Downtown meeting held at YBI

April 22, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Downtown stakeholders were updated Tuesday on the latest projects at the Youngstown Economic Action Group’s monthly meeting at the Youngstown Business Incubator, 241 W. Federal St.

Dominic C. Marchionda, the group’s coordinator, said it is looking for feedback on the downtown vision and action plan unveiled last month to improve the district. Also, he said he wants groups to identify and take ownership of any of the plan’s initiatives.

“We’re just looking to get some projects done,” he said.

The meeting featured speakers from Youngstown CityScape, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and the city of Youngstown.

Mike McGiffin, the city’s coordinator of downtown events and special projects, provided an update on the city’s project for “wayfinding” signs in downtown. Earlier this year, the city approved a $26,000 contract with Studio Graphique of Cleveland for the design work, which will have prototypes available within the upcoming weeks.

CityScape hired CT Consultants as the engineering firm for improvements on Wick Avenue, and also will work with the city to raise capital.

Construction on the Wick Avenue project is slated for late 2016 or early 2017, said Sharon Letson, executive director of CityScape. Further, Guy Coviello, vice president of government affairs for the chamber, outlined the process for community projects to receive funding from the state’s capital budget for the 2017-18 year. The chamber will accept requests in the summer this year to decide which ones are submitted to the state.