It seems like every day there's another announcement about companies laying off workers or closing their doors, but in the small village of McDonald, three new businesses have opened up in the past six months.
"I want to protect the culture that's been established here over the years," said McDonald Mayor Glenn Holmes. "That is a family-oriented community that's committed to itself."
McDonald has less than 4,000 residents, so it's not some place considered a high-traffic area.
"It's creating an environment, establishing an environment, that's conducive to family growth," said Holmes. "And also conducive to retail, commercial, and industrial growth, business growth. You want to be able to stay and shop within your own communities and keep it vibrant."
Speed Sports opened about four months ago. It is a sporting goods and apparel store. Tod Thorne, its owner, actually first began in Youngstown about 14 months ago but decided that a move to McDonald was a good idea.
"The advantage to this, is that it is a good clean healthy community that loves to run," said Thorne. "They love their athletics. They have athletic programs that have gone, you know, 10-0, 20-0, undefeated seasons in softball, football, basketball, you name it."
Also new to McDonald is Deluxe Transportation. They dispatch vehicles from an office in town.
People have a new choice for dining, or an after work drink, as well, with TowJo's Bar and Grill. All three new businesses are owned by McDonald residents, and that's probably no coincidence.
"I'm not surprised, because the people from McDonald usually support the people from McDonald," said Tony Puntel, co-owner of TowJo's. "It's a great community to raise your kids. There are a lot of good people in this town."
Because of that, businesses, both new and ones that have been there for decades, continue to survive.
