YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Across the Mahoning Valley, construction projects encompassing industrial, commercial, medical and residential development are gaining steam as the building season kicks into high gear.
Kevin Reilly, executive vice president of the Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, notes the two major projects in Trumbull County are the Kimberly-Clark manufacturing plant and a new Mercy Health facility.
Kimberly-Clark’s $800 million manufacturing facility is on 560 industrial acres on Pine Avenue SE that includes parts of Warren and Howland and Warren townships. The company, which manufactures personal care and hygiene products, has reported more than 350 people are onsite during construction.
According to projections, nearly 500 people are expected to be employed there when operations begin, with hiring already underway. The Fortune 500 company’s plant will span more than a million square feet.
Bon Secours Mercy Health broke ground late last summer on a $50 million building in Champion that will offer 24/7 emergency care, advanced imaging services and full laboratory services. The 30,000-square-foot facility will have a 25-bed capacity and treat many more with outpatient services.
Near the new medical facility, work is ongoing at the Trumbull Career and Technical Center, a $6.4 million expansion project adding 15,000 square feet for industrial training, career exploration and mental health services for students.
Reilly also points to Shepherd of the Valley’s independent and assisted living community in Salem, near the Columbiana-Mahoning County border as another significant project. The $62 million center on 34 acres will create 36 independent living villas, 52 independent apartments and 36 assisted living suites.
Finally, Reilly says there are a lot of smaller projects throughout the Mahoning Valley.
“A lot of the smaller projects – some of that stuff flies under the radar,” Reilly says. “But overall man hours are coming in very good in comparison to this time last year.”
When the information on various upcoming local projects provided by the Dodge Construction Report were relayed to local contractors at the Association’s annual meeting in December, 2026 was anticipated to be a good year, according to Reilly. He believes those will translate into opportunities for local contractors and workers.
“When I’m looking at man hours, our man hours are up about 15% in comparison to the same period last year,” Reilly says, adding these man hours are being calculated from October through March.
Editor’s note: This story is part of a larger report examining construction activity across the Mahoning Valley. Read the full story HERE.
Pictured at top: A $50 million Bon Secours Mercy Health facility is taking shape in Champion.