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LISBON – A Global Investment Hub is planned for a site in Leetonia, and the Columbiana County Port Authority has authorized final funding for the project.
The port, in partnership with Youngstown State University, received a $ 400,000 grant last year from money included in the state budget for the project that will create a hub in the port’s industrial building. on Cherry Fork Road.
At that time, the port was looking for $ 650,000 for the work.
“We have worked with Moussa Kassis and Pat Veisz from YSU SBDC departments to attract and respond to requests from new and foreign companies to create a Global Investment Hub and cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the community, by particularly in the petrochemical industry, “ Port executive director Penny Traina spoke about the project.
As recently as last week, the port authority’s board of directors unanimously approved the search for the remaining $ 250,000 in grants through the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Office of the Governor of the ‘Ohio of the Appalachians.
The port currently has $ 444,880 in grants, loans and other local funding for the project, according to the resolution recently passed by the port authority’s board of directors.
On another matter, Traina announced at the meeting that the Ohio Mid-Eastern Government’s Association (OMEGA) had been informed that their proposal for technical assistance through the Recovery to Work Cohort Learning Academy had been selected by the Development District Association of Appalachia (DDAA).
Brittany Smith, who is the Grants Coordinator and Financial Assistant for the Port Authority, has been selected to be one of the members of the OMEGA District Core Team.
Traina said Smith will meet with other district members each month to discuss strategies for dealing with the substance abuse crisis in Appalachia through a workplace recovery program.
“The goal of this program is to create more employment opportunities for people who have struggled with drug addiction while increasing the overall availability of labor in our region. said Traina.
Smith will be traveling to Arlington, Virginia this month to meet with other Districts of the Learning Academy in North Carolina and Tennessee.
“The Port Authority would like to congratulate Jeanette Wierzbicki and her OMEGA team for a successful proposal”, said Traina.
Traina also provided an update on the Harbor Restoration Coordinator Program which was implemented in early August.
Smith and Bobby Ritchey, a specialist in the Port’s Private Sector Group, have reached out to businesses across the county to find out more about what they are doing, what their needs are and if they have any concerns right now, Traina said. .
“So far the program has been successful, with several companies talking about potential expansions in the near future. Almost all of the companies mentioned the need for workers, with several having multiple openings at the moment. Our team is working diligently to help these businesses meet their needs and look forward to meeting other businesses in the future ”, said Traina.
Also at the recent meeting, the Port Authority Board of Directors approved resolutions allowing for lease renewals.
The renewals did not result in any rate changes and were approved for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America and Humtown Products in the Leetonia building and one renewal for Paragon Integrated Services Group for the Wellsville Industrial Facility depot area.
A new registered lease has also been granted to the company ExOne.
Port authority executive assistant Glenda Schafer said the company had previously taken over the port’s lease with Freshmade 3D and no further changes were made to the lease.
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