Announcements
Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to Receive $2.5 million for Local Infrastructure Improvements
Jan 14, 2021
The Ohio Development Services Agency and General Motors have reached an agreement on the company’s $12 million community investment in the Mahoning Valley and it was announced today that the Eastgate Council of Regional Governments will receive $2.5 million for local infrastructure improvements for future economic development, leveraging all available federal funding programs.
Eastgate Regional of Council Governments will invest in local infrastructure improvements including the development of a proposed Lordstown Smart Transit Corridor. Working with the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission and DriveOhio, the corridor will enhance business sites surrounding the Village of Lordstown. The funding will also support battery, advanced energy, and electric vehicle charging technology, advancing the Voltage Valley strategic initiative, and expanding broadband in the region.
“We are grateful for the investment in our region by General Motors and appreciative of the support by Governor DeWine and his administration,” stated Jim Kinnick, Executive Director of the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. “Serving as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, Eastgate is well positioned to leverage this GM investment for the benefit of the entire region. We will be working closely with regional economic development entities, as well as with our state and federal partners, to aggressively pursue regional economic diversification. Our near-term focus will be on enhanced infrastructure to support job growth and workforce development, in the Lordstown region.”
The community investments are required as part of the settlement for GM’s repayment of its Job Creation and Retention Tax Credit incentives. In addition, GM will repay $28 million in tax credits. The state of Ohio required that GM refund the tax credits and make these investments following the company’s decision to close its Lordstown assembly facility.
Lordstown Smart Logistics Hub BUILD Applications