The Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission (EOMAC) and its Executive Director, Vito Abruzzino, are proud to announce that the Office of Economic Adjustment has awarded Trumbull County $399,725 in grant dollars for the execution and implementation of the recently concluded Youngstown Air Reserve Station Joint Land Use Study (JLUS). This study, awarded and completed over two years, looked at the factors and issues surrounding the growth and expansion of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS), located in Vienna. EOMAC, YARS base leadership and Trumbull County spearheaded the acquisition of the study in 2016. Once concluded in the fall of 2019, a phase II grant application was made by Trumbull County to implement some of its critical recommendations, which can be found at YARSJLUS.com.

"We, as a military defense community, cannot thank the Commissioners Fuda, Polivka and Cantalamessa enough for being willing and able partners in this process," Abruzzino stated. "Particular thanks is also given to the Trumbull County Planning Commission for its active role in all steps of the JLUS process. An award of this magnitude simply would not have been possible without the Commission's hard work, cooperation and assistance."

State Senator Sean J. O'Brien (Dist-32), whose district the base resides, noted that only one other Joint Land Use Study has been done in the State of Ohio, at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. "To see one executed here in Trumbull County, focused on our largest employer in YARS, is something to be proud of. This award of nearly $400,000 to benefit and protect the base is a huge victory for our area, and I intend to remain fully engaged as the process continues," he said.

State Senator Michael Rulli (Dist-13) added, "When we moved to secure state budget dollars for local military advocacy, this was exactly the type of return on investment we hoped to see. The overall economic impact of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station on the Valley as a whole must be protected. Reactive measures are a way of the past. Proactive thinking and strategies must be embraced."

A request for proposals to contract and execute the grant dollars will go out nationwide in the coming days.

For more information, contact Abruzzino at vito@regionalchamber.com or 330-219-3081.