By RAYMOND L. SMITH

Staff writer

WARREN — Commissioners on Wednesday passed a resolution providing the second half of a $1 million grant for Valley Vision 2050, which is a program established to promote the two-county region of Trumbull and Mahoning as hubs for economic growth.

Valley Vision 2050 consists of the Western Reserve Port Authority, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Valley Partners, Youngstown Foundation and the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber. Shortly after its formation, the group asked Trumbull and Mahoning County Commissioners to provide $1 million each to help finance its projects.

Mahoning Commissioners almost immediately agreed to the request. Trumbull commissioners were more cautious in deciding to vote to provide $500,000 in December 2023. After seeing the work that has been done, the commissioners on Wednesday voted to provide the additional $500,000 to fulfill the original request.

“I’ve been blown away at all that is happening in the Mahoning Valley behind the scenes,” Commissioner Denny Malloy said before the vote. “We have businesses that want to come here. We have an economic development team that is welcoming them and paving the way for them to be successful.”

“The economic future of the Mahoning Valley, under the leadership of this group and the Valley Vision team, is in strong, strong hands,” he continued. “This is the place to be for the future.”

Commission President Rick Hernandez called the team professional.

“We are going to see some major growth,” he said. “It has been very impressive the direction they are going.”

Commissioner Tony Bernard agreed stating that county residents want to see results when

taxpayer money is used for projects.

“We have one company getting ready to announce and another in the next couple of months,” he said.

In other business, commissioners:

•Approved providing letters of support for remediation and abatement grant applications for the former Trumbull Family Fitness, former US Steel, former Wellman Theater and the former Delphi administration building.

•Authorized the hiring of Straightline Interiors for ceiling renovation of the second floor of 185 E. Market St. at a cost of $19,220. The project is being done using already approved American Rescue Plan funds.

•Approved allowing Howland trustees to hire the county prosecutor’s office to provide legal services at a cost of $42,000 a year.

•Approved the acceptance of the 2024 Annual County Highway mileage certification from the Ohio Department of Transportation.

•Approved allowing the city of Cortland to store its VAC truck inside the county engineer’s facility, 3654 Warren Meadville Road, November 2024 through April 2025, and November 2025 through April 2026.

•Purchased two new generators for the Trumbull County Children’s Service Building and the BHC Belmont Pines Building, both located at 2282 Reeves Road NE, Warren, from Ohio Cat at a cost of $238,157.

•Approved the appointment of Melissa Baker as a member of the Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities for four years through Dec. 31, 2028.

•Reappointed Keith T. Easton as a member of the Trumbull County Children Services Board through Dec 31, 2028.

•Reappointed Loree Richardson as a member of Trumbull County Children Services Board through Dec. 31, 2028.

•Reappointed Kevin Gavitt as a member of the Trumbull County Children Services Board through Dec. 31, 2025.

•Approved the increase of funds to be paid for professional engineering services to GPD Group by $10,000 for work associated with Emmanuel Community Care Center for masonry and windows work. The original bid for the project was $10,000.

•Allowed 11th District Court of Appeals Judge-elect Scott Lynch, Sheriff Michael Wilson, Recorder Dawn Zinni and Clerk of Courts Randy Law to introduce themselves and their staff members. The county provided snacks.