Air base building will be boon to Valley, lawmaker says

VIENNA

A largely dormant cargo building at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station is on the cusp of being repurposed for a variety of uses, and promises to be an economic boon to the Mahoning Valley, several area lawmakers contend.

“This will mean huge economic benefits to our area,” said state Rep. Sean J. O’Brien of Bazetta, D-63rd, referring to the 24,650-square-foot facility at 1546 Ridge Road off King Graves Road.

O’Brien was among area lawmakers who spoke at a news conference Thursday in the building about Senate Bill 390, which passed Wednesday evening and will allocate $250,000 in state funds to buy the facility, which will be used mainly for loading and discharging cargo and troops, O’Brien noted.

In addition, the building will act as a staging and response area in the event of an emergency in the region, he said.

Read more about the plan in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.