VIENNA TOWNSHIP, Ohio – State and local officials, community partners and area business leaders joined Western Reserve Port Authority staff and board members Friday to celebrate what WRPA’s executive director described as more than $42 million in investments at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
A ceremonial groundbreaking at the site of the new $7.4 million YNG Aviation Education Center at the airport and the grand opening of the recently completed Air Heritage Park followed the WRPA board’s regularly scheduled business meeting Friday.
“Today is a celebration of progress but, more importantly, it’s about a celebration of connections and partnerships that make progress even possible,” said Anthony Trevena, WRPA executive director. “What we see happening at Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport shows what is possible when infrastructure, education, service and community come together to create opportunities that will benefit regions like ours for generations to come.”
Youngstown State University will provide the academics and confer the degrees associated with the aviation education center, YSU President Bill Johnson said.
“I don’t want a pilot that hasn’t gotten the education that they need to do the job that they’re required to do, or any of the other professionals in the aviation community,” he remarked. “You better believe we’re going to have high standards and expectations.”
Facilities like the aviation education center “help the Lake to River region plant our flag in this industry,” state Rep. Nick Santucci of Niles, R-64th, said at the groundbreaking. “We want that. We want folks coming here, getting their credentials and their skill sets and filling the necessary jobs that are available.”
“As we prepare for future aviation leaders, we’re also here to recognize the importance of remembering those who paved the way,” Trevena said at a brief ceremony marking the opening of the Air Heritage Trail. The site features a 1-mile walking trail in the shape of a C-130 Hercules and a pollinator garden. Along the path, visitors can use their smart devices to access QR codes that will provide information about the area’s aviation heritage.
“This is how a great community investment works,” Trevena said. “They serve multiple generations. They create value that extends well beyond its purpose.”
As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Trevena unveiled the first of a series of benches that can be sponsored along the trail to recognize people and organizations with meaningful connections to local aviation. The first bench commemorates the late Joseph Maxin, a local pilot, attorney, flight instructor and former WRPA chairman and board member who died in a plane crash last year. Members of Maxin’s family visited the bench during a moment of silence.
Among the projects highlighted during bus trips to the sites of the aviation education center groundbreaking and Air Heritage Park were a $460,000 emergency resurfacing of Taxiway J this year.
“It was pretty deteriorated. It hadn’t been resurfaced in about 35 years,” said Randy Partika, director of engineering and construction for the port authority.
Other projects conducted at the airport in recent years included the $15.2 million rehabilitation of Runway 14/32, the $9.3 million rehab of Taxiway Hotel and $7.2 million for Runway 5/23.
During the board meeting Friday, members approved execution of final documents related to the capital lease for Top Property Holding – Exal Court LLC, which is planning to develop a 12-acre industrial park focusing on light and advanced manufacturing in Youngstown. According to the resolution, Top Property plans to construct an approximately 50,400-square-foot speculative warehouse/light manufacturing building capable of being subdivided into increments of approximately 12,600 square feet, each with its own recessed dock and drive-in door access and related site improvements.
A Sept. 29 groundbreaking is planned for the project, the first phase of a planned 200,000 square feet of Class A industrial space to be developed at the site.
Provisions of the agreement include WRPA issuing and selling up to $6 million in taxable development revenue lease bonds to finance a portion of the project, as well as authorizing the execution and delivery of a ground lease and construction agreement, and providing an Ohio sales tax use exemption for building and construction materials.
Following a brief executive session, board members also authorized Trevena to enter into purchase agreements for 21 W. Federal St. in downtown Youngstown for $10,000, as well as three properties owned by Youngstown City School District.
The port authority is proposing to purchase 134 N. Hazelwood Ave. from the school district for $71,000, 58 Williamson Ave. for $900,000 and 2851 Kirk Road for $950,000.
Trevena emphasized that the school district and Paige Federal LLC, which owns 21 W. Federal, still would need to approve any sale of their respective properties. He described the WRPA board’s vote as “procedural” and authorizes the port authority to move forward if the school district chooses to sell its properties.
“This is our way of saying we’re willing buyers,” he said.
During the WRPA board’s meeting, representatives of JobsOhio added to the investments being made at the airport, providing $1.71 million for runway resurfacing, drainage improvements and infield lighting upgrades.
“This project was the perfect example of what we want to do to invest, to make our installations better, to make our aerospace and defense opportunities continue to thrive,” said Michael Dustman, JobsOhio program director for the military and federal sector.
The airport and Youngstown Air Reserve Station, which shares runways with the airport, are strategic assets for the region,” said Dani Robbins, CEO of Lake to River Economic Development. The JobsOhio investment strengthens job stability, military readiness and long-term work for all four counties in the Lake to River region, she added.
Last November, the JobsOhio board of directors approved creating a $250 million aerospace and defense opportunity program. It will provide $50 million each over the next five years to support projects in those sectors.
“We want to be competitive with other defense states like Florida and like Texas,” Dustman said.
In addition to accepting the JobsOhio grant during the meeting, board members voted to accept a Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant for $1.67 million for design and construction of a community hangar at the Aviation Education Center and $942,792 from the FAA for design and construction of Taxilane C.
Pictured at top: Local and regional officials, representatives of the Western Reserve Port Authority and contractors participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday for the YNG Aviation Education Center.