how they might compete with your company Completing the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis can assist you greatly in this section of the business plan. Find the analysis in our business plan template by downloading for FREE today at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. Want additional assistance? 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

Check out our 504 Program funding rates for the month of December! Give our SBA Lender, Maureen Stenglein, a call to see how this program might be of benefit to your business. 🎄🎁🎊

The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County’s [@theplymc] Business Resource Fair this morning was a success! Thank you to those of you who came to our table & introduced yourself to us. We look forward to further connecting with you & learning more about your small business. 🎉 🔗 valleyedp.com/contact

On the 5th day of Business Plan Development... Let's talk startup costs! Have you considered the cost of what you need in order to begin operating? A breakdown of your startup costs should be included in your business plan to help you and potential lenders specify the amount of capital your company needs to get started. These expenses can include the cost of property and leasehold improvements [when applicable], equipment, supplies, professional services—such as legal and accounting—and extended operating expenses—such as payroll, rent, utilities, etc.. You'll also want to include reasons why you need the listed items in a detailed explanation. Our business plan template offers more examples of what this section of the plan can look like. Download the template for FREE today at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. Want additional assistance? 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

​Thank you to Sydney Canty for having us on 21 WFMJ Weekend Today [@wfmj] this weekend! Our business resource manager, Matthew Longmire, and business resource advisor, Ayana Beulah, spoke about The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County's [@theplymc] Business Resource Fair happening tomorrow at 10 am—as well as our ongoing "12 Days of Business Plan Development" social media campaign. 📺 Find the full interview on WFMJ.com! Be sure to like & share our tips & tools on business plan development on all social media platforms! We hope to see you tomorrow at the Main Library on Wick Ave for the Business Resource Fair. 🎉

On the 4th day of Business Plan Development... It's important to detail who is on your team—even if it's just yourself! Be sure to include your & your team's past experience and skills which have prepared you all to succeed in this business, adding value to your company. If anyone has previous experience starting and growing a business, this section is where you'll want to explain that in detail. As our very own business resource manager, Matthew Longmire, would say... "Teamwork makes the dream work!" Keep in mind that having advisors is important in making key business decisions as well. In the team overview section of the business plan, you'd want to list those advisors too. Speaking of advisors— 📨 Contact one of our business resource advisors today to schedule an appointment for one-on-one assistance at valleyedp.com/contact. 💻 Ready to develop your own business plan? Check out our website to download our template for FREE at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

On the 3rd day of Business Plan Development... It's time to cover the product & services section of the business plan! This section must include basic, but detailed information on the kind of product or service you offer, as well as the kind of problem your product or service solves. Here, you'll want to expand on any proprietary features that give your business a competitive advantage and how you will price your product or service. Any technical specifications your product may have, patent documentation, drawings, or even photos of what you offer are helpful to collect as you develop this section as well! You can include these as an appendix to the business plan. Find this section in our business plan template today for additional insight on what to include. You can download the template for FREE at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. Want additional assistance? 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

On the 2nd day of Business Plan Development... Write out your company overview! The company overview is the section of your business plan that outlines your company's mission statement, goals, and legal structure. After reading the Company Overview, the reader should have a basic understanding of your business’s mission and vision, goals, target market, legal structure, and competitive landscape. Therefore, consider asking yourself: 📌 What is your company's mission? 📌 What are your company's philosophies & values? 📌 What are your short- and long-term goals for the company? 📌 Who is your target market? 📌 What industry is your business in, & what makes it competitive? 📌 What legal structure will your business operate as? Sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership or corporation? Find this section in our business plan template today for additional insight on what to consider. You can download the template for free at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. Want additional assistance? 📨 Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors today by contacting us at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County is hosting a Business Resource Fair next Monday, December 9th from 10am to Noon at the Main Library at 305 Wick Avenue. And, you're invited! 🎉 The purpose of the Fair is to provide small businesses with the opportunity to access local resources to help them grow their existing business or to help those who want to start a new one. The Fair is available to everyone in the community. Tables will be staffed by federal, state, and local agencies allowing participants to get one-on-one access to resources and relationships vital to success in business. The Valley Partners team hopes to see you there!

On the 1st day of Business Plan Development... Let's define what a business plan is! 📑 A business plan is a document that defines in detail the company’s objectives and how it plans to achieve its goals from a marketing, financial, and operational perspective. Lenders like to see clients with a business plan because it shows that the client understands their business. A well-researched and thought-out plan should be a vital part of your business’ growth strategy and a living document that you review at least annually as your business develops. Business plans are an important and strategic tool when starting a business for several reasons: 1) It helps you plot your course & focus your efforts. 2) It forces you to research and thoroughly understand your market. 3) It assists you in determining your financial needs and startup costs. 4) Developing a business plan proves your commitment to the business, as the time you've invested in research shows dedication to your company's success. The benefits are plentiful! Ready to develop your own business plan? 💻 Check out our website to download our template for FREE at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center. 📨 Contact a business resource advisor today to schedule an appointment for one-on-one assistance at valleyedp.com/contact. #The12DaysofBusinessPlanDevelopment 🎄

You've heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas... But, have you heard of the Twelve Days of Business Plan Development? In light of the Christmas season [AND with December being National Write a Business Plan Month], Valley Partners is delighted to present to you 12 steps on how to develop a business plan over the next 12 days! 📲 Look out for our upcoming posts with our team's best practices on business plan development. 💻 Download the business plan template from our website for FREE at valleyedp.com/business-resource-center to start developing yours today! ✔️ Schedule an appointment with one of our business resource advisors for one-on-one assistance at valleyedp.com/contact. Merry Christmas! 🎄

Our very own business resource manager, Matthew Longmire, spoke on the importance of minority businesses having access to the proper resources they need to succeed at the Business Journal's Lenders Event! This event was part of the Business Journal's Roundtable Series on Minority Business. 💻 Click here to watch the full segment: https://businessjournaldaily.com/minority-businesses-in-need-of-proper-resources/

Thank you to our Tier I MBAC Cleveland friends for welcoming us and the Tier I MBAC from Mansfield team into your new space yesterday! We always appreciate the opportunity of meeting, supporting, and collaborating with other MBAC organizations across Ohio. 😊

Special shoutout to Tracy Jordan, owner of Happy Campers Learning Center—a 5-star, gold-rated licensed pre-school in partnership with the Ohio Department of Education! She is opening up a new location at 1451 Churchill Hubbard Rd, Girard, OH 44420 and chose to partner with Valley Partners to do so. Congratulations to you, Tracy! The VP team wishes you the best in your future entrepreneurial endeavors. 🎉

The American Heart Association (@american_heart) Social Impact Funds is actively seeking to support great social enterprises and organizations that are reducing the social and economic barriers to health equity in the Youngstown metro area. They are seeking solutions addressing access to healthcare, food security, and economic empowerment within under-resourced communities. For-profit and non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply for funding up to $200,000. Application deadline is Friday, December 6 at 5pm EST. You can apply through this link: https://heart-impactfund.fluxx.io. For more information, please visit their website: https://www.heart.org/en/aha-ventures/social-impact-funds. Any questions can be directed to socialimpactfund@heart.org. ❤️‍🩹