LAKE MILTON — The Mahoning County commissioners on Tuesday approved allocation of $305,000 of their $42 million in American Rescue Plan funds, including $250,000 to Animal Charity of Ohio to help it improve a second building it now owns at 8469 Southern Blvd. in Boardman.

It is a “large empty building that will be repurposed and renovated into a humane society that will allow us to service the community for years to come. This building will be safe, effective and operational and will be large enough to be able to bring in the increased number of abused, abandoned and neglected animals so we can continue our mission of service to this community,” according to the Animal Charity website.

The organization began about 60 years ago in the garage of its two founders and later expanded into its current facility at 4140 Market St. in Boardman. It later added rental space in Canfield.

During COVID-19, Animal Charity met the increasing need for its services by getting storage units and removing furniture, but it became clear that was not enough, the organization states. It took out a loan to buy the Southern Boulevard facility.

The county commissioners also allocated the following other ARP funds Tuesday:

• $45,000 to O.C.C.H.A. Inc. (Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana, Inc.) on Shirley Road for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning repairs or replacement;

• $100,000 to the Mahoning Valley Construction Coalition to purchase digital messaging efforts, traditional media, an interactive direct mailing campaign and a content marketing approach and development.

The commissioners had their meeting at the Milton Township Fire Department.