Local group looking toward grant to help rehab Route 422 corridor

GIRARD

A federal grant of at least $10 million would go a long way toward rehabilitating the U.S. Route 422 corridor from Youngstown into Girard.

A group that is involved in a study to do just that is working toward applying for a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, grant, said Girard Mayor Jim Melfi, who sat in at a meeting about the grant Aug. 6 at the Trumbull County commissioners’ office.

Also at the meeting were Trumbull County and Youngstown representatives.

One drawback they talked about, Melfi said, is coming up with a $2.5 million local share that would be required for the grant, which would be a minimum of $10 million. It could come from every community, business and stakeholder in the corridor, he said.

“Everyone at the meeting is in agreement to further investigate the possibility, but where do we get the $2.5 million?” he said.

Before it can even apply for the discretionary U.S. Department of Transportation grant, the group has to have the local money, said Julie Green, grants manager for Trumbull County, who also was at the meeting.

Read more about the group's plans in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.