CASTLO News!

"Brownfield 'Recycling' Proves Productive for CASTLO Tenants"

~ December 23, 2004, The Journal
 

STRUTHERS - "Reclamation of brownfields (abandoned or under-utilized industrial properties), is recycling on a grand scale," explains William D. DeCicco, executive director of the 120-acre CASTLO Industrial Park in Struthers, former site of the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Company's Struthers Works. "It generates new jobs and sources of revenue, renews community vitality, and stimulates new life as what was once old is returned to productive economic use while safeguarding rural and suburban greenfields."

Just ask the CASTLO Community Improvement Corporation's 18 tenants, seven of which newly signed on in the past two years. They added 40 new jobs in 2004, bringing the park's annual payroll to over $4,000,000.

Brownfield reclamation, fashionable nationally, has impacted multiple sites in the CASTLO vicinity of late. Youngstown Performance Place welcomed expansions Exal and Cantar Polyair; Lowellville attracted two expanding businesses, Screen Technologies and Garland Welding; and in Campbell, two additional businesses. Allegheny Heat Treat and Impact Metals Corporation, now operate at the Casey Industrial Park.

Such progress came via confronting and overcoming environmental hurdles, concerns and misperceptions. The EPA, both federal and state, has assisted with programs that encourage balanced, sustainable, economically viable, environmentally responsible clean-up and redevelopment through promoting efficient use of land and existing infrastructure and advocating cooperation that transcends political boundaries.

Participation in these programs, godsends to CASTLO and the Mahoning Valley, dovetails with the goals of the Mahoning River Corridor of Opportunity (MRCO). CASTLO is a founding member of, and key player in, this multi- jurisdictional public/private partnership that strives to facilitate sustainable redevelopment, of 1.470+ acres of industrial brownfield along 4.5 miles of the Mahoning River in Youngstown, Campbell and Struthers. Formed in 1995, it's chaired by Struthers Mayor Daniel C. Mamula.

In November, a $171,000 USEPA Brownfields Assessment grant was activated for a Phase II environmental assessment on CASTLO's western 80 acres, as was a Clean Ohio grant of $201,091 to help remediate the park's easternmost vacant 40 acres for potential future development. DeCicco points out three Clean Ohio grants have been awarded in the Mahoning Valley, an in the MRCO acreage, demonstrating how great the need is. He notes in 2005, both CASTLO and the MRCO intend to pursue additional Clean Ohio funds to remediate any problems identified via ongoing environmental assessments.

Continued coordination with these environmental agencies will enable CASTLO and various parcels in the MRCO to earn "No Further Action" and "Covenant Not to Sue" letters. CASTLO hopes that within two years all environmental issues will be resolved so that priorities can shift from clean-up to development.

Meanwhile, CASTLO's 2004 capital improvements included a $90,000 upgrade of a 100' x 60' entrance parcel building, now suitable for occupancy with a small office, restroom facilities, overhead lighting, heat, a large overhead door and three phase electrical service. For $11,900, the park also upgraded a 650' section of its railroad tracks. In 2004, its direct rail access benefited anchor tenants Industrial Timber & Lumber Company and the Drywall Barn with nearly 400 rail cars stopping at the park, thanks to the Ohio Central short-line, which affords CASTLO leaseholders access to two Class One rail carriers; the Norfolk &. Southern and CSXT.

CASTLO looks forward this summer to the completion of a new 380' bridge from Walton Avenue to the brownfield corridor's center. With Dr. David A. Sampson, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, and various MRCO participants, CASTLO took part in last September's groundbreaking for the bridge that will facilitate economic development for the city of Campbell similar to that already realized via Astro Shapes and CASTLO in Struthers and Performance Place in Youngstown.

In 2004 CASTLO also enabled design of an MRCO brochure to introduce the financial assistance services available to prospective businesses looking at the corridor.

Also, with 4,400' of frontage on the Mahoning River, CASTLO works actively with the Mahoning River Consortium to foster unique relationships between environmentally-aware businesses, open spaces and the waterway which is planned for eventual restoration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Further, as part of its commitment to the Youngstown 2010 regional initiative, CASTLO is a participant on that organization's Natural Amenities subcommittee.

The CASTLO CIC's 24-member volunteer board of trustees, chaired by Michael Kusataba, P.E., has as its president Marion Creed. Other officers include Jean McBride, secretary/treasurer; Frank Galletta, vice.president of finance; Paul Stebelton, vice-president of industrial park management; William Livosky, vice-president of nominations and personnel; and Sarah Lown, vice-president of program. Board newcomers include Jim Ludiciani, Lowellville's mayor; Kel!y Becker-Rumberg, president of Davidson-Becker Funeral Services; Carol Jean Hirt, co-owner of Materials Research Laboratories; and Anthony Frattaroli Sr. of Frattaroli's Sparkle markets, returning after a brief absence. A good neighbor for over 25 years, the economically self-sufficient CASTLO supports the surrounding community with its own real estate taxes as well as the state, municipal and school taxes paid by its tenants' 150 employees.