Project for Valley stays top vote getter

By DAVID SKOLNICK

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

With public voting ending Monday, two Mahoning Valley projects are still in the money among 10 vying for a piece of $330,000 being offered by an organization promoting regional collaboration in Northeast Ohio.

The Fund for Our Economic Future will split that money among the three projects that receive the most votes.

The fund received 27 proposals and reduced it to 10. Public voting is this month. Winners will be announced in June.

As of Wednesday, a plan for a land-bank program in Youngstown, Campbell, Struthers and Austintown ranked in first place.

The project, coordinated by Lien Forward Ohio, would cost $76,775. The grant request is $61,420.

A Trumbull County geographical-information system proposal dropped from second to third.

That project, with the county engineer’s office as the lead agency, would provide computer upgrades and equipment for emergency 911 services for various county departments and the cities of Warren and Niles.

The project’s cost is $125,903, and the agencies are seeking $99,500.

Currently in second place is a Stark County 911 dispatch center.

Three winners will be determined by a public vote through Monday, with the organization having the option to award a fourth grant involving smaller communities.

Northeast Ohio residents can vote online at www.efficientgovnow.org or by telephone at 877-771-5206.

Two Valley projects were among the three funded last year.

The Fund for Our Economic Future consists of more than 100 foundations, organizations and philanthropists from 16 counties in Northeast Ohio.