WRTA Announces Winners for Small Business Campaign

Thirteen local small businesses were selected to be featured in the 2024 WRTA Give Small Business A Lift campaign. Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) began the campaign in 2022 as a way to help Valley small businesses to thrive. 2024 is the third annual event and a total of 37 businesses and their owners have been featured so far.

“Many of our riders are heading to or from jobs and we wanted to support the businesses that employ our riders,” says Dean Harris, Executive Director of WRTA. “Running a small business is not easy and operating here in the Valley might even be more challenging. The work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit of the small business owners is amazing.”

More than 100 small businesses applied for the featured business status, and thirteen were chosen from that group by three business experts who served as co-chairpersons. The co-chairs are Teresa Miller, Executive Director, Mahoning Valley Development Partners, David Wilaj, Director, Mahoning Valley Logistics Council and Dan Procopio, Product Manager, CBC Global.

The 2024 WRTA Featured Small Businesses are:

All Spruced Up Cleaning Co.
Avalon Downtown Pizzeria
Jenee Spa & Wellness
Gloris Counseling Services
La La Love Healthcare LLC
Charly’s Family Restaurant
The Joshua Tree
The Emma Elf Project
Rescued to Riches Pet Groom and Board
Bending Oak Permaculture Farm
Haus Auto Group
Guided Compass Holistic Health
QUICKmed Urgent Care

CAMPAIGN SPONSORS

The sponsors of the campaign include The Business Journal, WKBN TV 27, and StrategiX Social (a division of Farris Marketing)

CAMPAIGN BENEFITS

The thirteen featured small businesses will be promoted on WRTA buses, social media, giant digital sign downtown, and in TV commercials. In addition, featured businesses are entered in two random drawings. One winner of the drawings will receive a TV campaign from WKBN TV 27 and one will win a social media campaign from StrategiX Social.

KICKOFF EVENT

The kickoff event will take place Thursday, April 18.

WRTA Providing Free Eclipse Glasses

Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) is offering eclipse glasses for no charge while supplies last. The glasses will be available ONE HOUR before the event on Monday, April 8 at the ticket window inside WRTA’s Federal Station in downtown Youngstown. You do not have to be a rider to receive the glasses.

WRTA wants to remind riders and all area residents that appropriate eyewear is necessary to view the solar eclipse event on Monday afternoon.

March 18 is Transit Driver Appreciation Day

Join WRTA in celebrating Transit Driver Appreciation Day on Monday, March 18! Transit drivers make a great contribution to the community every day by ensuring passengers get to their destinations safely. WRTA drivers are dedicated to what they do and they deserve a heartfelt thanks!

Join us in celebrating our hard-working bus operators! Here are a few ways to express your gratitude:

Write a kind, personal note and give it to your bus operator
Say “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” when getting on the bus, and a “Thank you!” when getting off at your destination
Post a photo of yourself at the bus stop or relaxing on the bus, using #TDAD and tag @WRTA

Please say “Thanks!” to your WRTA driver on March 18!

Nominations Now Being Accepted for Give Small Business a Lift Campaign

Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) is rolling out its third annual “Give Small Business A Lift” campaign to help promote and honor local small businesses, their owners, and employees. More than 150 Valley businesses have participated in the first two years.

“Give Small Business A Lift” is designed to promote local small businesses — spotlighting twelve local businesses that exemplify the Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic.

“Small business is the backbone of our economy across the nation, especially here in the Valley. “Says Dean Harris, WRTA Executive Director. “WRTA is proud to provide transportation to much of the workforce of these businesses and this campaign is our effort to give them the recognition and support they deserve.”

How it works/Nominations

Small businesses located in Mahoning County can complete the short entry form below to nominate themselves. Nominations are being accepted now through Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Three local community leaders who serve as co-chairpersons select the winners from the nominations. The twelve winners will be notified the first week in April and presented their awards at the kickoff event on April 18 at Concept Studio in downtown Youngstown.

Twelve Winners Promoted

The twelve featured businesses will be promoted on WRTA buses, its giant digital sign downtown, on social media, and TV commercials.

Three Bonus Awards

During the kickoff event, drawings will be held for the winners in attendance for a TV advertising campaign donated by WKBN TV, a social media campaign donated by Farris Marketing, and a customer satisfaction survey for up to 100 customers, also donated by Farris Marketing.

Campaign Timing

The three-month-long promotion of the twelve featured businesses is scheduled to start and coincide with National Small Business Week (April 28 – May 4, 2024). The campaign and promotion will continue through July 30, 2024.

WRTA encourages all small businesses in the county to apply — even if the business applied previously.

Ready to Nominate Your Business?

You can nominate your business by filling out the form below by March 28. The businesses selected will be notified by email and announced on WRTA’s website and social media.

Following our request, WRTA has received many nominations from businesses that want to participate in this campaign. Watch for our forthcoming announcement of the small businesses that have been chosen.

View WRTA’s First-Ever Annual Report

This is the first-ever WRTA Annual Report. Whether you are a rider, resident, or community leader, you are a stakeholder in the Western Reserve Transit Authority. This Annual Report is meant to keep you informed about the exciting growth and evolution of public transportation in your hometown. Download WRTA’s 2023 Annual Report!

2023 WRTA Annual Report

Congratulations to the 24 Valley Valentines Winners!

In celebration of Ohio Loves Transit Week and Valentine’s Day, WRTA turned the tables and asked Valley residents “Who do you love?”. 24 lucky winners were able to answer that question in a big way with a “Valley Valentine.”

Congratulations to the following winners!

Display Your Valentine Message With Valley Valentines

Ohio Loves Transit Week, a campaign of the Ohio Public Transit Association, is the same week as Valentine’s Day, so WRTA is celebrating by turning the tables and asking Valley residents “Who do you love?” You will be able to answer that question in a big way with a “Valley Valentine.”

A dozen lucky Valentines who fill out the form below, indicating to whom they want to send their love, will have a huge Valentine with their names created and shown on the giant video display that looms 35 feet above Federal Station in downtown Youngstown. In addition, the winning Valentines will be shared on WRTA’s website, social media, and in a TV spot.

To be eligible to have your Valley Valentine shown on our Federal Station video display, fill out and submit the form below. 12 Valley Valentines will be chosen in a random drawing. Only one entry per person is permitted. The deadline to enter is Wednesday, February 7. Winners will be announced and contacted on Thursday, February 8.

Be sure to indicate which one of the four designs you would like to use for your Valentine.

DESIGN A

DESIGN B

DESIGN C

DESIGN D

Entries are now closed for this campaign. Winners will be notified today, February 8. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Happy Holidays!

WRTA will be closed on Monday, December 25 for Christmas Day and the following Monday, January 1 for New Year’s Day.

WRTA wishes you a happy holiday!

Nominate Non-Profits for WRTA’s Holiday Lights Campaign

This holiday season, Western Reserve Transit Authority is once again putting the spotlight on organizations that Light Up the Valley all year long with the 2023 WRTA Holiday Lights Campaign!

Twelve Mahoning County organizations will be chosen from the nominees will be honored at a special event on Wednesday, November 15th. The event will be streamed on Facebook Live this year. The honored organizations will be featured on WRTA TV and social media as well as signs on WRTA buses and the giant digital sign above Federal Station. Two drawings will also take place at the event — one drawing for a winning organization to receive a year-long social media campaign and the other drawing for a winning organization to receive a $ 3,000 TV Advertising campaign sponsored by WKBN.

Thank you for submitting your Holiday Lights nominations. Winners will be announced and contacted soon. Please check our website and social media for a list of the winners.

Our Website Has Been Updated!

WRTA has been in the process of making updates to the website to better serve our riders and the community. We are excited to announce that the improved website has now been taken live!

When visiting the website, you will see adjustments to the overall design, a few new pages added, and existing pages updated. Be sure to check out our new sections on the home page as well — Zero-Emissions Future, Autonomous Vehicles Project, and Community Connections!

In addition, we also added a new feature to simplify and streamline the process of becoming ADA-accessible and compliant using AI, machine learning, and computer vision.