Congressman Tim Ryan Announces 100,000 dollars in federal funds for the Mahoning Valley
Congressman Tim Ryan is advancing the "Voltage Valley" initiative, which will allot 100,000 dollars in federal funds for the Mahoning Valley.
50,000 dollars will go to Eastgate Regional Council of Governments in Youngstown for the Voltage Valley Entrepreneurial Ecosystem-Regionalization Study, which will support an assessment of the existing utilities in the region, with a focus on water, wastewater, and electric power, as well as a regional implementation strategy that will identify the best practices for utility regionalization.
The development of a regional utilities management system will streamline development and permitting across various areas of Eastern Ohio, increasing the potential of large scale job creation at development sites.
Another 50,000 dollars will be granted to the City of Struthers for the Reimagining Struthers program to create a regional strategic plan for green industrial manufacturing in Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana Counties, Hancock County in Northern West Virginia and Beaver, Lawrence, and Mercer counties in Western Pennsylvania.
The strategic plan will guide the development of CASTLO Community Improvement Corporation Industrial Park, next to downtown Struthers, as a green industrial manufacturing hub for research and development. Additionally, the plan will assess the feasibility of reviving dormant industrial infrastructure to support a regional green manufacturing ecosystem that will increase jobs, business, and product development in the Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia, and the Western Pennsylvania region.
"These projects are great examples of how government can work to bolster efforts on the ground in our community to dominate in the clean energy economy. The green energy industry is not only a major key to reigniting American competitiveness but also to reigniting our workforce here in Northeast Ohio," said Rep. Tim Ryan.
"With the leadership of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, CASTLO Community Improvement Corporation Industrial Park, Lordstown Motors, BRITE Energy Innovators, the GM-LG Chem Battery Plant, Youngstown State, and others – our region is leading the world in creating the energy of the future and putting Voltage Valley on the map."
These funds were made available by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
