Neighborhoods

A new fund has bloomed that aims to address critical needs, promote sustainable growth and improve individual and family well-being. The Rose Carter Community Fund is a philanthropic initiative honoring Rosetta “Rose” Carter, a lifelong advocate for community empowerment, the Spano Foundation announced in a news release.

Through strategic donations, meaningful partnerships and dedicated support, the Rose Carter Community Fund will address critical needs, promote sustainable growth, and improve the well-being of individuals and families, ensuring every contribution creates a lasting impact, the release states.

A 1961 graduate of The Rayen School, Carter, 80, has been a lifelong advocate for community empowerment. She’s dedicated her life to service, which has included a 23-year career in banking to leading A.C.T.I.O.N., a faith-driven advocacy group, which serves Mahoning and Trumbull counties with its mobile food market.

Her efforts have led to fair housing initiatives, consumer protection against predatory lending and providing resources for the community.

She was instrumental in establishing Eastern Gateway Community College and working to ensure displaced students were treated fairly, and has collaborated with various organizations, including the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.

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

Thursday, February 20, 2025

The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley awarded a $150,000 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 health resources to members. The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley and Mercy Health's Community Health team are primary partners in the Glenwood Fresh Market. Huge thanks to The Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley for their ongoing support and partnership!
 

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has launched a Housing Council to help improve the quality, accessibility and attainability of housing in the Mahoning Valley. The 24-person board was created to align with a Valley housing strategy, a news release states.  The housing strategy, released in January, outlines recommendations to stabilize and strengthen the Valley’s housing market through collaborative and coordinated efforts among economic development agencies, governments, nonprofit groups, the private sector and other stakeholders. “Not only is the cost of homes rising, but so too are taxes, including property taxes, both of which are creating huge challenges for homeownership,” said Brenda Linert, director of community impact for the Regional Chamber. “We also need to build our neighborhoods back up, so we need to find ways to improve the quality of existing homes, develop new units and make it easier to attain housing for a growing local workforce.” The Regional Chamber’s new Housing Council will focus on improving existing stock, developing new residential spaces and leveraging available resources.

Members of the board are:

Jason Altobelli, real estate agent at Altobelli Real Estate.
Ian Beniston, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation.
Krista Beniston, planning manager at the Western Reserve Port Authority.
Floyd E. Cline II, commercial mortgage loan officer at Huntington National Bank.
John Demmler, president and CEO of 717 Credit Union.
Tony DiTommaso, senior representative of Carpenters Local 171.
Gregory Ensley, vice president, commercial banking team leader at Farmers National Bank.
Lena Esmail, owner and CEO of QuickMed.
Tricia Ferry Frate, executive vice president of VEC Inc.
Debora Flora, executive director of the Mahoning County Land Bank.
Roberta Hiller, CEO of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors.
Tricia Howe, executive officer for Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley.
Ryan Kelly, CEO of Pantheon.
Joseph Koch Jr., vice president of Koch Construction.
Mark Lamoncha, president and CEO of Humtown Products.
Erik Liber, owner of HSH Drywall.
Jeff Magada, executive director of Flying High.
Kareem Maine, plant director at Ultium Cells.
Matt Martin, executive director of the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership.
Moshood Martins, business owner and investor.
John Masternick, president of Windsor House.
Justin Mondok, director of planning and development for Eastgate Regional Council of Governments.
Doug Rende, president and CEO of Shapes Unlimited.
Don Thomas, president of Platz Realty.

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

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has established a 24-member Housing Council to address housing challenges in the Mahoning Valley, officials announced Tuesday.

The council, formed to align with the Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy released in January, will focus on improving the quality, accessibility and attainability of local housing, according to Brenda Linert, the chamber’s director of community impact.

“Not only is the cost of homes rising, but so too are taxes, including property taxes, both of which are creating huge challenges for homeownership,” Linert said. “We also need to build our neighborhoods back up, so we need to find ways to improve the quality of existing homes, develop new units and make it easier to attain housing for a growing local workforce.”

The regional housing strategy outlines recommendations for stabilizing and strengthening the area’s housing market through collaboration among economic development agencies, governments, nonprofits, the private sector and other stakeholders.

The council will focus on improving existing housing stock, developing new residential spaces and leveraging available resources.

Linert recently attended the Ohio Chamber of Commerce’s third annual Housing Summit at the Ohio Statehouse on Feb. 20. The one-day conference addressed housing supply, accessibility and affordability, with discussions on topics including housing and tourism, national housing trends, creating a “Yes In My Backyard” (YIMBY) movement in Ohio, and legislative and policy issues.

Council members include:

Jason Altobelli, Realtor, Altobelli Real Estate
Ian Beniston, Executive Director, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation
Krista Beniston, Planning Manager, Western Reserve Port Authority
Floyd E. Cline II, Commercial Mortgage Loan Officer, Huntington National Bank
John Demmler, President & CEO, 717 Credit Union
Tony DiTommaso, Senior Representative, Carpenters Local 171
Gregory Ensley, Vice President, Commercial Banking Team Leader, Farmers National Bank
Lena Esmail, Owner & CEO, QuickMed
Tricia Ferry Frate, Executive Vice President, VEC, Inc.
Debora Flora, Executive Director, Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corp.
Roberta Hiller, CEO, Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors
Tricia Howe, Executive Officer, Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley
Ryan Kelly, CEO, Pantheon
Joseph Koch Jr., Vice President, Koch Construction
Mark Lamoncha, President & CEO, Humtown Products
Erik Liber, Owner, HSH Drywall
Jeff Magada, Executive Director, Flying High
Kareem Maine, Plant Director, Ultium Cells
Matt Martin, Executive Director, Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership
Moshood Martins, Business Owner & Investor
John Masternick, President, Windsor House
Justin Mondok, Director of Planning & Development, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
Doug Rende, President & CEO, Shapes Unlimited
Don Thomas, President, Platz Realty

To read the full story from WFMJ, click here.

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has launched a local Housing Council aimed at finding ways to improve the region’s housing stock. The council will work toward “improving the quality, accessibility and attainability of housing in the Mahoning Valley,” according to a news release from the Regional Chamber.

“Not only is the cost of homes rising but so too are taxes, including property taxes, both of which are creating huge challenges for homeownership. We also need to build our neighborhoods back up, so we need to find ways to improve the quality of existing homes, develop new units and make it easier to attain housing for a growing local workforce,” said Brenda Linert, director of Community Impact for the Regional Chamber.

Recently, Linert attended the third annual Housing Summit at the Ohio Statehouse. The summit highlighted opportunities and challenges facing the state’s housing supply and affordability. Local leaders collaborated on a regional housing strategy, which was released in January. The Chamber, seeing the need for more housing to support the area’s workforce, stepped in to create the Housing Council.

Members of the council include the following:

Jason Altobelli: Realtor, Altobelli Real Estate
Ian Beniston: Executive Director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation
Krista Beniston, planning manager for the Western Reserve Port Authority
Floyd E. Cline II, commercial mortgage loan officer, Huntington National Bank
John Demmler, president and CEO of 717 Credit Union
Tony DiTommaso, senior representative, Carpenters Local 171
Gregory Ensley, vice president of Commercial Banking Team Leader, Farmers National Bank
Lena Esmail, owner and CEO of QuickMed
Tricia Ferry Frate, executive vice president of VEC, Inc.
Debora Flora, executive director of the Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corp.
Roberta Hiller, CEO of the Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors
Tricia Howe, executive officer, Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley
Ryan Kelly, CEO, Pantheon
Joseph Koch Jr., vice president of Koch Construction
Mark Lamoncha, president and CEO of Humtown Products
Erik Liber, owner of HSH Drywall
Jeff Magada, executive director of Flying High
Kareem Maine, plant director at Ultium Cells
Matt Martin, executive director of the Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership
Moshood Martins, business owner and investor
John Masternick, president, Windsor House
Justin Mondok, director of planning and development for the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments
Doug Rende, president and CEO of Shapes Unlimited
Don Thomas, president of Platz Realty

To read the full story from WKBN, click here.

Wednesday, March 05, 2025

The City of Youngstown is proud to host its First National Community
Development Day on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
at the Covelli Centre, 229 E. Front St., Youngstown, OH 44503. This
event is part of National Community Development Week, a nationwide
effort to highlight the importance of Community Development Block
Grants (CDBG) and HOME programs, which play a vital role in:

Improving neighborhoods
Supporting local businesses
Enhancing the quality of life for residents

This family-friendly event will feature:

Food trucks
Community vendors
Live music
Bounce house
Games and activities for all ages

Get Involved
There are opportunities to volunteer, network, and sponsor. To learn
more, please contact:

Wendy Robinson, Assistant Compliance Director
330.742.8887
wrobinson@youngstownohio.gov

Click Below to Download the Full Event Flyer.  
 

To help address the area’s housing needs, the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber has established a 24-member board to assist with the Mahoning Valley Regional Housing Strategy. “Not only is the cost of homes rising, but so too are taxes, including property taxes, both of which are creating huge challenges for homeownership,” said Brenda Linert, the chamber’s director of community impact. “We also need to build our neighborhoods back up, so we need to find ways to improve the quality of existing homes, develop new units and make it easier to attain housing for a growing local workforce.” The board will help work toward improving the quality, accessibility and attainability of Valley housing, the chamber said in a news release last week.

Members include:

Jason Altobelli, Altobelli Real Estate; Ian Beniston, Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation; Krista Beniston, Western Reserve Port Authority; Floyd E. Cline II, Huntington National Bank; John Demmler, 717 Credit Union; Tony DiTommaso, Carpenters Local 171; Gregory Ensley, Farmers National Bank; Lena Esmail, QuickMed; Tricia Ferry Frate, VEC Inc.; Debora Flora, Mahoning County Land Reutilization Corp.; Roberta Hiller, Youngstown Columbiana Association of Realtors; Tricia Howe, Home Builders and Remodelers Association of the Valley; Ryan Kelly, Pantheon; Joseph Koch Jr., Koch Construction; Mark Lamoncha, Humtown Products; Erik Liber, HSH Drywall; Jeff Magada, Flying High; Kareem Maine, Ultium Cells; Matt Martin, Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership; Moshood Martins, business owner and investor; John Masternick, Windsor House; Justin Mondok, Eastgate Regional Council of Governments; Doug Rende, Shapes Unlimited; and Don Thomas, Platz Realty.

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

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 

On Monday, March 17, Farmers National Bank awarded YNDC with a $7,500 grant to support YNDC’s housing programs. Thank you to Farmers National Bank for their ongoing support! 
 

Monday, March 24, 2025

The William Swanston Charitable Fund has awarded YNDC and the Healthy Community Partnership's (HCP) Active Transportation Team a $25,000 grant award to complete a pilot project called Where the Sidewalk Ends No More. The project will install new sidewalks and related pedestrian infrastructure in locations where there are gaps in sidewalk infrastructure that create barriers for residents-- especially children-- to walk to neighborhood amenities important to health. YNDC, a founding member of HCP with strong neighborhood connections and extensive experience with similar projects, will serve as the project lead. More information will be provided in the coming months. Many thanks to the William Swanston Charitable Fund!
 

Monday, March 24, 2025

The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley has awarded YNDC and the Healthy Community Partnership's (HCP) Active Transportation Team a $22,000 grant award to complete a pilot project called Where the Sidewalk Ends No More. The project will install new sidewalks and related pedestrian infrastructure in locations where there are gaps in sidewalk infrastructure that create barriers for residents-- especially children-- to walk to neighborhood amenities important to health. YNDC, a founding member of HCP with strong neighborhood connections and extensive experience with similar projects, will serve as the project lead. More information will be provided in the coming months. Many thanks to the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley!
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