Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) is today joining the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in announcing two POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) grants totaling $1,204,850 for Youngstown State University (YSU) and the Western Reserve Port Authority (WRPA) for broadband expansion and training.
Youngstown State will receive $1,154,880 for a broadband training and 5G readiness program, and the Western Reserve Port Authority will receive $49,970 to fund a Trumbull County broadband preliminary engineering study.
“I am proud of the incredible work that Youngstown State—led by President Jim Tressel—and the Western Reserve Port Authority have done to put our region at the center of emerging technologies and industries of the future, and I congratulate them on securing these funds that will help further position Northeast Ohio as a hub for innovation,” said Congressman Tim Ryan. “With historic broadband investments from our American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on the way, these funds will be vital to our work in bringing our underserved communities on board to the economy of the future and providing our workers and businesses with more opportunities to thrive.”
“The Western Reserve Port Authority is excited to work with the Cities of Warren and Niles, Howland and Weathersfield Townships, and the Trumbull County Planning Commission to implement the recommendations of the Eastgate Regional Council of Government’s Regional Broadband Feasibility Study,” said Anthony Trevena, Executive Director of the Western reserve Port Authority. “We appreciate the support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support this work to ensure long-term digital equity and ways to leverage public-private investment in the Mahoning Valley.”
"Eastgate is excited to see this funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission come back to our region to expand connectivity in the Mahoning Valley and ensure everyone has access to vital services,” said Jim Kinnick, Director of the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. “These grants will enhance the economic revitalization happening in our region and wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of Congressman Ryan and so many valuable partners in our community.”
YSU’s 5G Readiness Training Program will train 165 students with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the broadband industry sector in Appalachian Ohio. This project provides the students with access to a no-cost, industry-certified training program while also providing the broadband industry with the trained workforce it will need to carry out the projected $500 million investment in broadband infrastructure over the coming years.
In addition, the funding will help the Western Reserve Port Authority in Youngstown conduct an engineering study on a proposed fiber optic loop designed to provide high-speed broadband service to four underserved communities in Trumbull County.
The announcement today is part of nearly $47 million in investments through its POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) initiative, which supports economic diversification and revitalization in the region’s coal-impacted communities. These investments will create jobs, expand job and skills training, and attract new private investment in communities across seven Appalachian states affected by the transition away from coal-fired power plants.
Original source can be found here.
