Department of Defense approves $25 million fire station at Youngstown air base
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- Department of Defense approved $25 million for new fire station at YARS.
- Funding follows 2024’s $2.5 million planning phase and congressional advocacy.
- Project supports C-130J fleet transition and reinforces base’s strategic role.
A new fire station project received $25 million in funding to better serve the ever-growing needs of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna Township.
The Department of Defense sealed their approval for the YARS fire station project as part of the national budget, according to U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, who represents Trumbull County.
“I am proud to see this funding finally secured for the base, a major national security asset and employer in OH-14,” Rep. Joyce said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure the troops in Northeast Ohio have everything they need to protect our country.”
In 2024, the air base received $2.5 million for the planning and design of a new fire station.
The construction design project was authorized by Congress as part of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act.
This March, President Donald Trump signed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, allocating $74.7 million for Air Force Reserve construction projects.
The final step was approval from the Department of Defense.
On March 20, local lawmakers in the Ohio Congressional Delegation like Rep. Michael Rulli joined Rep. Joyce in pushing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toward approving the YARS fire station.
“This investment is a significant victory for Northeast Ohio—solidifying our region’s strategic importance and fostering positive economic growth,” Rep. Rulli said. “It ensures that Northeast Ohio remains not just relevant, but indispensable to our national security.”
YARS will receive the full $25 million for the fire station project as requested, according to Rep. Joyce’s announcement on June 6.
The 910th Airlift Wing is stationed at YARS in Trumbull County; they’re the only Air Force Reserve Command unit training for aerial spray missions targeting vegetation and insects.
“It’s critical the air base has a dependable fire station,“ Rep. Joyce said.
YARS is transitioning to a new air fleet called C-130J airframe to replace the C-130H models, according to Rep. Joyce.
Josh Prest is the executive director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission.
He said the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission worked hand in hand with Rep. Joyce over the last two years to support the mission at the 910th Airlift Wing at YARS.
“This builds on the last ten years of work to bring these new airplanes to the Mahoning Valley,” Prest said. “We are grateful for Congressman Joyce’s multi-year advocacy on behalf of our community and our Airmen, and we are grateful for his individual efforts and his work with the delegation to accelerate the project and secure the funding commitment.”
Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, thanked Rep. Joyce for helping secure the funds.
“Rep. Joyce worked with the community over the last two years to bring the new fire station at YARS to reality,” Coviello said. “We are grateful for his long-standing efforts and his recent efforts with his colleagues in Ohio to prioritize this project for the Defense Department.”
