SitemapDominion East Ohio distributed $18,000 grants to nonprofit organizations in the Valley as a part of their 21st annual Community Impact Awards.
Dominion presented an $8,000 grant to Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership of Warren, and $5,000 grants each to Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Beatitude House as a part of an overall $110,000 in grants given to 15 northeast Ohio groups.
Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership received their grant for its Warren Enriched program, which combined targeted rehabilitation and sales of formerly vacant homes to new owners with demolitions of other abandoned buildings. The demolitions freed up space for construction of community parks, gardens, arts spaces and other public uses.
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Association received a grant for its Better Blocks program. The program focuses on revitalize underutilized sections of two of the city's primary neighborhood commercial corridors, Mahoning Avenue and Midlothian Boulevard.
The project resulted in building improvements and the cleanup of sidewalks, and vacant lots. Neighborhood residents, property owners, businesses and city officials all participated in the program.
A grant was given to the Beatitude House, which provided transitional housing to homeless families in Youngstown, Warren and Ashtabula, for its "Over the Edge for Beatitude House" urban rappelling fundraiser.
The two-day event attracted 86 participants, who rappelled down Youngstown's 18-story Metropolitan Tower, generating more than $160,000 in sponsorship and donated services, plus $110,000 in cash donations.
A panel of community judges chose the winners from among more than 70 entries, submitted by organizations throughout the region.
Since 1996, Dominion East Ohio has distributed more than $1.4 million in Community Impact Awards to organizations throughout its service area.
To read the whole story from WFMJ, click here.