The city of Youngstown launched the YO App today for businesses. It's geared toward expansion and community connection, featuring a number of different businesses for shopping and eating.

"As they buy things or eat things in Youngstown, they'll be able to rack up points that they can then turn around and redeem at our businesses to keep them coming back," said Youngstown Fifth Ward Councilwoman Lauren McNally.

The YO app will also help the city remain in-the-know.

"The pandemic really exposed the city for what we didn't know," said Nikki Posterli, City of Youngstown chief of staff. "And what we didn't know is what our businesses had to offer and how we can help them," she said.

Now, with the help of the app, the city can better support local businesses and create more room for economic development through retaining those businesses.

"It's hard for small businesses to really put money towards advertising sometimes," said McNally. "So this can help them alleviate some of those advertising costs as well as help just get the word out about Youngstown in general and so it'll benefit the city as a whole," she said.

Posterli tells 21 News she believes the app could expand the city's footprint, regionally.

"There's a look now into whats going on in Youngstown. Other communities wanna know what we're doing and here's a great way to show them what we're doing," said Posterli. "So I think it will expand our foot print, not only just here, but regionally," she said.

Currently, there's already about a hundred businesses on the app and you can find it by searching "YO city app," on your smartphone in the app store.