New Center Will Serve Mahoning Valley Veterans

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – State funding is providing the first piece for a new $7 million facility on Belmont Avenue to serve veterans.

Mahoning County commissioners and the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission announced Wednesday morning that $650,000 from the state capital budget will be used for the new center. It will be in a long-vacant 23,000-square-foot building, next to the Carl Nunziato Veterans Administration building.

Commissioners are working with the Western Reserve Port Authority on the design of the project, and construction is expected to start within a few months.

“We had hoped to build a new facility in this location,” said Brian Kennedy, president of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission. “And the words of wisdom from the port authority were, ‘Why would you build something new for twice the cost when we can put you in this old A&P supermarket for half the cost?’ And it’s twice as large as what we scoped.”

He said the commission is getting more than what the veterans need. Phase 1 calls for a secure client intake center, conference rooms, office space for one-on-one support services, an event hall and a garage for medical shuttles.

The total project cost is $7 million, and the center will provide comprehensive services for area veterans. 

“Phase 2 is more important than Phase 1,” Kennedy said. “Phase 2 involves veterans housing, veterans homeless housing and … what we call in our larger scope, a campus of care.”

Commissioner David Ditzler said commissioners are contacting federal legislators and other agencies to try to secure more funding for the project.

The property at 1915 Belmont Ave. formerly housed a movie theater, a grocery store and a medical supply company. Prior to its acquisition by the port authority, it was most recently owned by Steward Health.

State Sen. Al Cutrona, R-33rd, said the capital budget, which includes initial funding for the project among many other programs for the Mahoning Valley, is an example of “bringing home the bacon” to the “people who deserve it most, our veterans.”

Ditzler said the veterans center has been a long time in the works. Working with veterans groups in the Valley opens your eyes to the need, he said.

Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said the county has been trying to secure housing for homeless veterans for years.

“That whole area where that building sits on Belmont Avenue does revitalize the neighborhood,” she said. 

But behind it, there will be housing for homeless veterans, the commissioner said. And right next to the veterans administration clinic is a great spot, she said.

Commissioner Anthony Traficanti thanked Cutrona and state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-59th, and U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, R-6th, for their assistance in securing the funding.

Jim Fortunato, county purchasing director, is a veteran of the Vietnam War and said veterans appreciate the project.

“I came back from Vietnam one day and there was no transition,” he said. “Vietnam – and I’m back here. There was nothing telling me where I could get any help at all.”

The planned center is a marked improvement, demonstrating that veterans are recognized.

“It’s really needed,” Fortunato said.

Pictured at top: From left, Sarah Lown, public finance manager at the Western Reserve Port Authority; Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony Traficanti; state Sen. Al Cutrona; Brian Kennedy, president of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission board; and David Ditzler and Carol Rimedio-Righetti, county commissioners, flank an artist’s rendering of the planned veterans center on Belmont Avenue.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.