East Palestine first responder center backed by $20m grant

The East Palestine first responder center backed by Norfolk Southern’s $20 million grant is moving forward under a new partnership with Youngstown State University. According to a recent Norfolk Southern press release, the railroad and local officials see the project in East Palestine, Ohio, as a long-term hub for advanced public safety and fire science training.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Funding framework for the East Palestine first responder center

Under the new plan, Norfolk Southern will provide a $20 million grant to support both the construction and ongoing operation of the first responder training facility in East Palestine. The initiative was first announced after the February 2023 East Palestine derailment, which was widely covered by industry media such as Railway Supply. A groundbreaking followed in September 2023, but unresolved questions about staffing and operations left the long-term feasibility of the center in doubt.

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Those concerns are now addressed in an agreement among Norfolk Southern, the state of Ohio, the village of East Palestine and Youngstown State University. As reported by Trains.com, NS will channel funding to the university, which will design and build the facility, establish a long-term endowment to support its operation and growth, and provide experts from its faculty to staff and develop the center’s advanced curriculum.

Political backing and community safety focus

Norfolk Southern credits Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Youngstown State University and the Ohio Department of Public Safety with helping shape strategies to keep the training center viable, and notes that numerous other elected officials were involved. In a press release, NS CEO Mark George described the agreement as the result of extensive collaboration and a shared commitment to East Palestine, thanking Vice President JD Vance, Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, Rep. Mike Rulli, Gov. DeWine, Youngstown State President Bill Johnson, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson and other federal, state and local partners. He said their efforts helped turn the concept of an economic and educational center dedicated to enhancing community safety into a sustainable reality.

Site and future economic development in East Palestine

The training facility will be built on land identified by the village and Youngstown State as well suited for advanced fire science and first responder training. A separate parcel that Norfolk Southern had previously purchased for a training center was transferred to the East Palestine Community Improvement Corp. under an initial settlement agreement and reserved for future economic development projects to be selected by village leaders.

Youngstown State University’s Fire Science and Public Safety Training Facility

Bill Johnson, president of Youngstown State University, said the institution’s rebranded and expanded focus on workforce education is helping equip the Mahoning Valley and the region with the skills needed to meet current and future economic challenges. He said the university is honored to participate in the $20 million public-private partnership to develop a state-of-the-art Fire Science and Public Safety Training Facility that will serve first responders across Ohio and beyond, reinforcing the role of the East Palestine first responder center in the wider training network.

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