Neighborhoods

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation saw a record year in 2024 in securing grant funding and new construction, with even more construction expected in 2025. 

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

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley awarded $3.3 million in competitive grants last year, more than $1 million greater than what it had given out in 2023. In the final grant cycle of 2024, the CFMV, along with several supporting organizations under its umbrella, awarded $634,000 to 34 area nonprofit organizations and agencies.  “It is a pretty big jump,” Josh Medore, CFMV’s community-impact coordinator, said. “Most of that jump came from a one-off grant cycle that we did with the city of Warren earlier this year that was to help city council disburse a chunk of the ARP (American Rescue Plan Act) money that they had left over. I believe that was between $500,000 and $600,000.” Of the $634,000, the CFMV, via its general grant, awarded $223,500 to 27 local and regional organizations.  “The Community Foundation is excited to close 2024 on such a high note and support so many projects that are vital to the communities of the Mahoning Valley,” Casey Krell, CFMV’s president, said in a statement. “Whether it’s small grants to support youth theater at the Youngstown Playhouse or large awards to support a multi-year needs assessment led by Goodwill, we’re honored to support work by passionate people that improves our community for all.”

In addition, a few smaller new funds, in conjunction with the city of Warren, opened this year, which was a contributor, Medore noted.  The three supporting organizations that also provided award grants were the Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation, the William Swanston Charitable Fund and the Western Reserve Health Foundation. All three affiliated foundations that the Community Foundation manages have their own decision-making boards, Medore said, adding that the CFMV handles administrative work that includes accepting grant applications and overseeing investments. The leading grant recipient was the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, which received $68,400 for the Trumbull Health and Wellness Initiative to implement programs in the county. The Trumbull Memorial Health Foundation awarded that sum.

“We are extremely grateful for the support from CFMV, as well as from the Healthy Community Partnership which acts as a conduit for the effort,” Matt Martin, executive director for TNP, stated via email. “Warren neighborhoods have faced disinvestment that impacts residents’ ability to live healthily, and this programming works to break down the barriers to healthy food and greenspace access.”

The 26 other agencies and organizations that received fourth-quarter funds from the CFMV were:

• Axxess Family Services – $5,000 each for a foster grandparent AmeriCorps program and a Retired Senior Volunteer program.

• Boston Avenue Neighborhood Association – $6,000 to support the Happy Place Sanctuary.

• Cadence Care Network – $10,000 to support the addition of a career exploration coach.

• Compass Family and Community Services – $20,000 for a senior guardianship program.

• Down Syndrome Association of the Valley – $5,000 for health and wellness programs.

• Dylan’s House – $5,000 for operating support.

• Fairhaven Foundation – $10,000 for its community experiences program.

• Honeycomb Arts and Wellness Collective – $5,000 to formulate a new website and marketing plan.

• Kelly Pavlik Charitable Organization – $5,000 for operating support.

• Loop Youngstown – $10,000 for operating support.

• Malone University – $2,800 for its textbook library.

• Mercy Health – $10,000 for its Stepping Out program.

• Northeast Ohio Adoption Services – $9,000 for operating support.

• Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana organization (OCCHA) – $4,200 to modernize organizational policies.

• Ohio Urban Renaissance – $15,000 for its Initiative for College Academics Now program.

• River Valley Organizing – $4,000 for operating support.

• Scholastic Arts and Writing at Youngstown State University – $5,000 to offer art supplies and support to high school students.

• Shepherds of All God’s Children Learning Center – $10,000 for preschool and after-school programs.

• Smith Township – $5,000 for a new playground at the site of the former Maple Ridge Elementary School.

• Students Motivated by the Arts – $10,000 for art education programs.

• Trumbull County Historical Society – $20,000 for Phase I construction of the Museum of Science Fiction & Fantasy Arts.

• Ursuline Sisters Mission – $10,000 for its HIV/AIDS ministry.

• Warren Heritage Center – $5,000 to install new exhibits at the Kinsman House.

• Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries – $10,000 to implement findings from its workforce-focused community needs assessment.

• Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. – $12,500 for its neighborhood cleanup program.

• Youngstown Playhouse – $5,000 for its youth theater program.

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

Monday, January 20, 2025

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) is seeking proposals from qualified
General Contractors to provide comprehensive design-build services for the construction
and related site work for nineteen (19) single-family residences to be located on individual vacant lots in
multiple locations in the City of Youngstown and Mahoning County over a 12-month period. 

Interested parties should review and respond to the RFP below. 

Thursday, January 27, 2025

The Boardman Rotary Club made a $2,000 donation to the Foster Theater project. The funds will be used for the restoration of the marquee. Thank you very much to the Boardman Rotary Club!
 

Monday, January 27, 2025

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) is seeking proposals from Licensed Occupational Therapists (OT) to provide Mahoning and Trumbull County-wide in-home services as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP). 

Interested parties should review and respond to the RFP below.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Premier Bank Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to YNDC for the Essential Home Repair program. The essential home repair program assists residents of owner-occupied, single family homes with essential repairs such as furnace and plumbing repairs at NO COST to owners. Many thanks to the Premier Bank Foundation for the continued support!
 

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation released the annual report highlighting its accomplishments in 2024, including new housing, neighborhood cleanup and health initiatives.  Among some of the major accomplishments was the construction of a new neighborhood on Bernard Street on the city’s South Side.  One of the houses has been completed with a new resident already settled in. They plan to complete construction on two more single-family homes on the street, breaking ground at the beginning of the year.

To read the full story from WKBN, click here. 

The city’s board of control approved a $1.35 million development site grant for a planned defense and aerospace manufacturing center in the former Vindicator building.

The board, which consists of Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, Lori Shells Simmons, law director, and Kyle Miasek, finance director, approved the grant to the Youngstown Business Incubator to support redevelopment of the building at 107 Vindicator Square. The grant will be made in four $337,500 installments.

“I think that’s a big piece for us,” Brown said. “When we continue to talk about the economic investment that’s downtown, that just continues to add to that. I think that sets Youngstown on the next path of where we’re going.”

Barb Ewing, YBI CEO, told The Business Journal in November that YBI wants to use the center as a way to ramp up the already strong impact of the U.S. Department of Defense through its presence at America Makes.

Brown said the investment marks a turning point for the city with a new industry.

“Now we’re turning a corner with the city,” the mayor said. “From the steel town to manufacturing and now aerospace – how big and how great of an opportunity is that for us.”

YBI hopes to lease the former newspaper building and convert it into a center for defense and aerospace manufacturing, research and development. It’s dependent on a $26 million grant from the Ohio Department of Development toward the development of an Ohio Innovation Hub. About $11 million in local matching funds would add to the project.

The project is estimated to have an economic impact of $191.7 million, creating an estimated 271 full-time jobs with an average salary of $81,806, and another 481 indirect jobs.

The center is tentatively dubbed the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Defense and Aerospace.

If the $26 million grant is successful, a portion of the money would be used to renovate the former Vindicator building, allowing the expansion of JuggerBot 3D and Ursa Major, two portfolio companies that have outgrown their space in Tech Block Building No. 5. The building was also part of the former Vindicator operations.

Other Business
The board of control also increased by $14,388 the contract with TransDev Services Inc. for an accessible automated vehicle shuttle. That increases the contract amount to $696,435. The funds are coming from a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant.

“Within two weeks it should be on the road,” said Charles Shasho, deputy director of public works. “They’ll be testing it.”

The increase was to add software, he said.

Transdev is a global transit services provider that has its U.S. headquarters in Lombard, Ill. It is the same company that Western Reserve Transit Authority has entered into an agreement with to provide similar services for WRTA’s one-year demonstration project.

The board also approved a $20,000 professional service agreement with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation for the Sixth Ward Glenwood Avenue Corridor Project. It also increased the allocations to YNDC for two other initiatives in the 6th Ward.

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

A housing study of Mahoning and Trumbull counties recommends regional coordination to help modernize zoning codes to encourage development. Jim Kinnick, executive director of Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, said the agency plans to invite representatives from townships, cities and villages who deal with zoning to a meeting in early March to begin discussions. Eastgate is leading the recommendation from the housing study released earlier this month that dealt with zoning. It recommended regional coordination on zoning adjustments.

The housing study by the Greater Ohio Policy Center and the Reinvestment Fund, funded by Eastgate and initiated in cooperation with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, listed five regional recommendations. The others are establishing a housing consortium, developing a downpayment assistance program, instituting an emerging developers program and assembling land proactively. An agency or organization was identified to spearhead each one. Eastgage is guiding the zoning recommendation. The study said modernizing zoning codes will legalize development on small, currently nonconforming parcels “to help drive development to existing communities where there is ample vacant land and existing utilities. By making these sites more viable for development, zoning adjustments can help eliminate the need to develop on the urban fringe, where expensive utility extension is often required.” It will also allow for a range of missing middle types of housing that better match regional income levels, the study said. It defines missing middle as housing types that are comparable in size to single-family homes but contain multiple units and are located in walkable neighborhoods. “The actual nuts and bolts of changing zoning codes will happen at the local level, but a regional emphasis on encouraging development-supportive updates, striving for consistency across local governments and providing technical assistance could provide the momentum and support needed to generate greater impact more quickly across the region,” the study said.

Kim Mascarella, Howland planning director, said officials in that township are willing to sit down with Eastgate and the housing consortium to take their recommendations into consideration. “… I think that the zoning resolution here in Howland is a living, breathing document,” she said. “It can accommodate the emerging trends.” Howland updated its comprehensive community plan in late 2023. And we’ve identified a lot of these issues in the plan that are echoed in the regional housing plan,” Mascarella said. Township officials are looking at areas of Howland that can serve as infill housing, for example. “We’re looking at some of the older neighborhoods to see if they can accommodate workforce housing, particularly in our Bolingdale neighborhood that’s situated adjacent to the Kimberly Clark site,” she said. That neighborhood is also adjacent to a planned greenway trail. The township’s comprehensive plan also recommends looking at mixed use, the planning director said. Township officials also are examining East Market Street to determine if mixed use and higher density residential fits within the land uses in the future. “I do think we’re really well-positioned to collaborate with the housing study,” Mascarella added. Howland has mostly single-family zoning homes, and most of them are three- to five-bedroom houses. But Howland’s median age is about 49. “They’re aging in place,” she said. “We don’t want them to leave Howland. They’ve established friendships. They go to church here. They sent their kids to school here. We want them to stay.” Those people are looking for housing options such as one- to two-bedroom homes with characteristics to help them age in place, Mascarella explained. “So I think a lot of what’s come out of our comprehensive plan is items that they’re already talking about in the housing strategy,” she said.

Ian Beniston, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, said while zoning is complicated and varies between jurisdictions, it needs to be adjusted. 

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

The City of Youngstown is working to identify community development priorities, fair and affordable housing needs, and factors that shape equal access to housing. The City would like to invite residents of the general public to attend a virtual meeting for its 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025 Annual Action Plan Workshop to be held on February 6, 2025. All information regarding the Workshop can be downloaded below. There is also a Survey and a Frequently Asked Questions flyer for residents to review and complete.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Attend one of the following public meetings:
Virtual Public Needs Hearing
February 6, 2025, 5:30 P.M.
https://meet.goto.com/775040773
You can also dial in using your phone.
Access Code: 775-040-773
United States: +1 (872) 240-3212

ONLINE SURVEY
Take our survey at SurveyMonkey.com/r/Youngstown2025 by February 28, 2025.
Realice nuestra encuesta antes del 28 de febrero de 2025
es.SurveyMonkey.com/r/Youngstown2025-S