YOUNGSTOWN - The Youngstown Business Incubator hosted its inaugural EmpowerUS Awards on Thursday, in an effort to honor minority-owned business leaders in the Youngstown area.

The event brought together business owners, corporate leaders, nonprofit partners and community members to recognize a few of the people that are shaping the region's economic future.

This year's EmpowerUS honorees included: Rhonda Bowser of BCI Granite; Jasmine Neal of Healing Hearts CPR; Angelica Diaz of Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana (OCCHA); Jeff Green of Jazz in the Park; Ryan Gilchrist of Ryan's Chair.