Facility will get $7.5M for barracks

Three other Mahoning Valley projects, including U.S. routes 224 and 422, received federal funding.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Air Reserve Station will receive $7.5 million in federal funds to build new barracks at the Vienna facility.
The money is in a military construction bill approved Friday by the U.S. House and Senate. A joint conference committee of the two legislative bodies had recommended the funding.
The money will pay for construction of about 100 reservist lodging rooms at the air base as part of a three-phase project, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, who announced the funding.
The facility has 76 rooms, forcing reservists on drill weekends to either double-bunk or for the Air Reserve to pay for them to stay at local hotels and motels.
"This air base is a rock in the community, a source of stability, and we need to improve it," Ryan said.
Ryan obtained $1 million in federal funding last year for the project's design.
"I remain committed to making the Youngstown Air Reserve Station one of the best and most valuable military installations in the country," he said. "Permanent housing at the base has been a long-standing need, and the $7.5 million will fund the first phase of this important project."
Other projects
Ryan also announced Friday that a Transportation/Treasury/Housing and Urban Development spending bill will provide $800,000 to widen U.S. Route 422 in McKinley Heights, and $200,000 to help make the McGuffey Centre on Youngstown's East Side fully handicap-accessible.
The $800,000 would pay to widen 1.36 miles of Route 422 to four lanes from Girard's northern corporation limit through McKinley Heights to Niles-Vienna Road.
The $200,000 would permit the community center to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards by providing an elevator, Ryan said.
The center provides socialization, exercise and transportation for senior citizens, after-school and summer programs for youth and teens. It also has family support programs including parenting, computer classes, health and wellness programs, financial management, entrepreneurship and employability training, Ryan said. Last year, more than 1,200 individuals used these services.
"This money brings federal dollars back to fund initiatives that are a priority for our community," Ryan said.
Also, U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine announced that the same bill includes $1 million for safety improvements in Mahoning County along a two-mile stretch of U.S. Route 224 on the outskirts of Canfield Township.
skolnick@vindy.com