Here’s how Mahoning’s economic development agencies would spend $8.3M in federal funding

YOUNGSTOWN — Three Mahoning Valley economic development agencies on Thursday pitched Mahoning County commissioners on some uses for the county's anticipated $42 million in American Rescue Plan funding.

The Western Reserve Port Authority, Valley Economic Development Partners. Economic Action Group and the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber all delivered presentations, looking for between $800,000 and $2.5 million for various initiatives, all totaling $8.3 million.

The authority proposed $2.5 million to further develop the Mahoning County Campus of Care — a 35-acre authority-operated campus along County Line Road in Mineral Ridge that offers services for the developmentally disabled or mentally ill that can't be found elsewhere in the region. ARP funds can be used to promote access to behavioral health services, the authority's presentation notes.

The authority suggested expanding roadway and parking infrastructure to serve 250 clients a day; upgrades to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act; energy efficiency work; improvements and furnishings to the main building's atrium; and a greenhouse growing area.

Mahoning County Commissioner David Ditzler said the county has already requested $4 million from the state's capital budget for the campus.

ARP funds can also be put toward helping reopen the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors largely closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authority proposed another $2.5 million to create a "one-stop shop" for business recovery, which would identify impacted retail or commercial districts, develop recovery plans, remove blight and offer grants for improving facades and other eligible uses.

The third part of the authority's pitch was for a "joint economic development website" totaling $250,000. The website would market economic development services of its local partners, show off the county's assets to potential investors, collect data and measure impact.

Valley Economic Development Partners, which since its inception 40 years ago — it was formerly known as Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp. — has loaned more than 500 small businesses a total of $40 million and saved more than 9,000 Valley jobs, wants to put $1 million to $2 million toward a new permanent revolving loan fund.

If given $2 million to offer loans of about $75,000 apiece, Valley EDP expects to help more than 20 businesses start to expand in the county and create or retain as many as 80 new jobs. Loan recipients — with less than $1 million in revenue — would have to show the funds would be used to "mitigate financial hardship," according to the agency.

The chamber seeks $800,000 to bolster its EMERGE program, which offers "one-on-one assistance to Mahoning County companies that continue to struggle as a result of COVID-19," according to its presentation. The program was formed in April 2020.

"The chamber staff responds to and proactively reaches out to small businesses located throughout the county to ensure they are aware of the many COVID-related and other resources available to support their needs," reads the chamber's presentation.

Ditzler told Mahoning Matters Thursday commissioners have some thinking and planning to do before deciding whether to commit the total $8.3 million to the proposals.

"I think they have some good ideas, but I think we have a long way to go before we turn over 20 percent of the total [$42 million]," he said.

Ditzler said commissioners are looking to fund initiatives that help residents who are struggling during the pandemic, like Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley and the local United Way. He added officials will also look to leverage ARP funding as local matches for new infrastructure grants.

"The things that we do now we feel need to have a long-reaching impact, to be able to help for 10 or 20 or 30 years down the road," Ditzler said.

This story was originally published July 16, 2021 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Here’s how Mahoning’s economic development agencies would spend $8.3M in federal funding."