Youngstown delegation pursues approval for federal grant
Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel and Don Kline, chief executive of Mercy Health Youngstown, were among a delegation in Washington D.C. today to promote the city’s application for $10.3 million in federal funding to create a corridor connecting downtown’s major institutions.
“The SMAR2T project will positively transform downtown Youngstown, our region and our communities by creating a network among the medical, manufacturing, academic, arts, recreational, technology, transportation and employment institutions downtown,” Tressel said.
“We came to Washington to ensure that our federal leaders understand the importance of this project to the future of the city, the university, Mercy Health and the many other partners involved in this effort.”
In addition to Tressel, Brown and Kline, the delegation included Jim Kinnick, executive director of the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments; Mike Hripko, associate vice president for Research at YSU; First Ward Councilman Julius Oliver; Youngstown Economic Development Director Sharon Woodberry; and Youngstown Public Works Director Charles Sasho.
“SMAR2T will have a significant impact on the city’s economic development, public health and safety, and quality of life and will enable continued collaboration, engagement and growth throughout the region,” Brown said.
The group met with U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan and Bill Johnson, senior staff of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Anthony Bedell, deputy assistant secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“We are hopeful, after these meetings today, that Youngstown’s proposal will be given favorable consideration,” Oliver said.
A group of Youngstown institutions has applied for the funding through the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program. A decision on the grant is expected in the next several weeks. The group is led by ERCOG and includes the city, YSU, Mercy Health, Eastern Gateway Community College, Youngstown Business Incubator, Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, the Raymond John Wean Foundation, Youngstown Foundation, Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, Mill Creek MetroParks and the Western Reserve Transit Authority.
The project would completely renovate Fifth, Rayen and Park avenues and Front and Commerce streets, including new stree t lighting, sidewalks, crosswalks, landscaping and medians. It will also improve pedestrian andbicycle options, including a new bike share program and construction of dedicated bike lanes connecting to Mill Creek MetroParks.
“This proposal enhances the transportation connections between all of the downtown and near North Side region, providing a much needed network that benefits residents, patients, students, employees and the growing entrepreneurial sector in Youngstown,” Kline said.
The grant would build upon $600 million of private and public investment made over the past decade in the downtown area, including $107 million in the last year.
“Funding from the TIGER program is essential to continue this momentum,” Kinnick said.
If the grant is awarded, project partners will provide $10.2 million in matching funds, bringing the total cost of improvements to $20.4 million.
“This is a major project that will result in major enhancements impacting tens of thousands of people every day,” Ryan said.
Read the full proposal here, https://eastgatecog.org/docs/default-source/tiger-docs/2017-narrative.pdf.
