YMCA may come to Austintown

January 19, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

AUSTINTOWN

Fitness centers in Austintown are growing in 2016.

In addition to Planet Fitness coming to the Austintown Plaza, the township may be home to a new YMCA branch.

According to a press release issued by the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, potential plans for a new YMCA branch in Austintown will be discussed at Good Morning Austintown at Hollywood Gaming at the Mahoning Valley Race Course on Jan. 29.

Many speakers will attend to discuss developments and growth in the Austintown area.

Martin Solomon, president of B&I Management, said he believes YMCA administration is exploring the idea of the new branch in the Victoria Industrial Park area by Victoria Road.

Township Trustee Jim Davis said the project has been in the works for a while. Part of the battle was finding investors to fund the new branch, he noted.

Solomon said there have been various meetings among businesses, individual private donors and YMCA administration discussing funds for the new branch.

“It’s something that has been going on for a while, and I think everyone would be excited to see something come to fruition,” Davis said.

Although Solomon said there is nothing official to announce, there is interest in the idea and unspecified feelers are out in the community. If the branch is built in Austintown, it will achieve great success, he said.

“It will bring a new dimension to facilities in the Austintown area,” he added.