Leaders from Mahoning Valley governments, nonprofit agencies and private businesses joined the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber in the nation’s capital last week to learn how to bring millions of dollars into regional projects.

The fifth Washington, D.C., Fly-In welcomed 52 participants from Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties.

“We do this to help the Mahoning Valley better compete against the three Cs — Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus — as far as federal policies and gaining access to available federal dollars,” said Guy Coviello, chamber president / CEO.

The conference Wednesday and Thursday allowed participants to discuss funding for the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, funding for the Build Back Better regional challenge grant, as well as the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Stability and Equity (RAISE) grant.

“Our efforts in meeting with representatives of the Biden Administration and members of the Senate and House of Representatives was to make it clear the Mahoning Valley is speaking with one voice,” Coviello said.

Among the federal officials meeting with group members were Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alejandra Y. Castillo and Mitch Landrieu, who is the senior advisor responsible for coordinating for implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law. The local group also met with members of the Ohio legislative delegation.

Coviello expects the information the participants learned will be instrumental in bringing back leads that could enable them to secure federal funds for the area. Previous trips have helped secure millions of dollars for the air reserve station, a $20 million grant for downtown Youngstown development and other money to revitalize the Mahoning River.

Trumbull County Commissioner Niki Frenchko said of her participation in the fly-in: “… it was helpful to demonstrate that the business and local government, economic and workforce development priorities are the same. Having personal conversations with Congressman Warren Davidson and Bill Johnson about the impact of the YARS funding and aircraft requests was significant. When we, as a community, are reaching across the aisle for bipartisan support, bipartisan elected official presence is critical.”

She also was able to meet with Pennsylvania Congressman Mike Kelly’s legislative aide about the air reserve station projects and Build Back Better grant application. “We share constituents in the Mahoning and Shenango Valley; funding our request and grants would benefit Pennsylvania residents, too,” she noted.

Information was exchanged with Castillo, “and I look forward to meeting her when she visits Ohio next time,” Frenchko said.

Jim Kinnick, executive director of the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, said a chance to talk to officials about a $25 million RAISE grant was valuable.

Eastgate applied in April for the Logistic Innovation Vehicle Electrification grant, which, if approved, will allow the area to have an automated transfer yard, establish solar electric vehicle charging stations, a smart logistics corridor, and the establishment of a transit micro-mobility hubs.

“This will create jobs and opportunities for the area around Warren and Youngstown,” Kinnick said. “We were able to sell our application with Assistant Deputy of the U.S. Department of Transportation Charles Small. He seemed to be impressed with what we are trying to do.”

rsmith@tribtoday.com