Lowellville on short list for state funding to clean up Mahoning River

YOUNGSTOWN — The Village of Lowellville has been tentatively awarded a $2.4 million Ohio Environmental Protection Agency grant for removal of an old industrial dam in the Mahoning River and some 20,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment behind it, state Sen. Joe Schiavoni has announced.

The state senator from Boardman made the announcement this evening at a main library meeting of the Friends of the Mahoning River, an advocacy organization for the cleanup of the industrially polluted river.

The state agency ranked Lowellville’s application for removal of its First Street dam fourth among applications from 15 communities for river restoration projects, said village Mayor James Iudiciani.

The state agency, which is accepting public comments until March 18, will award four grants totaling $10 million statewide under its Water Resource Restoration Sponsorship Program.

“It’s a very heartfelt announcement because this is a start to what all of you want,” Schiavoni, D-33rd, told the audience of about 60.

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