Warren asks for $2 million from county ARP funds

Money would be used to bring housing, retail space to downtown

WARREN -- A public-private organization working to foster economic development in the city asked Trumbull County commissioners Wednesday for $2 million of its remaining American Rescue Plan Act money to assist in projects that will make "Warren the capital of the Voltage Valley."

The project would add modern multi-family properties in the downtown area and establish a $150 million mixed-use project on the city's peninsula that could bring more than 200 housing units and retail space, according to Dennis Blank, administrator for Fund for Warren's Future.

Blank, who attended Wednesday's Trumbull County commissioners meeting, along with Warren Mayor Doug Franklin, made the request stating projects being considered will be not only transformational for the city, but also county residents.

The peninsula project would consist of 100,000 square feet of office and retail space; a traditional hotel with meeting space; access to recreational opportunities, including

a pedestrian bridge to Perkins Park; as well as a gateway to Warren's west side and the Tod Avenue corridor.

It also would include a $6 million improvement of the city's parks and river; expansion of the Nature Conservancy project to remove invasive species from local river banks; as well as connecting the peninsula through Perkins, Mahoning, Packard, Bullhead and Burbank parks. These projects began earlier this year using the city's ARP funds.

The project also would include creation of the city's first dog park and building of a park on the Mahoning River near the Summit Street dam.

Investments also would be made to the city's garden district, including upgrading utilities and Wi-Fi, enhancing streetscapes, the building of single and multi-family houses and townhouses, and providing new community gardens.

"What we need to do is to add more modern multi-family housing, especially adjacent to downtown," Blank said. "There has been a lot of momentum that we had nothing to do with. The peninsula project is a private development."

CITY FUNDING

Blank said the city already supplied some ARP money for these Voltage Valley projects.

The city received $28 million in ARP funds.

"All of these things together create something that will be desirable for the new kind of workers that will be required to drive the Voltage Valley industries," Blank said. "This will create opportunities that will be geared to both middle class and working class folks."

Blank estimated the total investment will be more than $180 million in Warren. However, he added, the majority of investments will be made by the private sector.

"We are hopeful the area will be a major recipient of Appalachia grant money from state via Eastgate," he said. "There is $500 million available to 32 counties in Appalachia."

"We are hopeful to receive between $10 million and $20 million from this grant."

Franklin emphasized having partnerships between the city and the county, as well as working closely with private companies, improve chances of Fund for Warren's Future receiving grant money.

"The city is making a similar request to the city (council)," Blank said.

COUNTY ARP PROCESS

The county has an estimated $4.5 million left from the original $38.4 million ARP funds ready to be allocated.

It is still having an attorney from the law firm Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley & Matthews review requests it already has received and have conditionally said yes to support. The law firm is making sure the requests meet all federal guidelines included with the ARP funds.

The commissioners have $9 million in "maybe" requests.

There were 16 requests with a total value of $4 million that were rejected for funding by the commissioners.

However, Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy suggested if any ARP money remains after all other projects have been completed, the commissioners may reconsider some of these requests.

The commissioners closed the county's electronic portal for organizations of groups to submit requests to be considered for its ARP funds last month. Commissioners repeatedly have warned applicants to submit their requests prior to the closing of the portal.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin admitted Funds for Warren's Future did not make its request prior to the closing of the portal.

Fund for Warren's Future was created by Blank and Franklin in 2017, after the two men battled one another in 2015 for the mayor's seat.

Following the election, they reached out to two local businessmen with Warren-based businesses -- Anthony Payiavlas, president and CEO of AVI Foodsystems Inc., and Sam Covelli, CEO of Covelli Enterprises -- to see if they would participate in raising funds to initiate, promote and support economic development in the city.

"Everything we are doing is in partnership," Franklin said. "The Appalachia grant is a regional grant, not a Warren grant. That's why we are approaching the county. We have some private investors."

Franklin said the city believes in partnerships.

"We committed 10% of infrastructure costs," he continued.

Although the county's portal to submit applications has been closed, Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa said, in this case, the commissioners should seriously consider providing some assistance to this project.

"We've done some really good things with our ARP money," Cantalamessa said. "When we talk about transformational change, we have to take a hard look. This is something that can be a game changer. It is something that is transformational for this county and for the county seat."

Malloy also noted that he could consider using some of the county's ARP funds.

Frenchko said what Warren is attempting to accomplish -- making Warren the capital of Voltage Valley -- is near and dear to her heart.

"This is so important to me," she said. "I'm excited you're moving forward. What you're doing is good."