Ohio Department of Natural Resources announces nearly $4 million in funding for projects in the Valley
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) division of Mineral Resources Management has announced funding for projects across Ohio, including two in the Valley.
This will be funded by the Abandoned Mines Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, which aims to promote economic opportunities through the reclamation of abandoned mine lands within historic mining communities.
"These projects will contribute to local communities in several different ways, and it's a bonus when these projects include expanding access to the great outdoors," said ODNR Director Mary Mertz.
Two counties within the Valley will be receiving funding for projects to expand recreation, job training and employment in the Valley.
Mahoning County will be receiving $1.2 million toward the rehabilitation of an existing facility to expand the Youngstown Business Incubator's technology campus to make the recently announced Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense.
Columbiana County will be receiving $2.6 million to initiate a three-phase project to renovate unusable land into useable space to allow for the expansion of the outdoor YMCA facilities.
The land will be used to make areas for hiking, recreation outdoors, ziplining, canopy walk, and expanding/renovating lodging and housing.
There is no date set for when these projects will begin or finish as of now.
