Construction boom in the Mahoning Valley

Jobs in the building trades are in demand in Northeast Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania.
Some major projects mean work has been booming for the building and construction trades.
The Western Reserve Building Trades represents around 9,000 workers in Mahoning, Columbiana, Trumbull, Mercer and some other counties in Pennsylvania.
"For the most part all of the trades are doing really well. There was a lot of work here in the area so you were able to get home in the evenings to go to bed in your own bed and still make a pretty good living. Along with a lot of commercial work, we have seen some industrial projects," said Marty Loney, President of the Western Reserve Building Trades, and Business Manager of Local 396 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union.
Loney added, "Locally the Plumbers and Pipefitters were a little slow. Fortunately we had some projects right around us down in Wellsville and at the Shell Cracker plant, we were able to put some of our members to work."
"Lordstown construction of the HomeGoods TJX distribution center should be wrapping up soon. Macy's Warehouse out there in North Jackson there's going to be about 60 percent of the facility renovated, about 40 million dollars I believe for that one. Mr. Burns out at Lordstown Motors continues to say they're ready to go in September. We have several contractors out there now. LG Chem GM partnership for the battery plant has really taken off. Several hundred craft on site right now, they expect that to go up here probably double the next month or so, so it's really going well out there, and should be complete early 2022," emphasized Loney.
The President of the Western Reserve Building Trades told WFMJ news there are apprenticeship programs available.
We asked how much workers make. He told us from the mid $40's to $60's for an hourly wage for the total package, which is inclusive of benefits including pension plans, health and welfare plans, annuities and whatever else the union you belong to has bargained for or negotiated.
The projects are pumping millions of dollars into the local economy helping support restaurants, and other businesses. In addition taxes on the payroll helps support schools, and provides tax dollars for municipalities.
Trumbull County commissioners are expected to vote an a tax abatement that's expected to help secure more investment and job creation at the Lordstown Energy Center.
People interested in a start in the building trades can find information on the Western Reserve Building Trades Website.
Loney added, "On our website Western Reserve Building Trades, you can go to each one of the trades. If your interested in becoming a plumber/pipefitter, electrician, bricklayer, whatever the case, it will take you to a link to their website. On many sites you can fill out an application online."