County OKs application for building grant

WARREN – The Trumbull County commissioners have given approval to the filing of a $5 million state grant application to make vacant buildings in the Warren area available to small businesses.

Alan Knapp, director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission, said passage was needed at the commissioner’s Wednesday meeting so a pre-application can be sent to the Ohio Department of Development by Friday.

Knapp said that the county needs to submit its full application in the spring when it will compete for the Ohio Job Ready Sites Program grants that were approved by state voters in 2005.

Knapp didn’t know which old buildings would be involved in the program, which would pay to refurbish the buildings so they could be used by new tenants.

If the grant is approved, Knapp said improvements could be made by dividing the buildings to make space for companies, constructing loading docks and painting and carpeting. The county wants to make about 600,000 square feet of space available in “several buildings” for startup companies.

In other business, commissioners adopted a resolution honoring Robert J. Campana, county dog warden, who is retiring effective April 20 after 37 years with the county.