Deadline looms for funding requests

YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning Valley communities have until Jan. 1 to submit requests for money from next year's state capital bill for significant projects. The requests must be turned in to the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is facilitating the process for local state legislators.
The chamber expects to get about a half-dozen requests from area communities for funding from the Ohio Capital Appropriations Budget for economic development projects exceeding $500,000 each, said Barbara Ewing, the organization's vice president of public policy. The Valley received about $5 million of the $120 million available in the 2000 capital bill.
With the uncertainty of how the state will fund education and Ohio's economic downtown, the amount of money available in next year's two-year capital bill is uncertain.
Every two years, the state sells bonds and spreads around the proceeds for capital projects, which are selected by the state Legislature.
Local state legislators say the Mahoning Valley has a better chance to obtain money from the capital bill if they all get behind and lobby for a limited number of projects.
The local legislators will work with community leaders, the chamber and local labor unions to prioritize the Valley projects.
The legislators are expected to have a final list by Feb. 15.