Rep. McNally Announces Support for 18 Mahoning County Projects in Appalachian Community Grant Program Application
COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced support for the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments (Eastgate) application for funding from the Appalachian Community Grant Program within the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Appalachia. The application highlights 18 projects within Mahoning County and Ohio’s 59th District in her letter of support to the Director.
“These are all projects that, if funded, are ready to hit the ground running and be completed by the 2026 deadline imposed by the grant program,” said Rep. McNally. “I’ve had lots of meetings with community leaders and developers working on these projects and am assisting in connecting them to additional state resources where it makes sense and advocating on their behalf at the state level.”
Appalachian Community Grant Program (ACGP) is funded by $500,000,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 dollars given to the state of Ohio, intending to strategically invest in projects that will result in sustainable and transformational outcomes for the 32-county Appalachian region including health care, infrastructure, and workforce components. The grant program was opened in October of 2022, and only local government and government-related entities were eligible to apply as eligible lead applicants. However, the program encourages a high level of collaboration to maximize the return on investment.
“Extending my strong support for Eastgate’s ACGP application comes easily and naturally. I am supporting thoughtfulness, talent, collaboration, preparation, transformation, and hope - the hope of properties and people restored to productive uses and joy, their minds and abilities better utilized and achieving greater potential. It is the hope of people thriving and the return of possibility and prosperity in this often-forgotten region,” said Rep. McNally in her letter to the Director John Carey. “It is an application that, if approved, can have an equitable and positive impact on our area, while lifting our economic, health, and social priorities in the Mahoning Valley and Appalachian region.”
Eastgate is serving as the lead applicant on a proposal requesting $156 million toward “shovel ready” projects with partners including, but not limited to, the Ashtabula Port Authority, Columbiana County Port Authority, and the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce. The proposal reflects 43 projects, 18 of which are in Mahoning County, envisioned as 1-large development application spanning 4-counties (Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull), 3-investment areas (Redevelopment-Infrastructure, Workforce, and Healthcare), and 2-Local Development Districts (OMEGA and Eastgate).
Projects in Ohio’s 59th District and Mahoning County include:
· Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber (Four-County Workforce Talent Retention & Attraction Ecosystem)
· City of Youngstown (B & O Property Renovations and Riverfront Park Upgrades)
· City of Youngstown (Downtown Streetscape Enhancements)
· City of Youngstown (Targeted Facade Improvements)
· Lowellville (Riverfront Park)
· Lowellville (Stavich Bike Trail)
· Mahoning Valley Historical Society (Facility Expansion and Improvement)
· Mercy Health Youngstown (Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center)
· Milton Township (Mahoning Avenue Corridor Revitalization Plan)
· OH WOW (Phase 4 Renovation)
· QUICKmed (27 W Federal Redevelopment)
· Struthers (Downtown & Streetscape Revitalization)
· Struthers (Community River Launch)
· Western Reserve Port Authority (Mahoning Valley Workforce Welcome Center)
· Western Reserve Port Authority (Belmont Ave Building Redevelopment)
· YBI (Graduate Additive Manufacturing Facility)
· YNDC (REVITALIZE Glenwood)
· Youngstown Flea (Building Redevelopment)
Partners will gather TODAY, December 8, 2023, at America Makes (236 W Boardman Street, Youngstown, OH 44503) beginning at 3:00pm for a rally in support of the region’s ACGP application. Remarks will begin at 3:45pm.
Rep McNally’s letter to John Carey, Director, Governor’s Office of Appalachia