After more than 20 years in the Ohio One Building, the Area Agency on Aging is moving its offices from downtown Youngstown to the Eastwood Mall.
"We serve Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana Counties, so it's important for us that we could be near Route 11, so that our employees could have easy access, if they have to go out for our case managers," says Lisa Solley, Chief of Community Relations, Wellness and Training with the Area Agency on Aging.
The Agency's lease is up, and they've been negotiating the move since last summer, looking at locations in Niles, Boardman, Warren and Youngstown.
Ultimately, Eastwood Mall offered more than 60,000 square feet on the second floor, and plans to renovate the space to fit their needs.
"We have free parking. It's on a bus line, easy access to transportation on Route 11. It's handicap-accessible, and we have technology available for them, high speed computer lines, etc.," says Joe Bell, Director of Corporate Communications with Cafaro.
The Area Agency on Aging serves roughly 145,000 seniors in four counties. Solley says they could face budget cuts anywhere from 5 to 20 percent, but they hope to make the move with all 75 employees and without cutting any services.
"They will be saving over $300,000 over the course of the lease, compared to what they are currently paying down at the Ohio One Building," says Bell. "And if it means that we have to move in order to save money, then that's the option that we're going to go with in order to be responsible with taxpayer money," adds Solley.
Bell says the Agency will move in within 90 days, now that the new 10-year lease is signed.
