YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning Valley local government leaders, chamber representatives and private sector officials are set to meet Wednesday in a closed-door session to discuss a regional approach to planning the use of the American Rescue Plan funds.

Members of the press are invited to ask questions only after the meeting has been held.

A request from the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator to be present inside of the meeting was denied.

“Most of the attendees are from the private sector and there will not be a quorum of public-sector bodies,” the newspaper was told in response to the request, sent to the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, which is organizing the session.

In an announcement of the effort earlier in June, the chamber CEO and President Guy Coviello, Warren Mayor Doug Franklin and Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said the Valley is set to receive a windfall of a collective $250 million in American Rescue Plan funds over the next two years.

Business leaders, the presidents of the boards of commissioners in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, administrators in the counties’ largest townships, the Western Reserve Port Authority, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, Valley Economic Development Partners, the Youngstown Foundation, Wean Foundation and the Community Foundation were invited, officials said earlier in June. JobsOhio also was expected to participate, to provide guidance on how the funds can be used under federal and state rules.

A listing of all attendees was requested Monday.

The money presents a shared opportunity to make a lasting impact, a “legacy opportunity,” Brown said.

The types of projects the money could fund will be sussed out during planning sessions; no specific project or type of project has yet been identified, Coviello said.

Ideally the projects will contribute to a regional plan that lifts the entire Valley, Brown said.

Franklin said it would be irresponsible not to have regional discussions on the best way to put the funds to use in a way that will leave a lasting impact.

“We’re looking for ideas that are transformational, that will last long beyond our generation, having a generational effect well into the future — if we do it right. So I think it’s just the responsible thing to do,” Franklin said.

This doesn’t mean communities that participate will forfeit control over the funding or be told how to use it.

“We still all have local obligations,” Franklin said. But the need for more economic development in the area is a “common denominator” among the local municipalities, he said.

The funds could be leveraged to bring even more federal and state funding to the Valley, Coviello said. And, if used right, they could make the area more competitive, he added.

The region needs to “have a plan” in order to be competitive, Coviello said.

Brown said Youngstown shouldn’t be competing against other nearby cities in the Valley for development, but the region as a whole could compete against other parts of the state and other states. Local deals can benefit the entire area, he said.

Franklin said he would like to have public meetings and online surveys to garner public input on how the money could be spent in Warren.

Trumbull County commissioners also have proposed public meetings to garner input. Commissioners appear interested in using funds for water and sanitary sewer projects.

The city of Youngstown has indicated it plans to use some of its $82 million to make up income tax revenue lost during the pandemic. The city fell a collective $6.3 million short in 2020 and 2021, compared to 2019 collections.

Youngstown also is considering spending the money to remove blighted housing, improve housing quality, develop a youth employment program, improve parks, increase community policing and bring in a grocery store.

Mahoning County is expected to receive $44 million, Trumbull County $38 million and Warren is expected to receive $29 million.