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Mahoning commissioners see new tourism video
YOUNGSTOWN
A new nine-minute video promoting tourism in the Mahoning Valley was introduced Thursday.
The video, featuring award-winning actor Ed O’Neill, former world boxing champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, fashion designer Nanette Lepore, Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel, and his wife, Ellen, and YSU Head Football Coach Bo Pelini, made its debut at the Mahoning County commissioners’ meeting.
The Video Tour of Youngstown and Mahoning County, produced by 898 Marketing of Canfield, also can be seen on the county convention and visitors’ bureau website, www.youngstownlive.com.
The video features local attractions, such as Mill Creek MetroParks, the Butler Institute of American Art, the OH WOW! children’s center, the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor, Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and Youngstown Playhouse.
The video, paid for by county hotel bed-tax revenue, also showcases local fairs and festivals, wineries and golf courses.
It complements a two-minute video, which also is on the CVB website.
The new video has gotten more than 7,100 viewings on You Tube since it was released Feb. 6, Linda Macala, county convention and visitors bureau director, told the commissioners.
Besides its tourism promotion uses, the video can be shown by economic- development agencies to businesses considering locating facilities here and used by Youngstown State University for student recruitment, she added.
“It’s a beautiful piece. It’s masterfully done. It really captured the heart and soul of the Valley,” said Anthony Traficanti, chairman of the commissioners, after viewing the video.
In other business, the commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the Ohio Department of Transportation, which this year will widen McClurg Road between Market Street and a point just east of Tod Avenue and upgrade a traffic light at Market Street and McClurg Road.
The work is being done because of increased traffic due to a recent expansion at St. Elizabeth’s Boardman Hospital, said Patrick Ginnetti, county engineer.
The commissioners also approved a $28,850 agreement with Tetra Tech Inc. of Canfield to design lighting improvements on the Washington Street bridge over the Mahoning River in Lowellville.
James Fortunato, county purchasing director, reported the county received five bids Wednesday for restoration of the 104-year-old county courthouse, all of them in the $5 million range and substantially below the project engineer’s $6.9 million cost estimate.