Trumbull County Commissioners held a special meeting Friday afternoon to discuss the bankruptcy and recent closure announcement for hospitals owned by Steward Health in the county.

During the meeting, Commissioner Denny Malloy said that he and other commissioners had received several calls from several people asking for help in this situation.

The meeting was called with the goal of discussing how the commissioners could give hospital staff and the community the help they need.

"Nothing else right now is pressing. Not ARPA funds, not infrastructure projects, because they mean less and less if this doesn't happen," Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said.

Commissioners went over different ways they can come up with money to help with the situation.

Malloy called for a motion to write a conditional letter of support to utilize lawfully-available funds up o $3 million to help the hospitals.

Malloy said all funds including ARP funds, opioid settlement funds, lottery revenue, income tax, etc. are currently on the table as commissioners work with the county to determine which funds can and can't be used.

Cantalamessa added that Mercer County Commissioners appropriated $1 million and the City of Sharon had appropriated $500,000 to save Sharon Regional Medical Center. Cantalamessa is wondering if Trumbull County can do something similar.

Additionally, commissioners say they have reached out to local, state and national leaders for help and so far have heard back from U.S. Senator and Republican Vice President candidate J.D. Vance.

Malloy says a statement from Vance should be coming soon.