For many years a major concern of the Mid-Ohio Valley has been the exodus of its young people upon high School and College graduation and its inability to attract them away from the larger urban areas. Another issue has been the area’s ability to retain those who do return, due to lack of opportunities for them to become involved in the community and options for meeting other young professionals in the area. A group of young leaders pulled together in 2005 to create an organization that would help resolve some of these issues.

The Young Emerging Leaders of the Mid-Ohio Valley's (YEL) main objective will be to address the region’s concerns about the major migration of its young citizens out of the area. YEL will provide a link between the business leaders of today to the leaders of tomorrow through networking and social opportunities that can advance their careers in the region. Leadership seminars and lectures will be offered to aid in the further development of their management skills.

The group will make available an avenue for young emerging leaders to become more involved in the community through volunteer work, educational outreach programs and community events all while working to enhance the quality of life. The promoting of community involvement of Young Emerging Leaders addresses the region’s concerns that young citizens do not take it upon themselves to get involved in community meetings, projects and discussions.

The members will also work as mentors to regional high school students offering advice and recommendations on career paths, while stressing what opportunities the area has available in their futures. This contact is essential to help market the region and stress what the area has to offer them upon graduation.

YEL will track the students during college, linking them to opportunities in the area for internships and informing them of YEL events and news to keep them informed of the area happenings. YEL will also be working with the regional economic development departments and committees to work to pull businesses in to the area that support the those career paths that the students are choosing, should the areas economy currently not support that type of career.

Recruitment will also be a major task taken on by YEL to draw new emerging young leaders to the area, in part, by partnering with local business and matching them up with a young leader that specializes in that particular career. YEL’s efforts will help recruit young people to the area where they will find employment or possibly start their own businesses, thereby strengthening the local economy.

YEL will help create the future business, governmental and community leaders for the area. The group‘s projects will help stimulate economic growth while addressing goals that the community feels need to be accomplished in order to market the region as a place offering a “Better Quality of Life” for those who are searching to leave larger urban areas.