Support for state Issue 1 urged

Local business, academic and political leaders urged Mahoning Valley residents today to vote in favor of state Issue 1, which will allow Ohio to borrow $700 million to extend funding for the Third Frontier program for another four years, through 2016.

The issue is on the May 4 ballot.

The money helped create more than 570 companies and more than 48,000 jobs, according to the Ohio Department of Development.

“The Third Frontier has had its fingerprints over local economic projects,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, at a meeting today at the Semple Building on West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown.

One of those companies is Syncro Medical Innovations Inc. of Youngstown, a medical technology company that received $400,000 to develop a specialized feeding tube.

“This program is for real,” Gary Wakeford, the company’s president, said about the Third Frontier program. “We need to get behind it.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com