Grant would go to develop site for air cargo

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Western Reserve Port Authority has taken steps to apply for a Jobs Ready grant through the Ohio Department of Development to allow the port to buy and develop the former Davis Air Cargo building.

The Federal Aviation Administration objected to the decades-long lease the port signed with Millwood Inc. in 2009 that allowed the company to use the land and building for nonaeronautical purposes.

The building, on Ridge Road on the western edge of the airport, is adjacent to an air-cargo apron paid for with millions in FAA grant money.

With the money from the Jobs Ready grant, the port would buy the building from Millwood, which would cancel the lease, and the port would develop the building for air cargo.

Dan Dickten, director of aviation at the airport, said discussions with members of the Cleveland Freight Association have suggested that an air-freight business could be viable there.

On Wednesday, the port authority authorized budgeting $11,300 that will be paid to the airport’s consultant, C&S of Cleveland, to conduct an environmental assessment of the property to assist with the grant application.

The program is called Jobs Ready because it involves preparing a site so that it has the water, sewer and roads it needs so a company can develop it quickly.