Neighborhoods

Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership is introducing Christian Bennett-Mosely as the inaugural member to the Strategic Partners Fellowship supported by the Raymond John Wean Foundation.

TNP, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and the Wean Foundation have partnered in the launch of the first fellowship cohort with a broad and long-term goal to promote leadership development and racial equity in the nonprofit sector.

Bennett-Mosely, a TNP staff member, will move into the role of director of strategic initiatives, overseeing the community store program and helping to drive the organization’s work around brownfield remediation and greenfield expansion.

A lifelong Mahoning Valley resident, Bennett-Mosely previously managed the community store Initiative as the Trumbull food access coordinator after serving through Americorps VISTA at YNDC. Bennett-Mosley also interned with the Trumbull County Land Bank while attending Youngstown State University, where she received a B.A. in geography.

“I am excited to be in a position of leadership, Bennett-Mosely says. "I am looking forward to gaining new professional development skills within this fellowship. Thank you to the organizations and foundations that have continued to invest in local talent here in the Valley.”

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

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – A year and a half after the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) bought the Foster Theater, YNDC now has a plan for the building.

To read the full story from WKBN, click here.

December 13, 2022

City council will consider approving three ordinances Wednesday to spend $377,500 in American Rescue Plan funds to have the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber implement a site readiness program, renovate the former Foster Art Theatre and provide tutoring to under-educated former city school students.

The three proposals were recommended Monday by the finance committee for approval at council’s Wednesday meeting.

The proposal for the chamber contract, sponsored by Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, would give $187,500 to the organization to “produce and implement a strategy that will help spur development in and around the city,” according to the chamber.

It would be a three-year contract with the chamber matching the $187,500 paid by the city.

“These costs will cover software, administrative and subcontracting services deemed necessary by the chamber,” according to the chamber’s proposal.

The chamber would identify acreage and viable buildings for potential development.

“After inventorying all sites and buildings, the chamber will collaborate with property owners and an engineering partner to road map the development of the identified sites,” according to its proposal.

Nikki Posterli, the mayor’s chief of staff and head of the city’s community planning and economic development department, said the city isn’t prepared now to quickly compete for major projects.

“Right now, the process we use in conjunction with the chamber is, we’ll get an email for a business opportunity looking for square footage, a building, freeway access,” she said. “We usually have three to five days to respond and what we find out more so than not (is) we’re not ready. This opportunity will help us.”

The chamber also wrote in its proposal that it would assist with state and local financing and economic development programs “that will mitigate overall costs and outline the feasibility of development.”

RENOVATION

Another ARP funding request, sponsored by Councilwoman Lauren McNally, D-5th Ward, would give $100,000 to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. toward a project to renovate the former Foster Art Theatre at 2504 Glenwood Ave. and convert the old adult movie venue, which is in the 6th Ward, into a location for two commercial units and four apartments.

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

Monday, December 12, 2022

YNDC has completed the renovation of 3701 Glenwood Avenue.

The property was constructed in 1929 and will now be home to Pie Oh My!

Monday, December 12, 2022

On Wednesday, December 7, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley approved a $12,500 grant to YNDC for the purchase of a dump truck.

The truck will replace YNDC's aging dump truck and enhance our clean up and neighborhood stabilization capacity. Big thanks to the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley!

Monday, December 12, 2022

On Monday, December 12, The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley awarded a $112,845 grant to the Glenwood Fresh Market.

The market, located at 2915 Glenwood Avenue, provides year-round access to FREE fresh fruits, vegetables, and other healthy food items for residents of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley. The market also provides free health screenings, nutrition literacy courses, cooking demonstrations, and other resources to members. The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley and Mercy Health's Community Health team are primary partners in the Glenwood Fresh Market. Hats off to The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley for their ongoing support and partnership!

A couple of Youngstown council members are coming together to provide holiday dinners to residents.

Councilwoman Lauren McNally, 5th Ward, and Councilwoman Anita Davis, 6th Ward, organized a community outreach event to help community members.

“With the increased cost of groceries and the shortages being reported at food pantries across the country, we wanted to try and ease the burden for our residents,” McNally said.

The event will take place December 20, from 2 – 4 p.m. at Glenwood Community Park in Youngstown.

Food boxes will contain one ham, an apple pie, cans of corn and beans and a box of hot chocolate. The boxes will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

Glenwood Grounds will also be giving out hot dogs and drinks at the event.

“The holidays are such a financially difficult time for so many people. Hopefully, this gesture of support will allow them to enjoy a family meal,” Davis said.

Davis and McNally worked with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Glenwood Grounds to put the event and giveaway together.

To read the full story from WKBN, click here.

140 dinners are being assembled that will include a ham, apple pie, cans of corn and beans, as well as a box of hot chocolate.

Two members of Youngstown City Council are working with a local business and community organization to offer free ham dinners for the holiday season.

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Anita Davis and Fifth Ward Councilwoman Lauren McNally announced that 140 dinners are being assembled that will include a ham, apple pie, cans of corn and beans, as well as a box of hot chocolate.

The dinners will be distributed on a first come, first served basis at Glenwood Park between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20, 2022.

In addition, hot dogs and drinks will be available during the giveaway, courtesy of Glenwood Ground coffee shop.

"With the increased cost of groceries and the shortages being reported at food pantries across the country, we wanted to try and ease the burden for our residents,” McNally told 21 News.

The two council members worked with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Glenwood Grounds to make the giveaway possible.

To read the full story from WFMJ, click here. 

Two city officials are helping to make the holidays more cheerful.

Councilwomen Lauren McNally, 5th Ward, and Anita Davis, 6th Ward, will help give away ham dinner boxes from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 20 at Glenwood Park.

Residents will be able to pick up a ham for their holiday dinners as well as an apple pie, cans of corn and beans and a box of hot chocolate. They will also be able to get a hot dog and drink at the giveaway, courtesy of locally owned coffee shop Glenwood Grounds. All items will be given away on a first come, first served basis.

“With the increased cost of groceries and the shortages being reported at food pantries across the country, we wanted to try and ease the burden for our residents,” McNally said.

The councilwomen worked with Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation and Glenwood Grounds to organize the community outreach event.

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

The city’s Board of Control approved spending nearly $300,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for a contract with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber to better position city sites for potential development, and to provide funds toward Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp.’s redevelopment of the Foster Theater on the South Side.

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