MAHONING, TRUMBULL COUNTIES Panel OKs applying for public works funds
State funding for most of the projects is expected to be available July 1.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The Ohio Public Works Commission will soon be asked if 26 area road and sewer improvement projects should receive state funding this year.
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments' District 6 Public Works Integrating Committee will send applications seeking funding to the commission next month.
The committee is responsible for determining which Mahoning and Trumbull county communities apply for funding.
The public works commission is expected to allocate $7.4 million in grants and loans to Trumbull and Mahoning county projects this year. The integrating committee received applications seeking $16.8 million to pay for a total of 72 projects.
Vote: On Wednesday, the integrating committee voted to send 26 of those applications to the public works commission. Don Vitullo, Eastgate's director of special projects, said the public works commission typically approves all applications from Trumbull and Mahoning counties.
The 26 applications ask for a total of $9.1 million.
The additional money is expected to come from other state-funded projects that have been completed in the area and did not cost as much as expected.
Public works commission allocations come from the state's Issue 2 bond or Local Transportation Improvement Program, funded through the gas tax.
Point system: The integrating committee decided which applications to send to the public works commission using a point system. Points were awarded based on several criteria, including community need for the project and the amount of other funding available to pay for it.
Funding for most of the projects is expected to be available July 1.
hill@vindy.com