YOUNGSTOWN - The Board of Control approved city assistance to two businesses Thursday.
The board gave a $100,000 grant to Iron City Wood Products to help its move from Wilson Avenue headquarters in Campbell to Albert Street on the East Side.
The board also agreed to give $100,000 through the city's Youngstown Business Initiative to Empyra to help them expand their offices at 20 W. Federal Place downtown.
Tom DeAngelo, coordinator of economic development for the city, said Iron City takes in and refurbishes wooden pallets and needs more space, which is why it is moving to 900 Albert St.
The move will help the company keep 43 employees, and it is expected to add 14 more employees. Angelo said they do not have to pay the grant back if they live up to the terms of the grant agreement.
Costs associated with the move are expected to be about $900,000.
The grant is expected to help the company with upgrades to plumbing, water and wastewater at the site, DeAngelo said.
Empyra is a computer software business that is expected to add eight employees over the next three years and will also be improving its software system, which in turn will help it to improve the products it makes, DeAngelo said.
The Initiative program helps businesses in the city with startup costs or improvements, DeAngelo said.
Empyra was at the Youngstown Business Incubator before moving to 20 W. Federal Place. It has 15 employees.
Total cost of the improvements for Empyra is about $582,000, DeAngelo said.