CLEVELAND -  Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish announced today that Cuyahoga County and Huntington Bank brokered an agreement for the City of East Cleveland to save a deal to purchase two snow plows trucks.

This week, after East Cleveland lost support from a lender for the purchase of two snow plow trucks, Mayor Norton contacted Cuyahoga County for assistance. Without financing, the purchase of these two snow plow trucks would have been ineligible for the reimbursement of a $256,390 Community Development Block Grant Award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. County Executive Budish contacted Huntington Bank to step in and secure their involvement as East Cleveland’s lending support.

“Collaboration and partnership with all 59 county communities is a top priority of my Administration,” said Budish. “We are excited to provide a creative solution to an urgent public safety concern for East Cleveland. I’d also like to thank Huntington Bank, and their Regional President Dan Walsh, for their openness and timely assistance in moving this project forward expeditiously.”

“Cuyahoga County’s swift involvement with this deal was critical to assisting East Cleveland, but more importantly, it will ensure that our residents get necessary snow removal for this winter. This is exactly the kind of innovative leadership we need from the County,” said East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton.

Huntington Bank will pay $256,390 for the purchase of two snow plow trucks. East Cleveland will repay Huntington Bank for the purchase in several installments to be reimbursed by HUD in their entirety and as the cost as incurred.

“Snow plows are not just a convenience; they are a crucial part of public safety. If ambulances cannot get to homes, citizens will lose critical emergency health care,” said County Councilman Anthony Hairston. “If people cannot drive on our streets, they cannot go to work. The residents of East Cleveland and all of Cuyahoga County deserve quality services and I am glad that Cuyahoga County could help make this deal happen.” 

The County Treasury is responsible for distributing 2015 Local Government Fund allocations for County municipalities. By leveraging East Cleveland’s allocated local government distribution, Cuyahoga County was able to move the deal forward at no additional cost to East Cleveland or the County.

This agreement is subject to approval by the East Cleveland City Council.