MAHONING VALLEY Official at ARC lowers outlook

The agency's future funding is in the hands of Congress.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Joining the Appalachian Regional Commission won't adversely affect Mahoning and Trumbull counties, but they shouldn't expect membership to result in a financial windfall.
That was the subtle message given Thursday by Guy Land, the ARC's chief of staff, during a conference call with U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, county commissioners, other county officials, and Barbara Ewing from U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan's office.
The U.S. House voted Wednesday to add Mahoning, Trumbull, Ashtabula and Fayette counties to the ARC. The bill is now in the Senate.
The bill was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette of Madison, R-14th, who represents seven northern townships in Trumbull County and all of Ashtabula County, and serves as chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's public buildings, economic development and emergency management subcommittee.
LaTourette says joining the ARC will help the counties "become eligible for additional federal funding for transportation projects and efforts to revitalize public utilities and spur economic growth."
Transportation
One advantage LaTourette has touted for joining the commission was the $450 million set aside by Congress for transportation projects in ARC counties.
But Land told the Mahoning County officials that the ARC's highway program "would not have any direct impact on your county." The money is available only for highways in the Appalachian Development Highway System, and the closest highway in Ohio in that system is 200 miles away.
The commission distributed $66.4 million to ARC counties last year, about 60 percent to counties designated as distressed. Mahoning and Trumbull would not be considered distressed under ARC rules, Land said. Ohio, which has 29 counties in the ARC, received $4.4 million in commission funding last year.
Federal funding
The Senate voted to provide $71 million to the ARC, and the House went along with the president's proposal to provide $33 million. The two bodies are working out a compromise in a conference committee.
If the conference committee approves a figure close to the House number, Strickland, of Lisbon, D-6th, said it will gut the ARC program and leave Ohio with about $2 million in commission funding.
Land said that there is no guarantee that ARC members receive funding and that the ARC is used primarily to supplement the local cost of projects that receive other federal dollars.
Columbiana County in Ohio, and Mercer and Lawrence counties in Pennsylvania are already ARC members.
Columbiana County has received $4.36 million in ARC funding since 1993, but nothing since 2001.
About ARC
Congress established the commission in 1965 to support economic development in the Appalachian region. There are 410 members, and 12 other counties -- including Mahoning and Trumbull -- are being considered for inclusion.
Congress appropriates funds for highway projects and community and development programs, which seek to create sustained economic growth.
skolnick@vindy.com