Chamber, Trumbull County commissioners continue work together

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Trumbull County commissioners recently approved a new contract with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber to continue economic development work.

The $23,000, 12-month contract will allow the chamber to continue its work to retain and help expand local business while working to gain new business.

“During 2014, the chamber had significant involvement in seven Trumbull County projects totaling $111 million of investment, and the creation of 437 jobs with an estimated annual payroll of more than $23 million,” said Sarah Boyarko, the chamber’s vice president for economic development North America in a statement. “In addition, the investment resulted in 310 retained jobs.”

Pending opportunities in the county are equal to $1.4 billion of investment.

“They have done a great job, and we appreciate it,” said Frank Fuda, Trumbull County commissioner.

Last year, Canadian aluminum billet company Matalco Inc. broke ground on a new $100 million manufacturing facility in Lordstown. The project is expected to be completed by early next year and the facility is expected to employ 60 to 80 full-time personnel.

An $800 million project for Clean Energy Future Lordstown LLC is expected to begin this fall. The project will hire 450 workers over a three-year construction period. The completed plant will have about 26 employees and $3.4 million in annual payroll.

Lordstown Logistics Center is another project taking place in the county. Missouri-based NorthPoint Development is working to develop formerly vacant land by the General Motors Lordstown plant to make way for GM suppliers and other businesses.