Youngstown State Alumni are being asked to "grow home," or come back to the area and start or continue their business.  One may say that business in Youngstown has fallen on hard times. Businesses have been leaving and new companies starting up in the valley have been few and far between. Led by Congressman Tim Ryan, the "Grow Home" campaign gives Youngstown a silver lining at the end of what has been a very dark cloud.

"GROW HOME IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING ALL THE BRAINS AND TALENT THAT LEFT THIS COMMUNITY AT ONE POINT BACK HERE, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S A GOOD DEAL TO DO BUSINESS HERE. IT'S A CHEAPER COST OF LIVING, NOT AS LENGTHY OF TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM WORK, AND COST OF LIVING IS A LOT BETTER HERE."

The campaign's goal is to give former residents an inside track to benefits the Mahoning Valley can offer new and expanding businesses, such as tax breaks and other incentives. The program will target Y.S.U alumni who have moved away. The key, however, is keeping businesses here for the long term

"YOU HAVE THIS EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT THAT THEY LIKE TO GO TO THE LOCAL FESTIVAL, THAT THEIR PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND RELATIVES ARE HERE AND THAT'S KIND OF AN EMOTIONAL TIE. SO, YOU MAKE IT MAKE SENSE BUSINESS-WISE, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THAT FAMILY CONNECTION--THAT'S HOME. YOU REALLY CAN'T PUT A PRICE TAG ON THAT."

Making the old proverb ring true "home is where the heart is."