Neighborhoods

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

YNDC is proud to announce the publishing of its 2021 Annual Report!

The Annual Report highlights the work of YNDC over the past twelve months.

An electronic copy can be downloaded below.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development is beginning to sign people up for its Glenwood Fresh Market nutrition incentive program.

The program allows qualifying community members to receive $25 worth of free produce each month per household member. 

“We’re working with people that are low income families, so families can qualify by receiving SNAP benefits or living under the 200% poverty guidelines,” said Susan Payton, Glenwood Fresh Market manager.

Last year, a survey was done in the Glenwood Corridor area and many of the residents said they would like to see a market come to the area.

“This is one of the things that they were saying, that they wanted something locally they wouldn’t have to go and travel very far to get the fruits and vegetables and things that they needed,” said Patricia Stokes, who conducted the survey.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

To see the full story from WFMJ, click here.

The Raymond John Wean Foundation directors have announced grants made “in response to the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and persistent systemic racism, through the lens of race equity and inclusion.”

Community investment grants totaling $1,210,000 were awarded to six organizations for operating support:

• Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, which works to empower residents and promote sustainable community development in Warren;

• Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, which focuses on improving the quality of life in Youngstown by building and encouraging investment in neighborhoods of choice for all;

• Boston Avenue Neighborhood Association, which is creating safe and beautiful spaces and inspiring neighbors to contribute to neighborhood revitalization in the South Side neighborhood;

• Community Legal Aid Services, Inc. to continue its Neighborhood Law Project in Youngstown and an expand into Warren;

• Economic Action Group, which provides economic development and entrepreneurial assistance programming within Youngstown and Warren;

• Paradise Gardens Development to repurpose land where houses have been torn down by turning the vacant lots into productive community gardens and enhance the physical landscape.

To see the full story from Tribune Chronicle, click here.

Monday, January 31, 2022

The Raymond John Wean Foundation awarded YNDC a $550,000 grant for 2022.

The grant award is for general operating and neighborhood organizing. The Raymond John Wean Foundation is a private foundation that has a vision of empowered residents creating a healthy, vibrant, equitable and economically stable Mahoning Valley. The mission of the Foundation is to advance community building in the under resourced communities of Warren and Youngstown, in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, through a powerful combination of grantmaking, capacity building, convening and partnerships. YNDC is sincerely grateful for the ongoing support and strategic partnership with The Raymond John Wean Foundation.

Monday, January 31, 2021

On Monday, January 24, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation was awarded a $32,703 Comprehensive Housing Counseling grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The funds will benefit the HUD-Approved Housing Counseling program at YNDC. The Housing Counseling program empowers low- to moderate-income residents to identify and overcome barriers to homeownership, including inadequate savings, income, credit history, and understanding of the home buying process, and prepare them for future homeownership; and to provide existing low- to moderate-income homeowners with resources to maximize their limited incomes and minimize repair costs so that they can avoid foreclosure and improve their living conditions.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is making sure homeowners stay warm this winter.

It’s offering an emergency home repair program to help those who need it most.

Hector Melendez, a Youngstown resident, showed 27 First News the new furnace in the basement of his home.

Two months ago, he and his wife found themselves in a scary situation when their furnace broke.

“Me and my wife had bronchitis in those two months because of the cold. We were heating up with small heaters but it was not enough,” said Melendez.

Melendez said he contacted his insurance company when the issue arose in September. “They were asking me for a lot, a lot of money that I didn’t have. I couldn’t make it.”

What would have cost him $5,000 to $10,000 ended up being completely free thanks to assistance from the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

Monday, February 7, 2022

On Friday, February 4, the Fibus Family Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant for YNDC’s neighborhood stabilization program.

YNDC’s Neighborhood Stabilization program is focused on securing, cleaning up, and improving vacant properties in order to improve safety and restore a basic sense of order and dignity in Youngstown’s neighborhoods and along neighborhood corridors. Many thanks to the Fibus Family Foundation for the support!

A local community revitalization program received a large grant recently that will help members continue their work.

The Raymond John Wean Foundation gave Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation $500,000.

Executive director Ian Beniston says the foundation has been one of their biggest supports since YNDC started.

To see the full story from WKBN, click here.

Monday, February 21, 2022

On Monday, February 21, Farmers National Bank awarded YNDC with a $5,000 grant that will benefit YNDC’s housing programs.

Thank you to Farmers National Bank for their ongoing support!