Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stopped in Mansfield Tuesday morning for a press conference to announced a $4 million dollar grant to help tear down and cleanup the former Westinghouse "A" building on East 5th Street. The local match of $1 million dollars through the Richland County Commissioners and city of Mansfield will see the project be able to move forward and demolish the structure, which has sat vacant for more than 30 years.
Commissioner Cliff Mears also spoke and it was Westinghouse that brought him to town in the early 1980's from the Toledo area. Mears said at one time Westinghouse in Mansfield employed more than 8,000 people. The building was built sometime in the early 1900's and a big crowd gathered to hear the Governor make the official announcement.
Commissioner Tony Vero, who played a big role in getting the state grant money and moving the project along, thanked the Governor for making sure Richland County received the funds needed and just how big of a deal this is locally to be able to knock down building and begin to clean up the area.