The Ohio Controlling Board has approved more than $315,000 in funding for critical construction services at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, signaling ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade one of the state’s most secure correctional facilities.

At its latest meeting, the board authorized a total of $315,205 to support construction work at the prison, located on Coitsville-Hubbard Road. The funds will cover a range of improvements, including repairs to structural support columns, the installation of masonry dividing walls complete with doors and hardware, and the addition of new HVAC units to improve ventilation and climate control inside the facility.

Construction services for the project will be provided by United Contractors of Northeast Ohio Inc., a Trumbull County-based firm selected to lead the work.

“These upgrades are crucial to maintaining the structural integrity and safety of the prison’s infrastructure,” state officials noted.

Ohio State Representative Lauren McNally praised the collaboration between the prison and local contractors. “This money will go a long way in improving conditions and I was happy to see the prison partner with a neighboring county to get the job done,” McNally said.

The Ohio State Penitentiary, opened in 1998, is Ohio’s only “supermax” facility designed to house the state’s highest-security inmates. It is operated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and is one of 28 correctional institutions under the department’s management.

According to the ODRC, ongoing maintenance and improvement projects are vital to meeting safety and security standards while ensuring humane conditions for both inmates and staff. The newly approved project builds on prior upgrades aimed at enhancing facility operations and addressing infrastructure needs that arise from years of use.

The improvements are expected to begin this summer, with a completion timeline to be finalized in coordination with the contractor. Officials said the construction work will be scheduled to minimize disruptions to prison operations and daily routines.

“This investment reflects a commitment to maintaining facilities that are secure, efficient, and safe for everyone inside,” an ODRC spokesperson added.

The funding approval comes as part of broader state-level efforts to invest in public infrastructure, including projects within Ohio’s corrections system aimed at improving aging buildings, addressing safety concerns, and upgrading essential systems like HVAC and security.

Originally reported by Zach Mosca in WFMJ.