Struthers Seeks Unified Vision for City’s Future
STRUTHERS, Ohio – Last year was a transformative one for Struthers, says Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller, as it took steps to shape its future.
The city embarked on its first comprehensive planning process, providing a platform for residents to share their vision of the future. The goal is to create a unified vision and make certain that projects, developments and investments are aligned.
To complement this effort, the city was awarded a $50,000 Appalachian Regional Commission planning grant to spearhead the development of a green industrial manufacturing strategy. The plan will assess regional resources and determine how to position the city, Miller says.
The city also was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant. The new fire station announced in 2019 is coming to fruition as well; a construction contract was awarded to J. Herbert Construction Co. of Salem.
With funding from the Ohio EPA and Ohio Public Works Commission, the removal of the Struthers dam was successfully completed, Miller says. The project primes the river for recreational activities to begin in 2022.
Additionally, the city acquired two key properties in 2021: a 27.5-acre parcel on Bob Cene Way donated by Astro Development, and the historic McKinney building, downtown. The city will begin renovating the building with funding awarded by Mahoning County commissioners.
Karen Edwards of the Struthers Rotary Club corralled 20 donors to support the club’s Operation Pollination initiative. They donated 20 cherry blossom trees and four butterfly bushes to beautify an island on Overlook Boulevard. The donors, current and past residents of Overlook Boulevard, chose cherry blossoms as an ode to the boulevard’s history. Fifty years ago, it was beautified with cherry blossom trees.
The Rotary Club plans to work with Tree City USA to plant more cherry blossoms throughout the city.
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