Friday, May 30, 2008
YOUNGSTOWN —While Youngstown tries to sell — unsuccessfully so far — an economic plan to Austintown and Boardman, it’s talking with Struthers and Campbell about sharing income taxes from new businesses along a portion of the Mahoning River.
Youngstown is asking the city councils of Campbell and Struthers to approve resolutions allowing Youngstown to pay for a study that would determine the economic potential of a joint economic development zone [JEDZ].
The potential JEDZ would consist of about 1,200 acres of undeveloped land along the Mahoning River known as the Mahoning River Corridor of Opportunity [MRCO] in those three cities.
About 550 acres of that former mill-dominated area is usable for development, said Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams.
The Youngstown proposal calls for the three cities to evenly split a 2-percent income tax that would be imposed on only new businesses in the MRCO, Williams said.
A main component of the plan would be the use of Youngstown water in the JEDZ, Williams said.
Campbell Mayor John Dill is agreeable to having Youngstown pay for a study. Struthers Mayor Terry Stocker says he and his city council need more time to consider giving the go-ahead to the study.
For the complete story, read Saturday’s Vindicator or vindy.com