LISBON, Ohio – During a brief telephone conference call meeting Monday, the Columbiana County Port Authority Board of Directors passed a resolution agreeing to join forces with the Western Reserve Port Authority on construction of a new assisted living facility in Columbiana.
With member Tad Herold opposed, the board voted in favor of the resolution, which will pave the way for construction of the 69,400-square-foot facility at 43171 County Line Road.
According to WRPA Director Anthony Trevena, the facility will consist of 79 units, with at least 25 units also dedicated to a memory care center. It will employ 50 workers.
Trevena said the WRPA board will authorize the issuance of bonds not to exceed $17 million toward the construction cost of the new facility, which is being developed by EDM Management Inc. It will be operated by Briarfield Health Care under the name Inn at Old Saybrook.
Footers are already being poured for the facility, with construction expected to begin this month and be completed by June 2024, according to Trevena.
“It’s a great company that builds great facilities. We’re happy to be working with them,” Trevena said of EDM.
Trevena also said he is “especially excited to be partnering with the Columbiana County Port Authority to facilitate developing our counties.”
When contacted after the meeting about his opposing vote, Herold said, “I have every confidence this will be a successful project for both Mahoning and Columbiana counties. I’m sure it will be a positive project.”
He added that CCPA Executive Director Penny Traina and CCPA attorney Tim Brookes had “worked hard with WRPA” on forging the agreement, but he declined to comment further on his opposition.
According to Traina, the agreement came about after the CCPA was contacted by the WRPA about working collectively on the project. She said the WRPA has been working with this group, building such facilities elsewhere.
“The company was ready to build, and Anthony asked if we were interested in entering [the agreement],” Traina said after the meeting.
While the CCPA will have no financial investment in the project, Traina said the WRPA does need its cooperation in building in Columbiana County and taking advantage of savings on sales tax.
The CCPA will, however, be entitled to a fee amounting to 50% of the total transaction costs negotiated by the WRPA as part of the project, according to Traina.
She told the board the project will create jobs and employment and improve housing opportunities in Columbiana County.
Pictured at top : The construction site of the new assisted living facility in Columbiana.
Copyright 2023 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.