The Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber (YWRC) and Goodwill Industries are laying the groundwork to grow Mahoning Valley's workforce.

Their partnership aims to help people who want to work, but can't because of circumstances such as child care.  

"Earlier last year, over the summer we worked with Goodwill in conducting a community needs assessment," Brenda Linert, YWRC's director of community impact said. 

Linert  told 21 News that the labor participation rate in the Mahoning Valley is 57%, which is six percent percent below the national average.

"We knew that there was a problem and a challenge in trying to figure out why people are not working in our area and what barriers are existing that may be keeping these folks out of the workforce," Linert said. 

According to experts from YWRC, some of those barriers include a lack of transportation, child care, and life skills training. But with their partnership with Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, they are exploring possible strategies that could help eliminate those barriers. 

"We are [...] trying to convene people who are employers or experts in a lot of these areas. We've already started meeting with some child care experts," Linert said. 

Carol Holmes-Chambers, Goodwill's community solutions director, plans to survey local businesses to explore ways to help the people who want to work, but can't. She told 21 News that they are exploring all business sectors.

"Nonprofits, for profits, people working in the public health sector, construction workers; because we want to see if there's any connection to the benefits that are being provided and the work that's being done," Holmes-Chambers said.