Federal bill includes $9.4M for Youngstown air base

Staff report

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Congressional leadership has agreed to include $12.7 million for area military bases in the fiscal year 2016 federal appropriations bill.

The bill allocates $9.4 million to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna to upgrade its indoor firing range and $3.3 million to the Ravenna Joint Military Training Center for its firing range.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, both of whom strongly support funding for the local military installations, said agreement among congressional leaders was reached Wednesday.

“It’s critical that our airmen have the most effective training possible to ensure their safety and the safety of those they serve each day. This funding will allow Youngstown Air Reserve Station to make needed improvements to its indoor firing range so that the men and women at YARS can test their skills during training,” said Brown.

Read more about the bill and project in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.