YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Ohio’s recently approved operating budget includes investments that will directly benefit the Mahoning Valley in areas ranging from military infrastructure and child care access to housing development, regional economic competitiveness and support for local institutions such as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

Many of the initiatives align with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s 2025-26 Public Policy Agenda and support ongoing efforts to strengthen the Valley’s workforce, infrastructure, economic momentum and quality of life, a news release from the chamber states.

“These investments represent a thoughtful and strategic commitment to the Mahoning Valley,” said Lyle Huffman, executive vice president of government affairs and community impact for  the Regional Chamber. “By addressing long-standing needs across areas such as military readiness, workforce development, housing and infrastructure, the state is reinforcing the region’s economic potential and helping position our communities for long-term growth and stability.”

Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission

In 2015, the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission was created because military installations can’t lobby for themselves. EOMAC focuses on preserving and promoting the value of military operations between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, with an emphasis on the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center.

Since its creation in 2015, EOMAC has helped bring in nearly $100 million in project improvements at YARS and Camp Garfield and more than $900 million in economic impact to the Mahoning Valley, including a $890M investment of eight new C-130J airplanes earmarked  for YARS. These efforts have also led to an airport status change with the Federal Aviation Administration for the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.

The budget earmarks $2 million in fiscal year 2026 for EOMAC to support construction and repair projects at YARS, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport and Camp James A. Garfield.

“This funding and investment by the state of Ohio will allow EOMAC to continue its important work supporting our military locally here in the Mahoning Valley through supporting military and airport construction projects, solidifying the presence of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp James A. Garfield, both of which are vital to our national security and Department of Defense,” said Josh Prest, executive director of EOMAC. “This funding comes just as the Department of Defense awarded $25 million from the fiscal year 2025 MILCON Appropriations budget to build a new fire station at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, critical to the operation of the eight new C-130J airplanes coming to Youngstown, a nearly $900 million investment.”

Child Care Cred Program

The Valley has a labor participation rate that lags 6% behind the state and national averages. That 6% represents 20,000 people in the Youngstown-Warren Metropolitan Statistical Area, and the Regional Chamber is working to bring these individuals into the workforce.

Due to ranking No. 2 on the chamber’s Community Needs Assessment – conducted in partnership with Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries – child care has become one of the top priorities in the 2025-26 Public Policy Agenda. Reducing child care costs, improving work-life balance and helping employers retain employees is crucial as the Mahoning Valley seeks to close the gap in its labor participation rate, the release states.

The bill creates and appropriates $10 million in fiscal year 2026 for the Child Care Cred Program, which allows for costs of child care to be shared by participating employees, employers and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth.

Child Care Recruitment and Mentorship Grant Program

The budget also establishes the Child Care Recruitment and Mentorship Grant Program to help increase the number of child care providers in Ohio and to assist recruited entities and individuals.

While the Child Care Cred Program is needed to help lower the cost burden for employees looking for child care, the Recruitment and Mentorship Grant Program will help expand the number of providers, giving families more options.

The bill appropriates $1 million in fiscal year 2026 and $1.85 million in fiscal year 2027 for the program.

Residential Economic Development District Grants

The state budget creates a grant program for counties, townships and municipal corporations located within 20 miles of a “major economic development project.” It allows these applicants to collaborate with a housing developer, port authority, council of government, regional planning commission or other eligible entities.

Grant funds may be used for providing capital for housing development through grants or loans, supporting housing-related infrastructure, addressing additional service or public safety needs and any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Ohio Department of Development director.

Applicants must demonstrate that they have, or plan to adopt, “pro-housing policies” and will approve a “major workforce housing project” of at least 100 units.

The bill provides $10 million in fiscal year 2026 and $15 million in fiscal year 2027 for this program.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Eastwood Field contributes more than $5 million annually in economic impact and attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year for Mahoning Valley Scrappers games and other events. The Scrappers also support the community through outreach, awareness events, donations, in-kind promotions and volunteer programming.

The bill appropriates $500,000 in fiscal year 2026 for stadium maintenance and improvements.

Lake to River Pipeline

As a pivotal supplier of natural gas, eastern Ohio plays a critical role in the global economy. With natural gas and associated by-product production on the rise, there is a need to determine the best way to move these resources to market, the release states.

The bill appropriates $250,000 in fiscal year 2026 for the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to support the study and planning of an oil and natural gas pipeline through Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Ashtabula counties.

Welcome Home Ohio Program Changes

The Welcome Home Ohio Program will expand access to affordable homeownership by allowing qualified nonprofit developers to apply for grants to purchase or rehabilitate residential properties.

Key changes to the program include: 

  • Extending the WHO tax credit through fiscal 2027 (previously set to expire in fiscal year 2025).
  • Raising income eligibility from 80% to 120% of the county median income.
  • Increasing the maximum sale price of WHO-funded homes from $180,000 to $220,000. 
  • Boosting grant amounts from $30,000 to $100,000 per home for land banks and nonprofit developers.

The bill funds $45.6 million in grants in each fiscal year to support the expanded program.

Other Regional Projects of Note

  • Continued support for Youngstown State University, including $75,000 each year for its Initiative for Community and Regional Development; up to $2.5 million in fiscal year 2026 from Super Rapids to assist with new student enrollment and facility operations transitioning from Eastern Gateway Community College; and $625,000 each year for the Excellence Training Center. 
  • Funding for Boardman Township through a one-time allocation to provide matching funds for a FEMA flood mitigation grant.
  • $250,000 each year for improvements at Mosquito Lake State Park. 
  • $133,333 each year to support the Ohio Oil and Gas Career Jumpstart Program at Mahoning County Career & Technical Center and two other career tech schools. 
  • Establishment of a Financial Literacy and Workforce Readiness Programming Initiative, with $1.25 million each year to prepare students across Ohio, administered in part by Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio.