YOUNGSTOWN – With a $400,000 federal grant, the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission has started work on a joint land use study that will plot strategies to ensure the long-term success of the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and surrounding communities.
The study was implemented by Matrix Design Group in collaboration with the military affairs commission, Trumbull County and the Air Force Reserve Station. The resulting 200-page “playbook,” commission director Vito Abruzzino says, outlines “symbiotic and complementary growth,” including sections on energy development, communication, antiterrorism measures and legislation.
“2020 was a banner year of investment into our local military installations and EOMAC was a large part of that effort,” Abruzzino says. “Entering the new year, Trumbull County’s No. 1 employer is well protected.”
Through work with elected officials, the military affairs commission was also able to secure the appropriation of four C-130J airplanes, which have “a strong chance” of being located at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, he says, bolstering the fleet that was last upgraded 30 years ago.
“These new aircraft will give the expert warriors of the 910th Airlift Wing the newest equipment possible to complete their dual missions of providing aerial spray and tactical airlift capabilities,” Abruzzino says.