FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2006

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Bruce Johnson today announced that Mahoning County has been awarded $300,000 from the Industrial Site Improvement Fund (ISIF), which provides grants to improve qualified commercial and industrial areas. The funds will be used to extend a water line and complete road widening in support of further development along the Bailey Road Corridor.

"The ISIF is an important tool in making it possible for Ohio communities and businesses to create new infrastructure and to upgrade existing facilities for future job creation," said Johnson, who also serves as state development director. "This funding will enable Mahoning County to further develop the Bailey Road Corridor, which has the potential to attract significant business investments that will provide new growth opportunities and bring good jobs to the area."

Mahoning County will lead a public/private partnership with Jackson Township, the Regional Chamber and area businesses to extend a water line to the Bailey Road Corridor and widen Silicia Road in an effort to ease congestion and support increased traffic flow resulting from proposed future development. The project site contains more than 600 acres of industrial and commercial zoned land with existing electricity, natural gas lines and sanitary sewer access. Water service is needed to complete the infrastructure and create development-ready sites along Bailey Road, which is strategically and centrally located to provide overnight ground access to several major markets in the United States.

Completion of the $932,000 project is expected to attract private investments and future development at the site that could create more than 1,000 jobs. The County and the Township will partner with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber to market the site.

The ISIF is a reimbursement grant program that provides up to $500,000 in assistance to eligible Ohio counties for the purpose of improving qualified commercial and industrial areas. The proposed project site must be used primarily for commercial or industrial activities, and funding can be used for commercial and/or industrial land and building acquisition; public and/or private infrastructure improvements; expansion and/or renovation of existing buildings; and environmental remediation.

ISIF applications are evaluated based on the county's distress level, the project's feasibility and implementation plan, local and private financial participation and the economic and community impact of the project.