Should Mahoning County join the Appalachian region?

Local leaders seem leery of joining the Appalachian Regional Commission.
By SARAH SOLE
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
For more than four years, a congressional representative was trying to persuade local officials to join the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-OH) argued that joining the Appalachian Regional Commission, or the ARC, would make the Mahoning Valley eligible for federal and state funding that could help jumpstart the Valley's sluggish economy.
Local officials have been skeptical, and now even LaTourette has seemingly put the idea to rest.
But a woman whose county is part of the ARC has only positive things to say about the commission.
For the West Virginia community of Upshur County, the ARC has been a blessing, said Rosemary Wagner, executive director for Region VII Planning and Development Council.
"We don't know what we'd do without the ARC," Wagner said.
Region VII submits about eight projects a year to the ARC, and out of that, two or three projects are completed, she said. A company based in Upshur County, W.Va., had the opportunity to grow and expand because of ARC funding, Wagner said.
Economic outlook
In addition, there are plans for ways to bring business growth. Recently, Wagner said, officials met with citizens and asked their opinions about the regional economy.
"It's laying the groundwork and the framework," Wagner said of the meeting. "We didn't want this to be another plan on the shelf collecting dust. It's all doable; we need jobs."
Some officials had been considering adding Mahoning and Trumbull counties to the Appalachian Regional Commission, but others are worried that the federal-state partnership might not do much for the Mahoning Valley.
Various counties from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and the entire state of West Virginia are part of the ARC.
The partnership aims to help counties that are struggling.
Although some familiar with city development still see the benefits of additional government funding, others have dismissed the proposal to add Mahoning and Trumbull counties to the ARC.
Deborah Setliff, press secretary for LaTourette, said there is no downside to joining the commission. "Why would you not take that opportunity?" she said.
What problem?
Bill D'Avignon, director of the Community Development Agency for Youngstown, said he does not see a downside to joining the ARC.
"I think people ought to look at it as 'any resource would help,'" he said. However, D'Avignon said he wondered how Mahoning and Trumbull counties would compete with the rest of the counties for limited funds.
"I'm not sure if there's any consensus built around it," he said.
Sarah Lown, director of economic development for Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, also believes that funding in the ARC is limited.
"I think that maybe LaTourette has let it go," Lown said, speaking of the initial proposal LaTourette made in 2003 to join the ARC.
Joining the ARC would not result in a great deal of funding, Lown said.
"Most federal fund sources are loaded with regulations," Lown said. "A big pool of funds suddenly dries up in your face."
According to the ARC's Online Resource Center, the ARC awards grants from funds allocated to the commission by Congress. While the ARC can award grants, the commission generally funds only 50 percent of a project's total cost. It is up to the region to obtain the rest of the money from federal, state or private funds.
In the case of distressed counties, the ARC can fund up to 80 percent of a project's total cost. For counties that are almost economically stable, the ARC usually funds only 30 percent of a project's total cost. Projects include transportation, area and business development. Funding is available for projects such as water and sewer services, affordable healthcare, and improved infrastructure.
Limited resources
Thomas Finnerty, associate director of the Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University, said he wonders if joining the ARC will have a net gain for the region.
"I don't know in the long-run if it's a good thing," Finnerty said.
He said he knows that recently the ARC has been hurting, in terms of available funding.
"It's symbolic, but I don't see net benefits," Finnerty said. "I'm a little bit skeptical. I don't think we fit. We're Northeast Ohio; we're not Appalachia."
Jay Williams, Youngstown's mayor, said he also wonders if the urban profile of Youngstown fits the Appalachian profile.