Bill with 3 Valley projects goes to U.S. Senate for OK

The House approved the bill by a large margin Thursday.

YOUNGSTOWN — A bill that includes $4.5 million for three Mahoning Valley projects passed the U.S. House and is expected to be approved shortly by the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, placed the money in the Defense Appropriations Bill. The amounts for the three projects were reduced in the final bill.

A House-Senate conference committee made changes to the bill and recommended its passage. The House approved the bill Thursday by a vote of 400-15. The Senate was debating the bill late Thursday with adoption expected shortly. It would then go to the president for his signature.

Youngstown State University’s new Center of Excellence in Industrial Metrology and 3-D Imaging Research would receive $1.6 million, a reduction of $400,000 from the bill approved in July by the House Appropriations Committee, of which Ryan is a member.

Syncro Medical Systems in Canfield would receive $500,000 to develop a new kind of feeding tube for battlefield trauma patients. The appropriations committee had originally awarded $1 million to the company.

Ajax Tocco of Warren would get $2.4 million for research and development of tactical metal fabrication systems. The appropriations committee had recommended $3 million.

“The investments announced [Thursday] will move our district forward as we begin to transition to a high-tech corridor that will bring new jobs and new research and development initiatives to our area,” Ryan said. “These projects will provide job growth, needed products to our military, and help move our manufacturing sector to the next level of technological advancement.”