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LISBON -- The Columbiana County Port Authority Board of Directors accepted a pair of financial boosts Monday to further bolster the efforts of personnel helping East Palestine businesses in the train derailment aftermath.
"We couldn't do what we're doing in East Palestine without our partners," Port Authority Executive Director/CEO Penny Traina said, adding that includes working with the village officials who have been "phenomenal."
First, the board approved a six-month services agreement with JobsOhio and Team NEO for $50,000 to assist businesses in East Palestine, with the funds to be used for salaries, benefits and program-related expenses for mileage, meals or cell phones. Team NEO is a regional economic development partner covering northeast Ohio, including Columbiana County.
Team NEO Project Management Managing Director Walt Good attended the meeting and said the agreement was to support ongoing efforts by the Port Authority, noting that he's been working closely with Traina since the train derailment occurred in February. This is a way to help offset some of the costs the Port Authority has incurred.
"We felt that it was important to help," Good said.
The second financial boost came from a resolution approved to increase an initial grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. In 2021, the grant was received for $478,000 for business retention expansion and workforce development. The Port Authority put two grant recovery coordinators into place, Brittany Smith and Bobby Ritchey. The amendment extends the grant from 36 months to 48 months and increases the grant, providing an additional $209,678 to specifically look at the economic impact of the East Palestine train derailment. Haeden Panezott will be the recovery coordinator for the East Palestine project, dealing with businesses. The grant funds will be used for personnel, fringe benefits, travel, supplies and contractual agreements.
According to Traina, Panezott has been the lead person going to East Palestine, with help from the rest of the Port Authority team, visiting with village officials and businesses a couple days a week. She said two surveys have been circulated to businesses to collect data related to their needs and what help is needed.
Ritchey said Port Authority personnel will be meeting with businesses at the East Palestine Library to go over what they'll need for the $5 million East Palestine Emergency Support Program that was announced in June. According to a release by state Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Columbiana, the money was approved by the State Controlling Board and will provide loans to assist impacted businesses within a 2-mile radius of the crash site to help with ongoing expenses, working capital needs and recovery efforts. Loan amounts will range from $10,000 to $1 million with a zero percent interest rate.
Board member Nick Amato, who serves as secretary, asked how they'll get the word out to businesses to come to the library. Ritchey said they've approached the businesses directly.
"We are out there, we are absolutely boots on the ground in East Palestine," Traina said.
She said the parameters for the applications are still being formulated by the state. She said every business has a different story. They all have different needs and have been affected differently by the derailment. She said the Port Authority is appreciative of the Ohio Department of Development, Team NEO and JobsOhio for all the support.
"Everyone's come together to assist East Palestine," she said.
Good spoke highly of Traina and her team and the work done to help businesses with the disaster.
mgreier@mojonews.com