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Influential congressman who controls federal funds will visit East Akron site
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Jan 30, 2008
A powerful congressman who helps control the federal purse strings on transportation and infrastructure projects will tour the proposed site of a new world headquarters for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. late next month.
Local leaders hope the visit by Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, will help shake free federal money for the massive redevelopment project on Akron's east side.
''We want to do everything from the federal side to make this a reality,'' U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Niles, said
Tuesday.
Goodyear committed last month to building a new headquarters in East Akron and keeping about 2,900 workers in the city. At the same time, Akron and Summit County leaders announced sweeping plans to redevelop the surrounding neighborhood and current Goodyear site with offices and retail. The overall bill has been estimated at about $900 million.
Ohio, Summit County and Akron already have committed millions of dollars to the project, with the state forwarding $33.9 million earlier this week for parking and road work.
Ryan and Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Copley Township, are sponsoring the Feb. 21 visit by Oberstar, a Minnesota Democrat who was elected in 1974.
''We want to make sure he has a visual understanding of what the project is about and what it means to our community,'' Sutton said. ''The best way to do that is bring him to Akron.''
Goodyear is pleased to host the congressman's visit and looks forward to sharing information with him, company spokesman Scott Baughman said.
Oberstar's office confirmed the tour Tuesday and said it's not unusual for him to visit congressional districts wanting federal transportation money.
''Every transportation project that involves the federal government goes through his committee,'' Ryan said. ''Every major transportation project in the country has his fingerprints on it.''
County Executive Russ Pry said Oberstar's visit shows the magnitude of the project and bodes well for the possibility of securing federal money in the future.
The redevelopment project will need ''substantial transportation dollars committed'' for road and bridge work to support the project, Ryan said.
There's no specific amount of federal money being sought right now.
''All of the specific (financial) needs are not even identified at this point,'' Sutton said.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
A powerful congressman who helps control the federal purse strings on transportation and infrastructure projects will tour the proposed site of a new world headquarters for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. late next month.
Get the full article here.
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