03-04-2025
WRTA taking nominations for ‘Give Small Business a Lift' campaign
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) has announced the start of its Give Small Business A Lift campaign.
The campaign, now in its fourth year, promotes and honors local small businesses.
Twelve small businesses that 'exemplify the Valley's entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic' will be honored and promoted. A panel of business and community leaders will choose the featured businesses from a list of nominees.
WRTA is now taking nominations for the campaign.
To qualify, small businesses must be located in Mahoning County, and an entry form must be completed by an owner or authorized officer/manager. Visit to nominate a business. The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 14.
The winners will be notified by email and honored at the kickoff event on Wednesday, April 30 at Lariccia Community Center in Boardman Park.
The winning businesses will receive promotions on WRTA buses, WRTA's digital sign downtown, on social media and in TV commercials.
One business will also be selected as 'Small Business of the Year,' earning it a free TV advertising campaign donated by WKBN and a social media campaign donated by Farris Marketing/StrategiX Social.
WRTA encourages all small businesses in the county to apply — even if the business applied previously.
'We cannot overstate how important small business is to our local and national economy. But starting a small business also seems to take a special sort of grit and determination that exemplifies what America is all about,' said Dean Harris, WRTA's executive director.
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