Board of Control OKs $800K in Coronavirus Spending

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Youngstown Board of Control approved spending more than $800,000 to address aspects of the coronavirus pandemic at its regular meeting Thursday morning. 

That included a $300,000 contract with Flying High Inc., Youngstown, to provide workforce development services for city residents displaced by the pandemic, and contracts worth a combined $300,800 to provide contract tracing services in 2021.

Funds for the spending come from the city’s share of funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. 

Flying High will work with low-to-moderate income residents who are in need of job training and how have been specifically affected by the pandemic, said Beverly Hosey, city community development director. 

“In some way, everybody has been affected by the pandemic, but those specifically who have been displaced or continue to be unemployed because of the pandemic or suffered additional life barriers from the pandemic is who we’re here to help,” Jeff Magada, Flying High’s executive director, said. 

“Maybe they were a restaurant worker or something like that so they may go in for training for a different type of position,” possibly a high-demand position such as welding, in the event the pandemic lasts longer than expected, Hosey said.  

Training opportunities include health care and manufacturing, Magada said. In addition, clients can receive training in fields that don’t require getting a skills credential, such as tow motor training, to prepare for positions such as those opening at the new TJX Companies Inc.’s HomeGoods warehouse in Lordstown, he said. 

Contracts requested by the city health department totaled more than $483,000, including seven contracts totaling $300,800 ranging from $24,000 to $62,400 for contract tracing. The city has eight contracts with individuals, whose efforts are supported by internal staff as needed, Erin Bishop, said city health commissioner. 

“We have two of our contract tracers who are bilingual, Two of the tracers are blingual, so we utilize them a lot to work with our Spanish-speaking population,’ Bishop said. 

Other contracts requested by the health department and approved by the board of control included two $70,000 contacts with Mahoning – Youngstown Community Action Partnership and Catholic Charities to provide assistance with rent and other household needs to city residents affected by the pandemic. 

The city also entered into a $24,000 contract with Personal Protected LLC, New Middletown, for two touchless quad-sink hand-washing stations. Bishop said she plans to seek approval early next year for an additional two stations. The four stations will be in stalled at City Hall, the city recreation center, the health department and 20 Federal Place.  

The board also approved the department’s requests to spend $3442.30 for COVID-19-related mailings and for an emergency management mobile base radio system from CARES Act funds. 

Other coronavirus-related spending included $8,339.73 for hygiene guards and office divers for the Youngstown clerk of courts, $3,020 for electrical work in City Hall for a hands-free X-ray machine and $6,750 to purchase City of You masks.  

In other business, the board approved payments to Girard and Campbell under tax-sharing agreements with the two communities. 

The city paid Girard $181,196.73 for its share of taxes collected under an agreement involving Vallourec’s $1 billion pipe mill, which began production in 2012.   

Under an agreement with Campbell for a project at the former Youngstown Pipe & Supply property, the city paid $15,754.71. 

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