Valley’s port authority chief feels fine, targets many development projects

Valley’s port authority chief feels fine, targets many development projects

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

VIENNA

Health problems caused Rose Ann DeLeon, Western Reserve Port Authority executive director, to miss work for three months earlier this year, but DeLeon says she doesn’t believe they will stop her from continuing in her job.

“I’m feeling fine, and my health problems from the beginning of the year are fine and not stopping me from performing my job duties,” DeLeon said during a break in last week’s port authority meeting.

In addition to promoting economic development, the port authority runs the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

DeLeon is paid $155,000 annually out of the bed taxes levied by both Trumbull and Mahoning counties that help fund the port authority and airport. She was brought on board in late 2009 to give the authority an economic development leader with experience in port authority financing.

Her current contract runs out at the beginning of December.

In her report to the port authority board on Wednesday, she listed the talks she has had in the past month with companies interested in having her help them expand or establish businesses in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.