About
Partners in funding businesses for economic growth since 1978
Our Mission
Valley Economic Development Partners is a leader in developing employment opportunities through business creation, expansion and retention in collaboration with other regional organizations.
Our Vision
Small business lending to achieve the economic and social well-being of Mahoning Valley region.
Our Story
Valley Economic Development Partners is a private, non-profit organization focused on the social well-being of the Mahoning Valley and its surrounding regions. Our mission is to be a leader in developing employment opportunities through business creation, expansion, and retention in collaboration with other regional organizations.
Established in 1978 as Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation, 2020 turned out to be a year of growth and change as the organization became known as Valley Partners. Our focus on small business lending is the cornerstone of our path moving forward. We are a Certified Development Corporation, authorized to process SBA 504 and Community Advantage (7a) loans. We partner with our local financial institutions to put together the best possible lending packages for our business clients and partners. We also partner with economic development agencies such as the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the State of Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) in order to provide revolving loan funds to put together creative lending structures to “fill the gaps” as well.
We have a diverse Board of Directors from the private and public sectors. We are not a government entity. We are based in Youngstown and provide selected services to Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula, Columbiana, Geauga, Portage, Lake and Belmont Counties in Ohio; and Lawrence, Mercer, Beaver and Franklin Counties in Pennsylvania. We offer our SBA 504 and Community Advantage products throughout the entire State of Ohio.
From Valley Partners’ inception, our mission of building and diversifying the regional economy has remained unchanged — even as we continue to refine and reshape our programs to address the changing dynamics of our regional economy. We have assisted over 2,000 businesses, which have added or retained more than 19,000 jobs.
Partners in funding for economic growth since 1978. We look forward to helping you grow your business!
"Our team is committed
to working tirelessly on your behalf to obtain the funding needed for your business to not only survive, but to thrive and for our region's economy to continue to flourish."
– Teresa Miller, Executive Director
Our Staff

Teresa Miller
Executive Director
Ext. 116 | teresa@valleyedp.com

Mario A. Nero Sr.

Terrence T. Louk
Director of SBA Lending
Ext. 121 | terry@valleyedp.com

Gregory M. Lutz
Financial Specialist
Ext. 117 | greg@valleyedp.com

Julie Swauger
Office Manager
Ext. 110 | julie@valleyedp.com

Maureen Stenglein
Portfolio Manager
Ext. 114 | maureen@valleyedp.com

Wendy Walters
Loan Servicing Director
Ext. 123 | wendy@valleyedp.com
Board of Directors
Christopher Colella, Sr. Vice President, First National Bank
Annemarie Deascentis – Mahoning County
James Gibbs – Director of Trio EOC at Eastern Gateway Community College
Stephanie Gilchrist – Businsss Advisor, Mentor, Motivational Speaker
Michael Keys – Director of Community Development, City of Warren
George Limbert – The Honorable, United States Magistrate Judge
Giovanne Merlo – Auditor for The City of Niles
Sarra Mohn – President, Owner of Jer Creative
Diane Richardson – CEcD, EDFP, Assistant Director Business Development
James M. Rosa – Principal, Hill, Barth & King, LLC.
Tim Shaffer – Chief Lending Officer, Farmers National Bank of Canfield
Julie Michael Smith – Entrepreneurship Coordinator YSU
Jeffrey S. Solomon – President, P&S Equities
Lynette Sutton – Secretary, YADC
Shelley Taylor – CPCU, CIC Agent, President, Paige & Byrnes Insurance
Joshua Toot – Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, Home Savings & Loan
Bank Partners













