Joyce Announces $25 Million for YARS Fire Station
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that the Department of Defense (DOD) plans to award $25,000,000 to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS) for the construction of a new fire station through its Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 funding. As a Member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Congressman Joyce helped secure full funding for this project in the House-passed FY25 Defense Appropriations bill in 2024.
The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, which was signed into law by President Trump on March 15, 2025, provided DOD funding for FY25 and required the Pentagon to submit plans to Congress detailing how it would spend those funds.
On May 20, 2025, Congressman Joyce sent a letter with colleagues from the Ohio Congressional Delegation, including Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted and Congressmen Mike Turner and Michael Rulli, to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterating the importance of finalizing funding for this fire station. Read the full letter here.
With the public release of its Military Construction Operating Plan for FY25, DOD has confirmed its plans to provide the full $25 million for the YARS fire station project. Read the full plan here.
“As the Youngstown Air Reserve Station transitions to its new C-130J airframe, it is critical that it has a fire station that can support its mission requirements,” said Congressman Joyce. “I am proud to see this funding finally secured for the base, a major national security asset and employer in OH-14. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure the troops in Northeast Ohio have everything they need to protect our country.”
“This investment is a significant victory for Northeast Ohio—solidifying our region’s strategic importance and fostering positive economic growth,” said Congressman Michael Rulli (OH-06). “It ensures that Northeast Ohio remains not just relevant, but indispensable to our national security.”
“We are grateful for Congressman Joyce’s successful efforts to secure $25 million for a new fire station at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station,” said Guy Coviello, President and CEO of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Rep. Joyce worked with the community over the last two years to bring the new fire station at YARS to reality. We are grateful for his long-standing efforts and his recent efforts with his colleagues in Ohio to prioritize this project for the Defense Department.”
“We appreciate today’s welcome news that the Pentagon has cleared $25M for a new base fire station at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS). This new fire station is critical for the airbase and the 910th AW as we welcome eight new C-130J model airplanes to the Mahoning Valley. The Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission worked hand in hand with Chairman Joyce over the last two years to support the mission at the 910th Airlift Wing at YARS and this builds on the last ten years of work to bring these new airplanes to the Mahoning Valley. We are grateful for Congressman Joyce’s multi-year advocacy on behalf of our community and our Airmen, and we are grateful for his individual efforts and his work with the delegation to accelerate the project and secure the funding commitment,” said Josh Prest, Executive Director of the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission.
Located in Trumbull County, YARS is home to the 910th Airlift Wing, which has a tactical airlift mission and is tasked with the Department of Defense’s sole aerial spray mission. On July 16, 2024, the base welcomed its first of eight new C-130J aircraft to replace the C-130H models.
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