Ryan wants to expand port authority’s reach

Ryan wants to expand port authority’s reach

Ever since its creation more than a decade ago, the Western Reserve Port Authority has focused on the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and the land surrounding it.

But that has utilized only a part of the authority’s statutory responsibilities. There are many more activities the governing body can be involved in — and Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, thinks it’s time that it did.

Ryan, who like his predecessor James A. Traficant Jr. has made the regional airport a priority, wants the authority to undertake economic development projects in the Valley.

In a letter to commissioners in Mahoning and Trumbull counties and the mayors of Youngstown and Warren, the congressman noted that state law permits port authorities to engage in economic development activities, such as the issuance of bonds and other forms of public financing.

Authorities also have the power to acquire property and construct buildings and administer state and federal grants.

But the Western Reserve Port Authority doesn’t have the staff for such assignments and has contracted with the Regional Chamber for economic development services

However, Ryan believes it’s time a position were created within the authority.

In his letter to Anthony Traficanti and Dan Polivka, commissioners from Mahoning and Trumbull counties, and mayors Jay Williams of Youngstown and Michael O’Brien of Warren, the congressman noted that WRPA employees are “fully engaged in airport operations and do not have the time or the experience to participate in non-aviation related activities.”

National search

The individual hired — the congressman is pushing for a national search to attract someone with superior qualifications — would not only market the financial services provided by the authority, but would work directly with the community on non-airport related issues that the port authority is involved in, such as the Mahoning River remediation project.

The idea is not a new one. In Akron and Cleveland, for instance, there is an airport authority and a port authority. But such a separation is not legally possible in the Mahoning Valley, which is why the expansion of staff makes sense.

As for the estimated $200,000 it would take to hire a qualified individual and to pay for a secretary, an office and travel, Ryan is asking for a financial commitment from the two county governments and the cities of Youngstown, Warren and Niles.

“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.

The congressman wants a financial commitment of at least three years, which is not an unreasonable request. If the economic development specialist is successful, the return on the investment by the local governments will be significant.

The airport, the 1,400 rural acres around it and the Air Reserve base are extremely important to overall development of the Mahoning Valley.

The creation of an economic development entity within the port authority is timely and necessary.