In 1992, the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments was designated by the Federal government as the economic development planning agency for Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. At the same time the two counties were recognized as an economic development district. To retain this designation, Eastgate must develop a regional economic development plan, and update it annually. The benefit of having this plan is several fold:
- It can provide an ongoing assessment of the state of the regional economy, particularly employment growth and decline by industrial sectors.
- It can determine infrastructure needs.
- It can provide an assessment of labor force development needs in the face of a changing economy.
- It can identify technical and financial assistance needs for business.
- It can provide coordination among multiple governmental entities.
Further benefits to be derived from a regional economic development planning program include:
- the attraction of new industry;
- the retention of existing industry;
- the creation of a diverse and stable economy;
- a competitive, skilled labor force;
- a business friendly operating environment;
- tax base creation;
- regional marketing;
- improvement of the quality of community life; and
- jobs, jobs, jobs.
With the release of the 2000 Census, a major revision to the Eastgate Regional Economic Development Plan was carried out during 2002 - 03. The plan was organized in four parts: analysis, vision, action plan, and evaluation.
The analysis section includes various background studies that represent the state of the local economy. This information identifies opportunities and challenges that are considered in developing the sections that follow.
The vision section represents a statement of what the region is to become by following the plan. This is expressed through goal statements and objectives that have been identified through a public forum, utilizing information generated in the analysis section.
The action plan represents the tangible projects that are designed to fulfill the goals and objectives. These projects are prioritized and funding is identified for their implementation. The action plan also includes strategies to provide focus for future economic investment. The principle followed is concentrated investment will produce greater aggregate results than isolated or random investment.
The final section, evaluation, is a series of tools to assess the on-going planning process that produces the plan. Performance measures are identified and objectives will be reviewed to determine the success of implementation. The plan is expanded through annual updates.
Vision Statement
The development of the current regional economic development plan was guided by a diverse group of citizens, the Regional Economic Development Committee, from Mahoning and Trumbull counties that represent both the private and public sectors. The mission statement following was produced by the Committee.
The Eastgate Economic Development District shall achieve a diversified and world class competitive economic base that will provide good paying jobs to ensure a high personal standard of living and a strong local tax base that will support healthy, vigorous, and stimulating communities in which to live and do business.
Goals and Objectives
Goal No. 1: To strengthen industrial firms in the economic development district
Objectives:
- To provide sites for expansion or relocation of existing companies
- To make funding sources available for companies job creation/retention projects
- To provide tax abatements, loans and other incentives to promote new investment
- To identify employment needs and skill levels of the unemployed
- To retrain workers in order for firms to take advantage of new technologies
Goal No. 2: To construct public infrastructure to promote new growth and development
Objectives:
- To identify infrastructure projects needed to serve existing or new companies
- To prioritize infrastructure projects that create new jobs or investment
- To obtain grant funding to leverage other funds to extend water and sewer lines
- To identify other needs of companies, including electric, storm drainage, and roads
- To improve and expand the existing transportation network
- To preserve farmland through proper land use controls and urban redevelopment
Goal No. 3: To encourage new investment in the district's economy
Objectives:
- To inventory and publicize available industrial sites and buildings
- To encourage revitalization of the district's central business districts
- To provide public sector loans (mini-loans, RLFs, CDBG)
- To leverage other public financing (SBA, State 166, MVEDC)
- To ensure venture capital is readily accessible
- To encourage private lenders to participate in loans
- To offer tax credits, tax abatements, and other assistance to business
- To provide educational resources and job training opportunities
Goal No. 4: To improve the quality of life for residents and businesses within the district
Objectives:
- To create job opportunities for residents through partnerships with businesses
- To improve and expand community facilities such as the regional airport
- To ensure that the district is free of air and water pollution
- To create and expand opportunities for tourism throughout the district
- To preserve and protect environmentally sensitive areas from urban development
- To encourage the expansion of the public transportation system
- To improve intergovernmental cooperation and coordination within the district
EDA Grants
The adoption by the Eastgate General Policy Board of the regional economic development plan permits local government in Mahoning and Trumbull counties to be eligible to qualify for grants from the U. S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). These grants require a matching share, usually forty percent, and are restricted to mostly infrastructure development. Prior to submitting a grant application to the EDA, the project must be accepted by the Eastgate Economic Development Committee and be recognized as a priority project in the current regional economic development plan.
Economic Development Committee
Terry Abrams, Executive Director
Mahoning Valley Home Builders Association
Local #3689
8526 South Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44512
tel: 330.965.9779
fax: 330.965.9770
terry@hbamv.com |
Steve Bowser, Interim Director of Aviation
Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport
1453 Youngstown-Kingsville Road
Vienna, OH 44473
tel: 330.539.4233
fax: 33.539.4833
sbowser@yngairport.com |
Andreas Foerster, Principal
Procon Industrial, Ltd.
8031 East Market Street
Warren, OH 44484
tel: 330.856.9700
fax: 330.856.9740
andreas@procon-industrial.com |
Donald L. French, Executive Director
Mahoning Valley Economic Development
Corporation
4319 Belmont Avenue
Youngstown, OH 44505
tel: 330.759.3668
fax: 330.759.3686
donfrench@mvedc.com |
Randall Hake, President
Randall J.Hake, Contracting, Inc.
1149 Niles-Cortland Rd.
warren, OH 44484
tel: 330.609.8453
fax: 330.609.5327
hakepe@aol.com |
Paul Harkey, Area Manager, Mahoning County
Ohio Edison Co.
P.O. Box 570
Youngstown, OH 44501
tel: 330.740.7721
fax: 330.740.7569
harkeyp@firstenergycorp.com |
Dr. Cynthia Hirtzel, Dean
YSU College of Engineering & Technology
One University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555
tel: 330.941.2009
fax: 330.941.3060
cshirtzel@ysu.edu |
Anthony A. Iannucci, Jr., Director
Warren Redevelopment & Planning Corp.
418 S. Main Ave., S.W., Suite 205
Warren, OH 44481
tel: 330.841.2566
fax: 330.841.2738
aaiwrap@onecom.com |
Michael Keys, Director
Warren City Community Development
418 Main Ave., S.W., Suite 201
Warren, OH 44481
tel: 330.841.2595
fax: 330.841.2643
mkeys@warrem.org |
Alan Knapp, Director
Trumbull County Planning Commission
347 N. Park Avenue
warren, OH 44481
tel: 330.675.2480
fax: 330.675.2738
pcknapp@co.trumbull.oh.us |
LuAnn Koch, Area Manager, Ohio Edison Co.
2231 W. Market Street
Warren, OH 44485
tel: 330.841.2111
fax: 330.841.2101
kochl@firstenergycorp.com |
Frank Kowalczyk, Manager, Engineering Services
V&M Star Steel
2669 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Youngstown, OH 44505
tel: 330.742.6301
fax: 330.742.6315
fkowalczyk@vmstar.com |
Nancy J. Macik, Assistant Vice-President
Skybank
108 Main Ave., S.W.
Warren, OH 44481
tel: 330.841.0254
fax: 330.841.0795
nmacik@skyfi.com |
Joseph W. Mayernick, Executive Director
Growth Partnership of Ashtabula County
17 North Market Street
Jefferson, OH 44047
tel: 440.576.9126
fax: 440.576.5003
joe@ashtabulagrowth.com |
Julie Michael-Smith, Governor's Regional Representative
Ohio Department of Development
242 Federal Plaza W., Suite 401
Youngstown, OH 44503
tel: 330.797.6301
fax: 330.744.1822
jmsmith@odod.state.oh.us |
Gary Newbrough
Trumbull County Sanitary Engineer
842 Youngstown-Kingsville Rd.
Vienna, OH 44473
tel: 330.675.2775
fax: 330.675.2780
senewbro@co.trumbull.oh.us |
George Ogletree, President/CEO
Treemen Industries, Inc.
691 McClurg Rd.
Boardman, OH 44512
tel: 330.965.3777
fax: 330.965.7384
georgeo@treemen.com |
Thomas Presby, Director, Business Assistance
Regional Chamber of Commerce
197 W. Market Street
Warren, OH 44481
tel: 330.392.6104
fax: 330.392.6040
TomP@regionalchamber.com |
Robert G. Sines, Jr., Interim Dean
Kent State University, Trumbull
4314 Mahoning Avenue
Warren, OH 44483
tel: 330.675.8820
fax: 330.675.8888
rsines@kent.edu |
Joseph V. Warino, PE, Ps
Sanitary Engineer
Mahoning County
761 Industrial Rd
Youngstown, OH 44509
tel: 330.793.5514
fax: 330.792.5270
jwarino@mahoningcounty.org |
Mary Jane Tartan, Acting Director
Youngstown Community Development Agency
9 W. Front Street
Youngstown, OH 44503
tel: 330.744.0854
fax: 330.744.7522
jwilliams@cityofyoungstownoh.com |
Updated 08.05.05 |
How to get an EDA Grant
In 1992, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments an Economic Development District. With this designation, local governments and nonprofit corporations, that engage in economic development, are eligible to apply for EDA grants with a reduced matching share. To maintain our status as an Economic Development District, Eastgate must prepare a regional economic development plan, and a component of the plan is a "priority list" of projects that may be submitted to the EDA for funding consideration.
Eastgate has empaneled a Regional Economic Development Committee, made up of private and public sector individuals from across Mahoning and Trumbull Counties, to review proposed projects to determine if they can qualify to be on the priority list and possibly receive EDA funding. To be eligible to be on the priority list the applicant must confirm the availability of local matching funds, provide a detailed cost estimate, and be able to begin the project within ninety days of the date of grant award.*
Eligible awards are for public works projects, mostly roads and utilities. To qualify for a grant award, the project must support the generation of new jobs or the retention of existing jobs. The annual priority list will be finalized by September 1st of each year, but projects may be submitted anytime Due to the limitations of EDA funding, it is possible to submit only one or two grant applications per year. For more information, contact Sarah Lown, Director of Economic Development at slown@eastgatecog.org
* Issue II grants and loans are eligible to be used for the local matching share.
