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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
November 21, 2025




*MEDIA CONTACTS:
*Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
Jill Del Greco: 614-644-0957






State, Local, and Federal Partners Announce Updated Plans for East Palestine First Responder Training Center 

(EAST PALESTINE, Ohio)— Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today joined Vice President J.D. Vance, Senator Bernie Moreno, Senator Jon Husted, Congressman Mike Rulli, Youngstown State University (YSU) President Bill Johnson, Village of East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, and Norfolk Southern Railway Company President and CEO Mark George to announce updated plans for a new first responder training facility in East Palestine. 

First announced by Governor DeWine in the weeks following the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment and explosion in East Palestine [ [link removed] ], Norfolk Southern agreed to build a training center to help Ohio expand access to firefighter training, particularly in regard to hazardous material fires. Following Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to East Palestine in January 2025, and with the backing of Gov. DeWine, Sen. Moreno, Sen. Husted, and Rep. Rulli, plans for the training facility were reimagined and enhanced to include higher education opportunities and ensure long-term viability of the facility. 

Under a new agreement, Norfolk Southern will provide $20 million in funding to YSU to design and construct the new first responder training center in East Palestine and operate it as part of the university's Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences and Forensic Science.  Conceptually, the facility design will include space for fire, police, and emergency medical services first responders, including volunteers, to train on various emergency scenarios, such as house, vehicle, and industrial fires, search and rescue, confined space rescues, and agricultural rescues. East Palestine's emergency response agencies will have free, priority access to the facility, which will also offer fire sciences curriculum and alternative workforce education pathways for YSU students. 

The agreement also includes the creation of a long-term endowment plan to financially support the center's continued operation and growth. 

"Developing this plan was truly a collaborative effort involving those from the White House to the Statehouse to the community of East Palestine," *said Governor DeWine.* "Incorporating higher education and workforce development into this new training facility will deepen its impact, preparing today's first responders as well as the next generation of brave men and women who dedicate themselves to protecting the public and saving lives." 

“We are working across the nation to prepare our workforce for in-demand jobs and there is no job more important to Ohio families than the first responders who keep our communities safe,” *said U.S. Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio).* “Those who collaborate best win and this project has been a great team effort with community and state leaders, business, and educators coming together for the good of East Palestine and the entire region.”

“This is an important step forward that will finally give our firefighters and first responders the world-class training facility they need to stay prepared and keep our communities safe in the face of tragedy," *said Congressman Rulli.* "I have pushed for this center since my time in the Ohio Senate, and I am grateful to everyone who helped make it a reality.”

“Youngstown State University’s rebranded and expanded workforce education focus is empowering us to equip the Mahoning Valley and the region with the essential skills needed to face the economic challenges of today and tomorrow," *said YSU President Bill Johnson.* "We are deeply honored to participate in this $20 million public-private partnership with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Norfolk Southern, and the village of East Palestine to develop a state-of-the-art Fire Science and Public Safety Training Facility that will serve first responders across Ohio and beyond.”

“This is a great day for the Village of East Palestine. Our first responders, as well as first responders from all over the region, will soon have a state-of-the-art facility to learn and train in, to better prepare them to serve our village and the communities in our region. By pairing Youngstown State’s academic programming with the ability of our own department to access and run regional trainings at this facility, this partnership will address the workforce challenges in emergency services from multiple angles," *said East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway.* "This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Vice President JD Vance, Senator Jon Husted, Senator Bernie Moreno, Governor Mike DeWine, Representative Michael Rulli, Safety Director Andy Wilson, YSU President Bill Johnson, and the Norfolk Southern Corporation. We thank everyone who has had a part in bringing this project to fruition, and we look forward to a cooperative and successful partnership in bringing this project to life in East Palestine, Ohio.”

“Today’s agreement is the result of extensive collaboration and a shared commitment to East Palestine. We’re deeply grateful for the leadership of Vice President JD Vance, Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, Rep. Mike Rulli, Governor Mike DeWine, Youngstown State President Bill Johnson, ODPS Director Andy Wilson and numerous other federal, state, and local partners throughout this process,” *said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George.* “By working together, we’ve turned this vision of an economic and educational center dedicated to enhancing community safety into a sustainable reality. We are proud to provide this $20 million grant to help advance this training center for the region’s brave first responders, fire science students and the broader community.”

The site in East Palestine where the facility will be located has not yet been finalized and will be announced at a later date.

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*Additional Media Contacts: *

*Norfolk Southern:
*[email protected]
*
East Palestine: 
*[email protected]

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