2025 WRTA Give Small Business a Lift Campaign Has Begun. Nominate Your Business
Western Reserve Transit Authority (WRTA) has announced the start of the WRTA Give Small Business A Lift campaign. The campaign, now in its fourth year, promotes and honors local small businesses, their owners and employees.
WRTA provides transportation for the workforce of many of local businesses and wants to recognize and support their efforts.
More than 200 Valley businesses have participated in the first three years of this event.
Dean Harris, WRTA Executive Director said, “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.”
NOMINATE YOUR ORGANIZATION TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A 2025 TOP TWELVE SMALL BUSINESS
12 local small businesses that exemplify the Valley’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic will be chosen by a panel of fellow business and community leaders and recognized as a 2025 TOP TWELVE BUSINESS
Does Your Business Qualify?
In order to be eligible to be recognized as a 2025 TOP TWELVE BUSINESS, your organization must qualify for the campaign. The qualifications are:
OPERATE AS A BUSINESS – Your organization must be an operating business as defined by the State of Ohio as a sole proprietorship, general partnership, limited liability company (LLC), S Corporation or C Corporation. Non-profits do not qualify unless they operate as a business and sell a product or service.
LOCATION -Your businesses must be located in or border Mahoning County.
COMPLETE THE FORM –The short entry form below must be completed by an owner or authorized officer/manager.
COMMUNICATE – You must answer your phone and reply to emails.
ENTER BY DEADLINE — Nominations are being accepted now through Monday, April 14, 2025.
ATTEND THE AWARD EVENT APRIL 30, 2025 – If your business is selected, you must attend the award event in order to receive the award and the benefits.
NON-PROFITS DO NOT QUALIFY* Non-profit organizations do not qualify unless they sell something to the public as part of their regular ongoing operations. WRTA honors non-profit organizations during the annual HOLIDAY LIGHTS campaign each November and December . If you represent a non-profit, please nominate your organization for that campaign.
Twelve Businesses will be chosen, honored and promoted as a 2025 TOP TWELVE SMALL BUSINESS
AWARD NIGHT — The twelve businesses will be notified and honored at the kickoff event on Wednesday April 30 at Lariccia Community Center in Boardman Park.
The twelve featured businesses will be honored at April 30 kickoff event and then receive promotion with a 90-day marketing campaign that includes
- Advertising on the giant WRTA digital sign at Federal Station
- Bus Advertising
- TV Advertising
- Social Media
As Part of the Give Small Business a Lift Campaign, one of the Top Twelve Businesses will be selected by vote as the 2025 Small Business of the Year. This business will receive custom individual campaigns including
- A 90-day TV campaign donated by WKBN TV
- A 13-week Social Media Campaign donated by Farris Marketing/StrategiX Social.
Campaign Timing
The three-month-long promotion of the twelve featured businesses is scheduled will start May 1, 2025. Some of the past winners have indicated this has reported substantial increases in sales from this campaign.
WRTA encourages all small businesses in the county to apply — even if the business applied previously.
