The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber applauds the Valley’s state-elected delegation for securing funds advancing the region’s priorities.


State Sens. Sean O’Brien, D-Bazetta, and Michael Rulli, R-Leetonia, along with State Reps. Michael O’Brien, D-Warren; Gil Blair, D-Weathersfield; and Don Manning, R-Boardman, approved a budget with more than $3.6 million for the Valley. The governor signed the budget this morning.


The budget includes $2 million for Mahoning River revitalization, $1 million for America Makes and $600,000 to promote the region’s military installations, the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center.


“The Regional Chamber has helped mobilize our community through outreach, organizing and drawing attention to issues that are vital to the Valley,” Regional Chamber President & CEO James Dignan said. “Waiting for others to do something for us is a bad idea. This proactive, bipartisan effort between the business community and our elected leaders reflects how community advocacy can make real change.”


Specific budget items praised by the Chamber include:

• $1.5 million for low-head dam removal and $500,000 toward a riverside trail to assist in revitalizing the Mahoning River
• $1 million to match federal and/or private sector investment in additive manufacturing at America Makes
• $600,000 to help protect and grow military missions, including efforts to bring new C-130J aircraft to YARS and attract a $4 billion missile defense site to Camp Garfield

“Our representatives and senators are helping position Ohio to embrace the recommendations outlined in the Ohio BOLD report, which sites next-generation manufacturing at America Makes as a potential catalyst for the entire state’s economy,” said Regional Chamber Director of Government and Public Affairs Nick Santucci. “The policymakers supported other economic development priorities such as YARS, which is Trumbull County’s No. 1 employer, Camp Garfield and the Mahoning River.”