Public to decide if Valley projects receive part of fund

By David Skolnick

Voting by the public ends July 31.

YOUNGSTOWN — Two Mahoning Valley government-collaboration projects are among nine vying for $300,000 — with the winners determined by the public.

The Fund for Our Economic Future — consisting of more than 100 foundations, organizations and philanthropists from 16 counties in Northeast Ohio, including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana — is providing the funding for three projects to share.

Votes by the public through the end of the month will determine which projects receive the money.

The two Valley projects are doing well in early voting, a fund spokesman said.

The Valley projects are:

UNine communities in Mahoning and Trumbull counties would collaborate with Youngstown State University’s Center for Urban and Regional Studies to implement a Web site to market sites in those communities for economic development.

The communities are Youngstown, Warren, Niles, Girard, Struthers, Campbell, Newton Falls, McDonald and Lowellville.

The communities are seeking $57,451 from the fund for the project.

UThe Mahoning County Auditor’s office, Youngstown, Boardman, Austintown and the city of Canfield would share broadband technology for law enforcement, disaster recovery and general-information technology services.

The government entities are asking for $120,000 from the fund for this project.

Votes can be cast online at www.efficientgovnow.org/Vote, by telephone at (877) 771-5206, or with a mail-in ballot available at public libraries.

The winners will be announced next month.

skolnick@vindy.com