Norfolk Southern, State of Ohio, Village of East Palestine, Youngstown State University Partner to Secure Long-Term Success of East Palestine First Responders Training Center

Plan made possible through engagement across Trump-Vance Administration and Ohio federal and state leaders

EAST PALESTINE, OH, Nov. 21, 2025 – In collaboration with Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, U.S. Rep. Mike Rulli and local leaders, Norfolk Southern has announced an agreement in principle with the State of Ohio, Village of East Palestine and Youngstown State University (YSU) to provide a $20 million grant toward the construction and operation of a first responder training and fire sciences center in East Palestine, Ohio.

Under the agreement, Norfolk Southern will provide funding for a training center to YSU. Alongside state leaders, the university will design and construct the facility and create a long-term endowment plan to financially support continued operation and growth of the center. YSU will also utilize academic experts from its faculty to staff and develop an advanced curriculum — addressing challenges in previous plans. YSU and the Ohio Department of Public Safety – under the leadership of Gov. Mike DeWine – provided key strategies to address this concern.

"Developing this plan was truly a collaborative effort involving those from the White House to the Statehouse to the community of East Palestine," said Gov. 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 Sen. Husted. “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.”

While a local dedicated training center for first responders had long been a part of Norfolk Southern’s objectives for the community, staffing and operational concerns presented challenges to the long-term feasibility of the facility.

“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.”

U.S. Congressman Mike Rulli has provided input and advice on a training center in East Palestine since helping initiate the project while serving the community in the Ohio Senate.   

“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 Rep. 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.”

Once opened, the training center will attract firefighters and first responders from across the country, offering traditional fire service training to all first responders, as well as specialized training and fire sciences curriculum. Educational opportunities at the center will include classroom seminars, web-based resources, table-top drills, full-scale emergency response exercises, and more, all designed as part of the Youngstown State Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences and Forensic Science.

YSU President Bill Johnson stated, “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. 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.”

The facility will be built on land identified by the Village and YSU experts as ideal for advanced fire science and first responder training. Land previously purchased by Norfolk Southern for a training center was transferred to the East Palestine Community Improvement Corporation under the initial settlement agreement and has been reserved for future economic development activities to be identified by Village leaders.

“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 programing, 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.  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,” said East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway.  “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.”

To date, Norfolk Southern has committed more than $135 million in community support in East Palestine and the surrounding community, including for initiatives and programs designed to address community health, economic development and housing, as well as direct assistance to local residents. Learn more at: NSMakingitRight.com.

About Norfolk Southern

ince 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a 22-state freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver approximately 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S. It serves a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as major ports across the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.

Contacts

Norfolk Southern Media Inquiries:

Media Relations

Governor DeWine’s office:

jill.delgreco@governor.ohio.gov

Village of East Palestine:

a.diazguy@eastpalestine-oh.gov