Company plans travel center in Braceville
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — A Trumbull County company is proposing the construction of a nearly $1.4 million travel center near the Ohio Turnpike and state Route 5 in Braceville Township.
The proposal came up Wednesday during the county commissioners’ work session by Mark Zigmont, economic development director at the Trumbull County Planning Commission.
The planning commission wants to seek a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development being sought by 580 Partnership LLC.
Zigmont explained that if the grant is approved, 580 Partnership will spend $850,000 for the $1,350,000 project. It would create 30 jobs involved in fuel sales and the operation of a convenience store, food court and carwash.
The $500,000 would be used for site preparation such as removing old underground fuel tanks, he added.
If the company doesn’t receive the grant, Zigmont told commissioners it is uncertain if the company will continue with the project located just west of Braceville-Robinson Road.
Currently, there is a former restaurant and gas station at the site. The plan calls for the remodeling of the old structure and constructing an addition.
“It will service the trucking industry,” Zigmont said, noting the site is serviced by a sanitary sewer.
Also at today’s meeting, commissioners may approve a $410,007 contract with Utility Construction Inc. of Youngstown to expand the sewage treatment plant on Sterling Drive in Bazetta Township.
Utility Construction is the lowest of five bidders to expand and improve the plant.
Rex Fee, executive director of the Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer’s Office, said capacity will increase from 40,000 to 80,000 gallons per day.
The plant and construction of the line will service about 60 homes along Lakeshore Drive on the west side of Mosquito Lake and the nearby state park.
Fee said the contract with Utility Construction is the fourth and final contract for the $1.3 million project. Construction will begin in about three weeks and is scheduled for completion in six months.
yovich@vindy.com