Facts don't support the view that Trumbull is losing out

Before complaints about Trumbull County not receiving its fair share of state and federal discretionary dollars become an avalanche of demagoguery, we would offer this advice: Think General Motors Lordstown; think Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
In other words, Trumbull County officials who are intent on keeping up the drumbeat of "us against them" -- the "them" being Mahoning County -- should step back and look objectively at what has taken place in recent months in the Mahoning Valley.
If they do, they will find that the bright future of GM's Lordstown assembly plant -- it will be producing the Cobalt, the new generation of the company's compact models -- was the result of a campaign that involved every segment of the Valley and every political entity in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
Indeed, the huge -- many times greater than the $26.8 million federal grant to the city of Youngstown -- economic incentive package from the state of Ohio to General Motors came about because of this show of unity.
Gov. Bob Taft and his predecessor, George V. Voinovich, were adamant that the three counties speak with one voice. And speak they did.
Unwavering support
Rather than complain that the huge incentive package for GM would deprive their counties of urgently needed economic development dollars, the commissioners in Mahoning and Columbiana were unwavering in their support.
Never once did these commissioners complain that Trumbull County government would be a major beneficiary of GM's $1 billion upgrade of the Lordstown assembly plant and the adjacent fabricating facility. Let there be no mistake: Had the state of Ohio not come through with such a lucrative economic incentive package, the Cobalt would not be calling the Mahoning Valley home.
Thus, when we hear Trumbull officials complain about that county not getting its fair share, we wonder how they view the state and federal grants and other support for GM.
Likewise, we wonder how they define the $300,000 a year that Mahoning County government is funneling to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
The airport is located in Vienna Township, in Trumbull County.
Had Mahoning County commissioners not come forward with a long-term commitment for money, the airport would have been on shaky financial ground. Trumbull County government would not have been able to support the facility on its own.
Airline service
Because of Mahoning County's commitment, the airport's future is more secure. And that has resulted in a commercial airline offering service to Florida and the region being able to make a stronger case for keeping the adjacent Air Force Reserve Station off the 2005 base closing list.
It is worth noting that the development of the industrial park next to the airport will benefit Trumbull County from a tax standpoint.
There are many other examples of Trumbull County getting help from the state and federal governments that Mahoning and Columbiana have not received.
That is why this week's grousing by some Trumbull officials was so laughable.
GM Lordstown and the airport are two of the most important regional projects the Valley has undertaken, and both are located in Trumbull County.