HMP is investing in the Valley

HMP is investing in the Valley

In the Feb. 22 editorial, “V&M Star Steel the latest in positive news for the Valley,” The Vindicator praised this recent good news and also identified eight separate companies and their positive investments in the area.

At Humility of Mary Health Partners, we salute the private sector companies who have recognized the vitality of our region and its people by “voting for our Valley” with their financial investments.

Like these forward thinking, for-profit companies, HMHP — the area’s largest employer — has invested heavily in the people of the Mahoning Valley. We committed more than $80 million to create St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center. Each year we spend millions in capital investments across our facilities and have done so for almost 100 years.

We at HMHP join the Valley in welcoming the expansion of V&M Star Steel and pledge to continue to work with other area organizations to revitalize the region and create healthier communities.

Paul N. Olivie, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Humility of Mary Health Partners, Youngstown

YSU board should give higher priority to funding Early College

Whatever the future of the Youngstown Early College, I only can conclude that the board of Youngstown State University has made a decision to reduce its engagement with the real needs of the community.

Every candidate for the presidency, when questioned, professed a concern for the Youngstown schools and expressed their intentions to look for ways to seek mutual benefits. The board is severing the most successful connection that existed. If nothing more, the Early College is a great feeder school that brings well prepared students to YSU, students who do not need remedial courses and who are on their way to a college degree.

In a $140 million budget, an inability to find room for the YEC program is a matter of priority, one that says that our leading academic institution has changed its mind concerning helping the public school system. Fumbling the program over to the Eastern Gateway Community College may be a stopgap, but the benefits of the relationship with YSU and its School of Education are not something to be abandoned. The dismay expressed by President Sweet over his board’s decision should be proof enough that the expression “penny wise and pound foolish” is applicable here.

J. David Sabine, Poland