House bill to send about $8M to Valley

By David Skolnick

The biggest Valley project would create an energy systems center at Youngstown State University.

The Mahoning Valley stands to receive close to $8 million for 25 projects and programs through a $410 billion spending measure approved by the U.S. House.

It must now pass in the Senate and be signed by the president. The Senate is expected to act on the bill in the next week or two.

The House late Wednesday approved the bill 245-178.

“The projects that we are funding in this spending bill are part of a coordinated effort to bring better jobs, better health care and better education to our community,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, of Niles, D-17th.

In the Mahoning Valley, the largest project is at Youngstown State University, where $1,903,000 would go toward the creation of a Center for Renewable Energy Systems. The center would analyze wind energy by erecting two windmills on the campus with one using a traditional blade and the other using a new technology designed blade. The center would also focus on a fuel cell powered system.

The next largest is $700,000 to replace a lift station and sewer lines in Campbell to develop a 1,470-acre industrial brownfield site.

Others are:

U$216,000 for the Warren school district to develop a mobile health clinic program.

U$171,000 for Forum Health’s Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren to buy an MRI scanner.

U$150,000 to renovate the historic Kinsman House’s interior.

The Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber would get $295,00 for its From Steel to Scholars program, which encourages students to achieve an effective to excellent rating on the state’s proficiency tests. U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, secured that earmark. It would also get $245,643 for the chamber’s Salute to Success program that helps business startups.

skolnick@vindy.com