State bill to provide Mahoning Valley with renovation funds

By Marc Kovac

COLUMBUS — State lawmakers began reviewing nearly $1.3 billion in capital spending Monday, part of the biennial projects bill they plan to approve before breaking for the summer.

The primary purpose of House Bill 562, sponsored by Rep. Jay Hottinger, a Republican from Newark, “is to address the state’s ongoing need to improve, maintain and construct state facilities,” Hottinger said in offering opening comments during a committee hearing Monday morning.

“Although some of these appropriations are directed toward the construction of new facilities, the majority are targeted for improving or replacing existing ones.”

Under the current version of HB 562, Mahoning County would receive about $13.5 million, including:

•$675,000 for Stambaugh Auditorium, through the Cultural Facilities Commission.

•$675,000 for the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, through the Cultural Facilities Commission.

•$400,000 for the Wick Neighborhood Public Park, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•$100,000 for Youngstown parks, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•$75,000 for Austintown Nature Rooms, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•More than $11.5 million for various projects at Youngstown State University, including about $3.5 million for basic renovations, about $625,000 for building system upgrades, $1.5 million for campus development, $850,000 for campus space upgrades and $5.1 million for the new College of Business.

Trumbull County would receive about $1.2 million, including:

•$50,000 for the Warren veterans memorial, through the Cultural Facilities Commission.

•$100,000 for Someplace Safe, through the Department of Mental Health.

•$100,000 for the Mahoning River Water Trail, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•$463,939 for renovations at Kent State’s Trumbull campus.

•$500,000 for the Trumbull County Business Incubator, through Youngstown State University.

Columbiana County would receive a little more than $1 million, including:

•$53,000 for Salem Community Theater, through the Cultural Facilities Commission.

•$250,000 for the Hope Learning Center, through the Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

•$145,000 for the Historic Pittsburgh Marion Chicago Train Station Bike Trail, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•$300,000 for the Beavercreek Wildlife Education Center, through the Department of Natural Resources.

•$15,000 for the village of Salineville for a baseball field, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•$10,000 for a skateboard plaza in Salem, through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

•More than $300,000 for renovations at Kent State University campuses in East Liverpool and Salem.