By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The board of control signed a two-year deal for up to $200,000 to have Youngstown State University’s Regional Economic Development Initiative help city departments obtain grants they don’t normally receive.

REDI would receive $50 an hour.

“It’s going to be a great deal with the city receiving assistance on obtaining grants we aren’t now aware of,” said Mayor John A. McNally, board of control chairman.

The board approved the contract Thursday.

REDI will seek grants from the state and federal governments and from foundations, McNally said.

REDI officials will meet at 5 p.m. Monday with city council to discuss what it will do to assist with obtaining grants.

City council wants REDI officials to help find money to offset some of the cost of demolishing bleachers at six parks. The total cost is estimated to be $300,000.

McNally and members of his administration told council members obtaining grants for that type of demolition is highly unlikely.

The mayor said the city may not take any of the bleachers down this year. It depends on the cost of demolition, he said.

“I want to see some actual bids for the projects,” McNally said. “It’s a quality-of-life issue for folks who live around these sites.”

The bleachers at Stambaugh Field, off Glenwood Avenue, may not be demolished because it is a vacant baseball field and “no one sees it,” McNally said.

The other locations are Nick Johnson Park, Oakland Field, Ipes Field, Tod Park and Gibson Park.

Also, the board approved an agreement with Youngstown Business Incubator to provide a 12-year, 50-percent real-property tax abatement and up to $500,000 for water and wastewater expenses for its project at the former Vindicator building.

The tax abatement would save YBI about $5,000 a year in taxes.

The agency plans to use the building for additive-manufacturing companies.