DEVELOPMENT STUDY Federal funds will be available to decide if racetrack is good idea

The federal money would fund a second study of the track idea.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
VIENNA -- The federal government will fund a study to determine the viability of a $300 million indoor auto racing track.
A provision in the federal five-year Economic Development Administration's reauthorization bill includes funding up to $300,000 for the racetrack study. The study is expected to cost $150,000, but that was a bare-boned study, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, who got the provision into the congressional bill. It awaits the president's signature.
The money will permit a more detailed study, and may allow other aspects of the project to be funded, he said.
'World's first'
"This is a huge step forward in our efforts to see the world's first indoor racetrack built in the Mahoning Valley," Ryan said. "Completion of the project would mean approximately 1,300 jobs for our area with an estimated impact of $100 million annually."
A $60,000 study in 2003, funded equally between Mahoning and Trumbull counties, found that the idea had merit, and that a publicly owned racetrack could be profitable, even if it didn't get a big race.
But because of financial challenges facing both counties, plans stalled for a second study, which would cost at least $150,000. The second study would provide a more in-depth look at the market conditions and potential for the 40-acre covered racetrack proposed by Brant Motorsports of Wheeling, W.Va.
"The $300,000 will allow us to complete the study phase of the project and make a final decision about whether this project is viable in the Mahoning Valley," Ryan said. "I believe this project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to revitalize and transform our economic future."
Apparent conflict
It was reported last week that the track appears to conflict with a zoning proposal to protect the Youngstown Air Reserve Station here. The federal government plans to close about 25 percent of its domestic military bases, with the closure list to be released next year.
Supporters of the air base say zoning regulations need to be imposed near the station, which employs about 2,500 people, to limit tall buildings in flight paths to and from the nearby Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. The racetrack would exceed those height limitations.
"The air base is my No. 1 priority, and I will do nothing to interfere with the air base," Ryan said. "There is flexibility with the racetrack."
The Mahoning Valley Motor Speedway project would cost $300 million to build, would initially seat 60,000, and be expandable to 120,000 seats. Brant Motorsports wants the project funded by a mix of private and public sources.
skolnick@vindy.com