After a massive train derailment and toxic chemical spill in East Palestine made national headlines back in 2023; the company that owned and operated the train, Norfolk-Southern Railways, promised they would build a training center to help Ohio expand access to firefighter training, particularly in regard to hazardous material fires.
But since then, things have changed, and plans for the training facility have been “reimagined and enhanced.”
Under the new agreement, announced Friday, Nov. 21, Norfolk Southern will provide $20 million in funding to Youngstown State University to design and construct the new first responder training center in East Palestine, and operate it as part of Youngstown State University’s Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences and Forensic Science.
The new plan calls for the facility design to include space for fire, police, and emergency medical services first responders, including volunteers, to train on various emergency scenarios, such as house, vehicle, and industrial fires, search and rescue, confined space rescues, and agricultural rescues.
East Palestine’s emergency response agencies will have free, priority access to the facility, which will also offer fire sciences curriculum and alternative workforce education pathways for YSU students.
In addition, the agreement also includes the creation of a long-term endowment plan to financially support the center’s continued operation and growth.
Gov. Mike DeWine called the reimagined training facility “truly a collaborative effort involving those from the White House to the Statehouse to the community of East Palestine.”
The site in East Palestine, where the facility will be located, has not yet been finalized and will be announced at a later date.
DeWine was joined in East Palestine on Friday by Vice President J.D. Vance, Senator Bernie Moreno, Senator Jon Husted, Congressman Mike Rulli, Youngstown State University (YSU) President Bill Johnson, Village of East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, and Norfolk Southern Railway Company President and CEO Mark George.
