The state Controlling Board will hear a request at its Monday meeting to release approximately $17 million to the Western Reserve Port Authority.

The funds will bolster efforts to attract manufacturing to the former RG Steel property. One prospective business is Fortune 500 company Kimberly-Clark.

According to the board’s agenda, the money will be used for site preparation, transportation improvements and correcting environmental issues at the property — covering more than 1,000 acres in Warren, and Howland and Weathersfield townships.

“That’s very exciting,” Anthony Trevena, the authority’s executive director, said of the pending funds. “The money goes to the expansion of an access road for that area, and there’s other developable sites as well. This road will absolutely help with any sort of development that happens in the future.”

The Ohio Department of Development made the request, with the money coming from the All Ohio Future Fund. Established last year under Ohio House Bill 33, the fund earmarks $750 million to assist communities in attracting economic development.

In its request, the Department of Development said $23,579,819 would be used for site improvements. Funding was broken down as follows: $17,241,380, All Ohio Future Fund; $3,384,044, Western Reserve Port Authority; $1,900,000, JobsOhio; $10,761, Youngstown Warren Development Partners; and $1,043,634, city of Warren.

“The project is not about the port authority,” Trevena said. “It really is about the city, townships, county. We’re working on this project together. It’s been a real team effort.

“The local communities have come together to attract economic development in the Valley.”

He added that the state delegation in Columbus, particularly state Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, was key.

“(He) has been important in advocating for this project,” Trevena said. “This particular award is something that he fought for.”

One Valley economic development agency was quick to applaud the move.

“The Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber wholly supports the effort by our partner in economic development, the Western Reserve Port Authority, to improve that site for future use,” said Lyle Huffman, chamber executive vice president, Government Affairs & Community Impact.

“These types of site and transportation improvements will go a long way to encourage future development in that area.”

Correcting surface transportation issues is projected to cost $14,913,680, according to the request. Environmental remediation ($6,622,505) and sewer improvements ($2,043,634) also are addressed.

“This project is attractive to any developer,” Trevena said. “It’s exciting for the community regardless of the company.”

One of those companies is Kimberly-Clark, with headquarters in Irving, Texas.

The producer of paper products, such as Kleenex, Huggies and Cottonelle, Kimberly-Clark obtained approximately 560 acres of the former RG Steel site for $9.9 million from the port authority in December 2023.

Kimberly-Clark representatives have been to the site to conduct engineering studies, Trevena said.

“They are doing general things you would do with any site,” he said. “They are pretty customary before you make any decision on development. Any company, before it makes an announcement, is going to do its due diligence.”