State Supports Company that Feeds Military, Disaster Survivors
Summary
COLUMBUS A Youngstown company that packages meals for the U.S. Department of Defense and for disaster relief will receive a $314,925 loan from the Ohio Department of Development to improve productivity and efficiency.Valley Foods Inc., 335 E. Boardman St., Youngstown, will use the loan to buy new equipment that will allow the company to package meals more quickly. The Ohio Controlling Board approved the Regional 166 Direct Loan during its Monday meeting.With the funding, Valley Foods will purchase a new pouching machine so that food can be packaged quicker, allowing the company to better serve its Defense contracts and bid on additional contracts. The meals have an extended shelf life and are used in military installations and disaster zones around the world.This is how the DeWine-Husted Administration and Development empower communities to succeed. We support businesses, which in turn makes their communities stronger, said Lydia Mihalik, director of Development. This loan has the added benefit of helping our military men and women and people who are coping with disasters.Valley Foods is a 60-year-old company in downtown Youngstown.