LISBON — The Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) isn’t just for Youngtown — that’s the message being delivered throughout Columbiana County by YBI Program Ambassador Troy Rhoades who’s talking to elected officials, entrepreneurs and educators about the services available through YBI.

“Our role is to just help the community,” he said Wednesday.

Rhoades visited with Columbiana County commissioners during their meeting, advising that his job is to meet with people in both Columbiana and Carroll counties and communicate the services YBI offers, including advanced manufacturing, EVOLVE technology, youth outreach such as virtual reality for schools and the minority business assistance program.

Commissioners journalized a letter of support of the Appalachian Regional Commission for the YBI Entrepreneur, Defense, Growth, and Education in Appalachia (EDGE) Program, writing that YBI’s “continued success around the entrepreneurship, small business and education programs have been instrumental in transforming the Ohio Appalachian region.”

“We support YBI’s continued effort to attract new businesses, expand current and future business’ market inclusion, including establishing opportunities for businesses to engage within the defense industrial base, and prioritizing the organizations have the skilled workforce needed to strengthen and succeed in the Appalachian region,” the letter signed by Commissioner Mike Halleck said.

“I appreciate your help and support on this,” Rhoades said.

He mentioned that the grant being sought through ARC totals about $1.6 million and will require a 50 % match from YBI. The decision is expected in the spring.

Rhoades said there’s a perception that YBI is all up in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, but that’s not the case. YBI, which is located in downtown Youngstown, works all across northern and eastern Ohio with a focus on helping small, tech and manufacturing-based business.

Commissioner Tim Ginter asked what is the reach of YBI and Rhoades said it depends on the grants, with one grant serving Columbiana, Carroll, Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties and another stretching into Jefferson County as well.

Halleck explained how the county is part of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association (OMEGA) and suggested he talk with Tad Herold, who heads a consortium between the county Port Authority and county Economic Development.

In a conversation after the meeting, Rhoades said he’s already been in contact with the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center about the ability to virtualize stories for students, such as one about Anne Frank. The Youth Outreach Program can provide virtual reality technology to help enhance the delivery of curriculum with interactive, multi-sensory exploration.

The Minority Business Assistance Program can serve the needs of small, minority, veterans and socially and economically disadvantaged businesses providing a wide variety of resources for companies. Advanced Manufacturing offers 3D printing services, reverse engineering, 3D scanning, Industrial Internet of Things integration/adoption, solid modeling and design, AM sourcing, identifying cost reduction, parts replication, solution optimization and AM education.

The EVOLVE Technology Program works with entrepreneurs with advanced manufacturing and tech-based startups and provides Entrepreneurs in Residence who can act as coaches and provide support by working with companies in fields that vary from sales and marketing to software development and emerging technolgies.

Rhoades started working with YBI in June as a program ambassador. He’s been connecting with all types of people, including community leaders, economic development agencies, public officials, educators and chamber members. Next week he’s going to a Rotary meeting. He said his goal is to review YBI’s programs and “assist in establishing a network that educates those businesses and individuals of not only YBI services available, but partners that YBI has throughout Ohio related to fostering economic growth.”

Rhoades shared some upcoming events that businesses might be interested in attending, including the YBI Artificial Intelligence event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Kent State Salem where attendees can learn about AI, what it is, how it’s used, risks involved and opportunities.

To register, go to https://YBIAI101.eventbrite.com.

He also mentioned a Guide to the 21st Century event being held at the Sustainable Opportunity Development Center in Salem on Oct. 22.

To learn more about YBI, visit ybi.org.

In other business, the commissioners authorized county Engineer Bert Dawson to submit applications for the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement programs for funding for two paving projects next year on Georgetown Road and Columbiana Lisbon Road.

The next meeting of county commissioners will be 9 a.m. Oct. 15 at the downtown courthouse in Lisbon.