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2 Mahoning Valley projects lead contest for share of $300,000
More than 6,500 people have voted.
YOUNGSTOWN — A pair of Mahoning Valley government-collaboration projects garnered the top two positions in a public voting for a share of $300,000 to implement the proposals.
The top three vote-getters among the nine proposals will share the money from the Fund for Our Economic Future, which organized the contest to promote government efficiency and collaboration.
Voting started at the beginning of the month and ends July 31. As of Monday, the two Valley projects were the front-runners with two other projects close behind.
More than 6,500 people have voted as of Monday.
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.
This project stands in first place.
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.
This project is in second place.
In third is a proposal to have the Orrville and Rittman school districts in Wayne County share administrative services.
In fourth place is a proposal to combine seven fire departments in Lorain and Cuyahoga counties into one regional fire district.
The Fund for Our Economic Future consists of more than 100 foundations, organizations and philanthropists from 16 counties in Northeast Ohio, including Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana.
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