Regional support for airport development office

By Ed Runyan

Trumbull County has committed $300,000 over three years for the project.

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners say they, the Mahoning County commissioners, and the cities of Youngstown, Warren and Niles are on board to contribute the money needed to create an economic development office within the Western Reserve Port Authority.

The port authority oversees operations at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna.

The Trumbull commissioners Wednesday committed $100,000 per year for three years for the project.

It would be added to $100,000 per year for three years from Mahoning County and $50,000 for three years from Youngstown, Warren and Niles, commissioners said.

At its Wednesday night session, Niles council approved allocating $50,000 for one year, however. Although U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, had suggested three years’ funding, council, at the suggestion of Mayor Ralph Infante, made the one-year commitment. Infante said the city should assess the program and decide in 2009 whether to continue funding.

The Western Reserve Building Trades Council also is committing $25,000 for at least one year, Trumbull commissioners said.

Commissioner Paul Heltzel said putting the money together will allow for the creation of a staff to use the powers of a port authority to help businesses secure low-interest loans and help companies locate and expand in the Mahoning Valley.

Commissioner Frank Fuda said one of the goals of the office will be to try to bring back individuals who have formerly lived in the community but moved on and built businesses in other areas.

Heltzel said Ryan spearheaded the project and has “threatened and cajoled” local governmental leaders for several years to persuade them to participate.

Commissioner Dan Polivka said he believes this project will be one of the finest examples of cooperation between Mahoning and Trumbull counties in his lifetime.

Ryan wrote a letter earlier in February to commissioners of Mahoning and Trumbull counties, Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams suggesting that a national search begin to find an economic development professional to work with the port authority.

The congressman said the port authority is busy running the airport and doesn’t have the manpower and expertise to handle economic development.

Even before that, the port authority discussed hiring a full-time marketing professional after RTI International Metals of Niles said last September that it was moving its corporate staff of 100 out of Niles to be closer to a major airport.

That idea never got off the ground, though port authority members later discussed paying a consultant to provide marketing services.

When asked about its participation in the idea, the office of Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien said Auditor David Griffing will be recommending to Warren City Council at its Sept. 10 meeting that the city participate in the project.

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams said he’s discussed the proposal with members of city council and expects the legislative body to act on it as early as next month.

Williams said he supports the proposal. He said that he can’t speak for council but that he believes the idea has the support of a majority of its members.

Heltzel said the Mahoning Valley hopes to follow the model of port authorities in Summit and Cuyahoga counties to boost economic development.

Mahoning County Commissioner John A. McNally IV said he supports the initiative and expects that he and his colleagues will adopt it soon.

The initiative is a good idea for both Trumbull and Mahoning counties because it promotes a regional approach to job creation and retention, McNally said. “Let’s use the port authority and its staff as an economic development tool,” he concluded.

XCONTRIBUTORS: City hall reporter David Skolnick and Peter H. Milliken, staff writer