Ryan: Port authority needs person to deal with development

A port authority member agrees with the
congressman’s position.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

Photo

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles

VIENNA — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-17th, is calling on the Western Reserve Port Authority to create a position to deal with economic development issues.

Ryan, of Niles, sent a letter earlier this week to commissioners of Mahoning and Trumbull counties, Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams suggesting that a national search begin to fill the position.

The authority operates the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and the 1,400 rural acres around it.

“Based upon my conversations with local elected officials and other community leaders, I believe that there is considerable support to create an economic development position within the WRPA,” Ryan wrote.

“It’s a great idea,” authority board member Michael Harshman said Thursday.

Harshman said the difficulty the authority has had in creating such a position is funding by the commissioners of both counties.

He said $200,000 to pay the salary of such a person and the cost of a secretary, office and travel expenses is not out of line.

Ryan wrote that a national search should be conducted to attract a highly qualified person.

The letter says Ohio law provides port authorities with the power to engage in economic development activities, including public financing, acquiring and constructing buildings and administering state and federal grants and loans.

Although the authority already is engaged in many of these activities, Ryan wrote, there is no one in place to directly represent the authority on economic development activities.

“All of the employees of the WRPA are fully engaged in airport operations and do not have the time or the experience in non-aviation related activities,” the congressman wrote.

“The more development we can generate, the better off we are,” Harshman said.

Harshman explained the authority has had some discussion about having two port authorities — one for airport operations, another for economic development.

He called attention to the successful Akron-Canton Airport that has two boards.

Ryan said in his letter that community organizations must work with the authority’s volunteer members to advance projects, a process “that needs simplified and streamlined.”

yovich@vindy.com