Staff photo / J.T. Whitehouse Offering a few words of gratitude at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Farmers National Bank headquarters on Thursday is Canfield Mayor Don Dragish with Kevin J. Helmick, Farmers National Bank president and CEO, standing beside him.

CANFIELD — The ribbon was cut as the new Farmers National Bank headquarters officially opened Thursday with more than 100 attending the ceremony and touring the facility.

The $9 million, 28,000-square-foot addition to the Farmers campus will usher in new technology, while continuing to serve the bank’s customer base in two states and 70 locations.

“As our company continues to grow, this expansion enhances our ability to be centrally located in our footprint and is a testament to our vision for the future of Farmers,” said Kevin J. Helmick, the bank’s president and CEO. “The building was thoughtfully designed to include collaborative workspaces, hotel offices, meeting spaces of multiple sizes and enhanced amenities.”

During the ceremony, city Mayor Don Dragish spoke.

“They chose to invest in the heart of our city, and show their continued commitment to us,” he said. “They have constructed a legacy, and I thank them for investing and believing in Canfield.”

Also speaking was Guy Coviello, president and CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, who said the new facility “stays in line with the character of the community.”

He said Farmers has been a Chamber member for more than 50 years.

Following the ribbon cutting, tours were given of the facility, including the conference rooms named for Farmers National Bank’s first six presidents: Alexander Dickson (1887-1907), Mark H. Liddle (1907-1926), Hiram John Beardsley (1927-1947), Thaddeus C. Rose (1947-1951), Asa Skelton (1952-1974) and William Stewart (1974-1996).

Attending the ceremony was retired Farmers employee and Canfield Councilman Mark Graham.

“I served under five of the nine presidents,” he said.

In the main entrance to the new headquarters is a wall-size timeline featuring historic photos and major events since the bank was founded in 1887.

“We’ve had a rock-solid history for more than 137 years,” Helmick said. “As the ninth CEO in Farmers history, I am proud to continue that as we enter this next phase in the company’s growth.”

Helmick said he is pleased to have the expansion to their campus, which now spans a city block.

Farmers National Banc Corp. is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Canfield, with more than $5 billion in banking assets.