Initiatives

MAHONING RIVER CORRIDOR INITIATIVE

The Mahoning River Corridor Initiative was created to promote economic development, recreation and conservation on the sites along the banks of the Mahoning River. Once the heart and soul of the Mahoning Valley, the Mahoning River Corridor is now challenged by abandoned industry and underdeveloped infrastructure.

The Western Reserve Port Authority  convenes planners and development professionals to concentrate on improving the lands along the Mahoning River to promote new life in the Valley.

MRCI Project List

Grants and funding

• Over 1200 acres inventoried, mapped and characterized
• Secured $12.6 million for environmental planning, assessment and remediation work
• 230 acres have been or are being remediated
• Secured $22.94 million for infrastructure projects
• Secured $3.4 million for environmental enhancement projects

Opportunity sites

The MRCI Feasibility study includes a site map and profile for all sites 16 sites the MRCI is working with.

Regional Rail Strategy

An Immediate Needs Assessment of railroad infrastructure in the Youngstown-Warren Mahoning Valley region was commissioned by the Western Reserve Port Authority.

This study has identified five railroad infrastructure projects critical to growth and development in the Mahoning Valley. Click here to download the Immediate Needs Assessment.

MAYORS’ ASSOCIATION

The Mayors’ Association is made up of leaders from nine cities along the Mahoning River, who collaborate on the strategic redevelopment of the Mahoning River Corridor. Mayors and City Managers meet quarterly to advocate for public and private investment in the local community.

Mayor and City profiles

• City of Campbell – Mayor Nick Phillips – http://www.campbellohio.gov/
• City of Girard – Mayor James Melfi – http://www.cityofgirard.com/
• Village of Lowellville – Mayor James Iudiciani, Sr. – http://www.villageoflowellville.com/
• Village of McDonald – Mayor Glen Puckett – http://www.mcdonaldvillage.com/
• City of Newton Falls – Mayor Kenneth Kline – http://ci.newtonfalls.oh.us/
• City of Niles – Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz – http://www.thecityofniles.com/index.php/en/
• City of Struthers – Mayor Cat Cercone Miller – http://cityofstruthers.com/
• City of Warren – Mayor Doug Franklin – http://www.warren.org/
• City of Youngstown – Mayor Jamael Tito Brown – http://www.youngstownohio.gov/

MAHONING VALLEY PARTNERSHIP

The Mahoning Valley Partnership brings together economic development resources among all the regions’ agencies to optimize development opportunities. For detailed information about the MVP, download this Executive Summary.

The Mahoning Valley is in an ideal position to take advantage of opportunities it has never had before. While the Valley is long-recognized as a leader in advanced materials and manufacturing from its roots in steelmaking and supplying industries, burgeoning technologies such as additive manufacturing and advanced materials have allowed for a significant transformation of the regional economy.

Adaptation is needed in order to survive in an incredibly competitive and globalized economy. The most successful areas of this century are those that position themselves around regional hubs that play on key competitive strengths, whether natural assets or industries. By aligning resources in the key areas of community and economic development, the Mahoning Valley will be able to position itself as a viable candidate for increased prosperity. The Mahoning Valley continues to lose population and experiences stagnant per capita income growth despite collaboration on many fronts that has failed to create sustainable coordination of initiatives around shared values for all stakeholders.

Click here to download the full MVP Plan.