Lordstown Village Council was supposed to join the list of cities and towns offering incentives to entice hundreds of relocating GM workers to buy homes in Trumbull County.  But the vote was postponed after two council members questioned why the deal was only offered to auto workers, and not anybody who wants to move into Trumbull County.  Area Realtors say there are other programs and incentives out there for low income families looking to move into the cities.

"Warren city has a program that they could get five thousand up to seven thousand five hundred dollars available to them through those benefits, so I don't think it cheats those people out at all.", says Andrea Lupton, President of the Warren Area Board of Realtors.

Warren and Niles have agreed to offer a five hundred dollar tax rebate or credit, on top of five hundred dollars cash provided by the Cafaro Corporation for a possible one thousand dollars available to transplanted GM workers and their families, helping to boost the tax base County-wide.

"It doesn't take rocket science to read the papers to see what's been going on with property values, so the influx of people into our area is good for everybody, not just displaced auto workers.", says Lordstown Mayor Michael Chaffee.

This time, it's GM.  But who knows how these incentives might affect future economic development here in the Valley.

"Companies that are going to be relocating to our area, or thinking about coming here, they're going to see what we've done in the past for other companies that are here now, and I think it's going to make a big difference in their decision whether they're going to come here and make this their home as well.", says Lupton.

Lordstown Council is expected to reconsider its participation at a special meeting Wednesday.  The incentive application packets should be available at either UAW Local 1112 or 1714 next week.  The offer is retroactive to June 4th and runs for a full year, or until the first five hundred employees qualify.