A new app has been created to help Youngstown businesses boost their sales and reward customers for shopping with them. 

Mayor Tito Brown hosted a news conference Wednesday morning to unveil the YO! app, which is geared toward helping economic growth out of the coronavirus pandemic. 

"I don't want to just survive, I want to thrive out of this pandemic," said Mayor Brown. "This is just another opportunity, a tool that we've added as a layer." 

The YO! Program is free for local business owners and users alike.

It gives businesses a way to attract more customers, increase their revenues and connect with their customers and other businesses. 

Powered by Colu and sponsored by the City of Youngstown, the YO! app rewards residents and visitors for shopping and eating at Youngstown's local businesses.

Rewards come in the form of City Bites, the city's local reward points.

Each City Bite equals $1, and it can be redeemed at your local business.

The City is encouraging every local business owner that has a storefront within the city limits of Youngstown to go to youngstownohio.gov/yo to submit your application form and participate in this initiative. 

One business, OH WOW!, is one of the first businesses to join the app. 

"It is a great chance to advertise what you're doing, but also to become a redeeming partner. It doesn't cost you anything, it is something that the city is offering for us to get people to come into our doors and we would love to be able to be a partner with you and the city," said a representative of OH WOW!.

Officials said 45 to 50 local businesses have already registered. 

The creation of the app follows other Ohio cities like Akron that use a similar type of app. 

This initiative will be rolled out in two phases.

To be considered for the first phase, submit the form by Wednesday, June 30.  

The city hopes to have the app up and running by July first.