Neighborhoods

The public fundraising campaign to renovate the former Carmelite Monastery on the South Side has passed its target, and the overall effort is more than 80% past the goal.

In February, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., which inherited the 1810 Volney Road property, announced plans to establish a neighborhood action center in the 7,000-square-foot house, which was built in 1927. Those plans included providing meeting space for YNDC and community groups and, eventually, residential space on its upper levels.

YNDC’s executive director, Ian Beniston, announced an $80,000 fundraising goal for the first phase of the project, including $20,000 to be raised via an online public campaign. As of midday Tuesday, the online effort raised $21,265 from 187 donors. Donations range from $5 to $1,000. 

To see the full story from The Business Journal, click here.

A group that encourages saving Youngstown neighborhoods says enough money has been donated to begin work on renovating a historic building on Youngstown’s South Side.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation reported this week that 175 people have made donations totaling $20,000 to help restore a two-story brick former monastery at 1810 Volney Road.

Exterior clean-up is already underway at the site that will become a neighborhood action center. The YNDC says full renovation of the property will begin in the coming months with plans for completion this fall.

Donated to YNDC in late 2019, Emery McKelvey built the home in 1927. It was later used for decades as a Carmelite monastery and worship center led by Father Richard Madden, an organizer and spiritual leader who fought to keep the monastery open for the people of Youngstown following the collapse of the local steel industry.

YNDC plans to improve parking and outdoor meeting space, upgrade mechanical systems, and restore the first floor of the property for use as a Neighborhood Action Center to conduct public and group meetings to organize residents to address systemic neighborhood problems and improve neighborhoods.

To see the full story from WFMJ, click here.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation wanted to thank the 198 people who, since June 1, have donated more than $20,000 for a special project.

The money will go toward a campaign to renovate 1810 Volney Rd. as a neighborhood action center and to provide quality housing.

Clean up outside of the property has already started. Other renovation work will begin in the coming months.

To see the full story from WYTV, click here.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation wanted to thank the 198 people who, since June 1, have donated more than $20,000 for a special project.

The money will go toward a campaign to renovate 1810 Volney Rd. as a neighborhood action center and to provide quality housing.

Clean up outside of the property has already started. Other renovation work will begin in the coming months.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

ORCHID: To the organizers and participants of the March for Justice event in Youngstown to protest the senseless killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. The protesters were able to express their anger and outrage over the treatment of African-Americans by police in the U.S. peacefully without the violence and looting that have happened at other protests in cities across the country.

ONION: To the people who decided it was a good idea to bust windows at the Choffin Career and Technical Center and United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley during what were otherwise peaceful protests Sunday in Youngstown.

ORCHID: To Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. for raising the $20,000 needed to renovate a former monastery on Youngstown’s South Side into a public meeting place. In fact, officials surpassed the goal, raising $21,286 as of earlier this week. The building will be transformed into a place for neighborhood groups and other organizations to meet at no cost.

To see the full story from The Vindicator, click here.

Thursday, June 11, 2020

The City of Youngstown, Ohio will amend its 2019  Annual Action Plan (AAP) to allow for the incorporation of supplemental funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which HUD administers through the Office of Community Planning and Development.

The City will receive $2,091,689 in CDBG-CV and $1,720,019 in ESG-CV in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding.

On March 27, 2020, the president signed the CARES Act to respond to the growing effects of this historic health crisis. The primary purpose of this funding is to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This is the first allocation of this type of funding. The City plans to utilize the CARES Act supplemental funding to meet the immediate needs of individuals, families, and businesses directly impacted by COVID-19. CDBG and ESG activities will meet the national objectives and serve low and moderate income and/or homeless persons or households.

This advertisement is to provide notice of the availability of the City’s substantial amendment to the 2019 AAP and the start of the five (5) day public comment period which is June 9, 2020 through June 13, 2020. The 2019 APP Substantial Amendment will be available to review online at: www.youngstownohio.gov/. The City has also revised and updated its current Citizen Participation Plan. This revised Citizen Participation Plan will also be available for review and comments on the City’s website for the same period.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that the City develop a 5-year Consolidated Plan and an AAP for the use of CDBG and ESG funds. The 2019 AAP is the fifth Annual Action Plan of the City’s current 5-year Consolidated Plan.  This 2019 APP is a revision of a plan adopted by the as part of the City’s FY 2015 - 2019 Consolidated Plan.

The City will consider the views of all citizens, organizations and agencies, as well as other interested groups in preparing the final 2019 AAP Substantial Amendment. Those interested parties are encouraged to submit comments on the proposed 2019 APP Substantial Amendment and updated Citizen Participation Plan. Written comments may be submitted within the five (5) day comment period. The City will also hold a Public Meeting at 5:00 PM on Monday June 15, 2020 to accept comments.

All comments will be considered by City staff. If recommendations and comments are determined to be pertinent to the CDBG/ESG program, these comments will be given consideration in the finalization of the 2019 AAP Substantial Amendment.

It is anticipated that the 2019 AAP Substantial Amendment and revised Citizen Participation Plan will be adopted by City Council on June 17, 2020 and submitted to HUD shortly thereafter.

Comments may be submitted via mail or e-mail to:

Beverly Hosey, Community Development Division Director- City of Youngstown, Ohio

Community Planning and Economic Development

City Hall- 4^th Floor

26 S. Phelps St. Youngstown, OH 44503

blhosey@YoungstownOhio.gov

Monday, June 15, 2020

On Monday, May 18, the Fair Food Network awarded a $8,850 grant to YNDC from the Nutrition Incentive Hub Innovation Fund.

The funds will be used by YNDC, Mercy Health community health workers, market managers, and Lake to River co-op to assemble and deliver fruit and vegetable prescription produce boxes. Many thanks to the Fair Food Network!

Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today is announcing a grant of $21,355 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) to support home ownership in the Mahoning Valley and providing resources for financial stability and improved housing conditions.

"I am pleased to see this federal investment to support those with limited resources in our community maintain and improve their homes,” said Congressman Tim Ryan. “Home ownership is a bedrock of the American Dream and YNDC has made a commitment to making home ownership a reality for those who otherwise may not be able to do so.”

“YNDC is grateful for HUD's support of our free Housing Counseling program which allows us to continue providing this critical service empowering Mahoning Valley residents to obtain and maintain quality affordable housing and financial stability,” said Ian Beniston, the Executive Director of YNDC. 

To see the full story from Tim Ryan, click here.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. a $21,355 grant to support homeownership in the Mahoning Valley.

The funds will also help provide resources for financial stability and improved housing conditions.

“YNDC is grateful for HUD’s support of our free Housing Counseling program which allows us to continue providing this critical service empowering Mahoning Valley residents to obtain and maintain quality affordable housing and financial stability,” said YNDC’s executive director, Ian Beniston, in a statement.

To see the full story from The Business Journal, click here.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded a $21,355 grant to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. to support home ownership in the Mahoning Valley and provide resources for financial stability and improved housing conditions.

“YNDC is grateful for HUD's support of our free Housing Counseling program, which allows us to continue providing this critical service empowering Mahoning Valley residents to obtain and maintain quality affordable housing and financial stability,” Ian Beniston, executive director of YNDC, said in a news release. 

To see the full story from Mahoning Matters, click here.