stimulate downtown and you stimulate the valley

Yesterday, the Ohio-related requests to receive a portion of stimulus funding were released to the public. The entire list can be found here.

So basically, a ton of entities across the state asked for some assistance.

While there is no assurance that any single item found on this website, a few may eventually be funded. There were 7,495 requests in the state of Ohio, 117 requests from Mahoning County, and from that I've pulled out these 22 to highlight.

They were highlighted because they concentrate on regional technology-based economic development, downtown infrastructure, public transportation, or science education.

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The following projects seem particularly worth advocating, and are good not only for Youngstown, but for the Valley as a whole:

1. establish early-stage fund for companies in emerging technologies at the YBI
$400,000 requested for $500,000 project

2. renovation of 8,600 sq ft building at YBI
$1,000,000 requested for $1,000,000 project

3. training facility for information technology careers
$1,200,000 requested for $2,200,000 project

4. map land available for green-technology manufacturing facilities
$450,000 requested for $500,000 project

5. modernize YSU STEM college laboratories
$3,000,000 requested for $4,500,000 project

6. repairs to YSU STEM college facilities
$2,500,000 requested for $2,500,000 project

7. upgrade to YSU STEM complex
$15,000,000 requested for $100,000,000 project

8. develop program for bachelors in Alternative Energy Tech.
$2,500,000 requested for $5,000,000 project

9. expand roads to V&M star
$7,000,000 requested for $7,000,000 project

10. relocate railway to V&M star
$20,000,000 requested for $20,000,000 project

11. Separate sewers and reduce overflow on Andrews Avenue in Smoky Hollow
$414,000 requested for the $678,888 project

12. Separate sewers and reduce overflow on Marshall Street
$689,300 requested for the $1,130,000 project

13. Separate sewers and reduce overflow on Woodland Avenue
$230,244 requested for the $742,723 project

14. New storm line along Woodland Avenue
$1,000,000 requested for the $1,000,000 project

15. Upgrades for Wick Avenue between the city and downtown
$1,100,000 requested for the $1,100,000 project

16. Upgrades for Hazel Street between the city and downtown
$1,500,000 requested for the $1,500,000 project

17. East Federal Street resurfacing and upgrades
$550,000 requested for $550,000 project

18. construction of downtown 500-space parking deck near Vindy Square
$6,000,000 requested for $6,000,000 project

19. construction of downtown parking deck at Wick and Commerce
$12,000,000 requested for $12,000,000 project

20. ten modified gas/hybrid minivans for WRTA
$500,000 requested for $500,000 project

21. twenty gas/hybrid light transit vehicles for WRTA
$1,500,000 requested for $1,500,000 project

22. ten gas/hybrid 30 ft buses for WRTA
$5,000,000 requested for $5,000,000 project

The state's next step is to triage the entire list of 7,495 submissions. Don't forget, other communities around the state have their construction lists too.

Let's insist that investments in tech-based economic development are the way to go in Youngstown, and local and state politicians should be pressed that these projects are at the top of the list.