BOARD OF CONTROL Brilex gets financial help for job-creating expansion

The company also received other city incentives, including a tax abatement.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A local business has received a helping hand from the city and Sky Bank to expand its operations and create jobs.
The Youngstown Board of Control approved a request Thursday from the city's Office of Economic Development for a $1.5 million interim loan agreement for Brilex Industries, 1201 Crescent St.
T. Sharon Woodberry, development officer for the economic development office, said the city will provide the loan at zero percent interest for 18 months based on an irrevocable letter of credit issued by Sky Bank.
The money will come from the city's Community Development Block Grant money. At the end of 18 months, the city will receive $1.5 million from Sky Bank, and the bank will become the permanent lender, Woodberry added.
Performance grant
The city also will provide a $60,000 performance grant through its Youngstown Initiative program in conjunction with the bank. The city provides equity to the project on the condition the bank is willing to finance it and the U.S. Small Business Administration participates in the loan, said Jeff Chagnot, economic development director.
Other city incentives are a 75 percent tax abatement on the improvements to real and personal property and a $19,000 demolition grant from the initiative program.
Brilex specializes in custom machine building, steel equipment and industrial assemblies. It has 50 workers now and would add 10 full-time jobs, Woodberry said.
Brian Benyo, company president, said the funding will allow an expansion of about 10,000 square feet to its current facility, and full-time jobs will be created in the mechanical assembly and machining operations. The company also plans to buy more equipment.
Letter of credit
The board of control -- Mayor George McKelvey, Law Director John McNally and Finance Director David Bozanich -- also approved a letter of credit for $63,000 for interim bonding for Rodney E. Turner, owner of American Maintenance Services, located on Phelps Street.
William M. Carter, executive director of the Youngstown Area Development Corp., explained the money will be used until AMS, a minority-owned cleaning company, can get private bonding, which should be done early next year.
Jay Williams, the city's Community Development Agency director, told the board AMS has received a contract to clean turnpike restrooms.
The board also approved a professional service agreement of $3,600 with Alcorn Web Design Services of Youngstown to maintain the Youngstown 2010 Web site.
In other action, the Board of Control:
Renewed the contract with Veronica Foster of Youngstown to serve as Weed and Seed coordinator next year at a salary of $32,385. Weed and Seed is the South Side crime-fighting and neighborhood improvement program.
Approved a professional services contract with Delores Scotchie of Youngstown as crime prevention specialist at $25,000 for the Golden Alert program.
Approved additional streetlights near 2309 Overlook Ave., 2323 Overlook Ave., 1126 Park Hill Drive and 1649 McGuffey Road to correct safety hazards for pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Approved payment to A.P. Systems, location not available, for $24,995 to buy a new data server and other electronic equipment.
Approved payment of $24,975 to Marucci & amp; Gaffney Co. of Youngstown for emergency repair of sanitary sewer main lines at Phelps and Federal streets.
Approved payment of $5,745 for the emergency repair of 12 catch basins on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Approved payment of $22,745 to Marucci & amp; Gaffney for the emergency repair of a sanitary sewer line on Champion Street.
Approved a total payment of $12,454 to K.T. Lyden Construction Co. of Liberty for emergency repairs of catch basins at Lakewood Avenue and Thorn Street and a catch basin at the Poland Avenue pump station.
Approved a $25,000 agreement between the city and the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership.
Approved a request from the Law Department's risk management division to apply for and enter into an agreement for a safety grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation for the city fire department to buy hose nozzles. The grant is for $40,000, and the city's share won't exceed $10,000.