Youngstown mayor seeks federal dollars to help Forum Health

Mayor Jay Williams is trying to secure federal funds to help Forum Health reorganize without a sale to an outside operator.

The Youngstown mayor announced the plan this morning during a television appearance. Williams told the audience of C-SPAN’s Washington Journal that saving 4,000 local jobs at Forum would be a wise use of funds from federal stimulus or corporate bailout programs.

During an interview after the show, Williams said he has spoken to Forum officials and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, about the plan. Williams said he plans to talk to Ryan further while he is in Washington this week and eventually meet with officials in the Obama administration that oversee the money.

Williams said he wants to avoid Forum’s hospitals being sold during bankruptcy proceedings because he fears many jobs would be lost. Federal funds could be used for loans, loan guarantees or perhaps direct grants to make Forum’s own reorganization plan more viable, he said.

For more details, see Tuesday’s Vindicator or www.vindy.com.