Last Week's Speaker - October 20 2021
Jim Kinnick, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, highlighted some ways in which the agency helps communities.
Eastgate is a metropolitan planning organization, water quality management agency and development district that secures federal and state funding for projects in Mahoning, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties. Kinnick cited the Smart 2 Network in Youngstown as an example. Eastgate coordinated an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grant Program for $10.85 million to address transportation needs in downtown Youngstown. Changes are evident on Fifth Avenue between Commerce Street and Stambaugh Stadium, where improvements have been made for bicycle and pedestrian travel, new streetscape and wayfinding signs have been installed, and new public transit waiting stations are in use. The project should be completed during summer 2023, when a driverless shuttle will be installed to move people between Mercy Health, YSU, Eastern Gateway Community College and other downtown destinations.
Eastgate also played a role in the removal of dams on the Mahoning River to open the corridor to more development and recreation. The dam in Lowellville is gone. Another dam in Struthers will be removed soon, and Kinnick predicts that the dam near downtown Youngstown will be taken out next year.
Two significant initiatives underway are the development of a strategic plan for the Lordstown area, to capitalize on investments being made there, and acting on a feasibility study to make regional broadband service more affordable and adaptable, Kinnick said.
Two new members also were welcomed during the meeting.
Flavio Aiken was introduced by Mike Latessa. Aiken is a legal assistant with Manley Deas Kochalski and has an 8-year-old son. He previously lived in Pittsburgh and Columbus.
Jim Stein was introduced by Luke Politsky. Stein is outreach manager of Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services in the Diocese of Youngstown. He grew up in Austintown, graduated from Youngstown State University, and has two children. He and his wife are members of Youngstown St. Christine Parish.
Trina Williams thanked everyone who has supported her online fundraising campaign to purchase a food truck to expand her catering business.
