YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio
Population: 65,184
Unemployment: 5.9 percent
Closest Port: Pittsburgh International Airport
Youngstown was at the forefront of the development of the Ohio-Pennsylvania Stateline Export Initiative, an assistance, promotion and education program that brings together 10 counties and two states to stimulate global trade in the region. The benefits range from providing a one-stop shop for potential foreign investors, distributors and partners looking to do business with local businesses to arranging a meeting between local business leaders with Cuban officials in anticipation of new opportunities once relations are officially normalized. n