Neighborhoods

An army of volunteers from Mahoning Valley businesses and organizations will focus on cleaning up a neighborhood on the North Side as part of the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s annual Day of Caring, which will take place Sept. 5.

About 275 of the more than 550 registered volunteers for the event, which is being sponsored by NYO Property Group and Lowe’s, will spend the day in a three-block area between Fifth and Ohio avenues, focusing on 21 blighted homes on Fairgreen, Lora and Norwood avenues. Volunteers will clean up debris and overgrown vegetation and board up vacant homes.

The Day of Caring will also kick off the United Way chapter’s 2014 annual campaign. At a breakfast that will take place at the Covelli Centre, Hannon and Ed and Chris Muransky, who will co-chair the campaign, will announce this year’s goals. Jim Tressel, president of Youngstown State University, will also speak at the event.

Last year, the United Way chapter and the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. targeted a smaller area in another North Side neighborhood. The rest of the volunteers are assigned projects at 17 different nonprofit agencies.

“The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley decided to take our Day of Caring to the next level and make a larger impact in our community,” said Bob Hannon, area United Way president. “So we decided to team up with YNDC and Green Youngstown to revitalize a neighborhood on Youngstown’s north side.”

“YNDC is very excited to join United Way and the city of Youngstown for the Day of Caring,” said Ian Beniston, YNDC executive director. “This is a huge first step in implementing the Crandall Park neighborhood action plan, as we fight blight at 21 vacant homes.”

Day of Caring sponsors include State Farm, Aim NationaLease, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, Dearing Compressor and Pump, Huntington Bank, Park Vista, Sam’s Club and Simon Roofing.

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

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

YNDC is pleased to announce the availability of equipment loans for startup or existing businesses with 5 or fewer full-time employees (one of whom is the owner).

The business owner must reside in Youngstown and the business must operate in the city. The mission of the program is to promote self-employment, small-scale business creation and economic independence in city neighborhoods. Loans may range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 with favorable and flexible repayment terms (2% annual interest). Some income limits for either business owners or hires will apply during the application process (please see application for details). Loan application materials can be obtained from the YNDC office, located at 820 Canfield Road on the south side of Youngstown. Electronic copies can be obtained by emailing Liberty Merrill, YNDC Land Reuse Director, at lmerrill@yndc.org.

A limited amount of loan funds are available. Loan applications for 2014 are due to the YNDC office by 5pm on or before October 15th, 2014, and will be approved in early November. Please contact Liberty Merrill at YNDC by phone at (330)480-0423 or via email at lmerrill@yndc.org with any questions. A one-on-one meeting can be arranged to discuss YNDC programs and services and details of the loan program.

Combining community development and economic development into one department is “the right thing at the right time” for the city, Mayor John McNally says, a goal he wants to meet by early 2015.

City voters will consider a charter amendment to form such a department now that City Council has approved placing the measure on the November ballot. Merging the two departments and eventually combining them in a single space will improve communication, he said. Community development is in the City Hall Annex while economic development is in 20 Federal Place.

The merger, which requires voter approval, was among the recommendations made in an efficiency study the PFM Group prepared two years ago, he said. The community development budget continues to shrink each year, staffing needs in that department are beginning to fall because of the loss of federal and state funding and Youngstown Community Development Corp. is helping the city with much of its community development and planning work.

McNally has asked the economic development office to focus on the major corridors in Youngstown and work with its smaller businesses.

“We have business parks that are full. We have Vallourec [Star] that’s doing well. We have a downtown that is starting to grow and has its momentum,” McNally said.

“But we need to develop that same type of momentum in our neighborhoods and our business corridors like Glenwood Avenue, like South Avenue, like Belmont Avenue, the Wick Avenue corridor and the neighborhoods that shoot off from them,” he continued.

Following City Council approval at a special meeting last month, voters will vote on whether to amend the city charter and create the merged department.

Some duties in the two departments overlap, said 7th Ward Councilman John Swierz, who supports the reorganization. “Combining them with one department head and subdivision leaders is a smart way to go about making our government more effective and more efficient,” he said.

McNally and Swierz, along with the heads and representatives of city departments, took part in a forum Friday afternoon sponsored by the South Avenue Area Neighborhood Development Initiative (READ STORY).

The need to upgrade the major corridors is something Swierz and McNally discussed during the 2013 mayoral campaign, and the councilman supports McNally’s plan to focus on the corridors “because everything leads to downtown,” he said. Swierz cited South Avenue as “a perfect example” of the need to set priorities because of the distressed properties and businesses that have left. The South Avenue Area Neighborhood Development Initiative successfully campaigned to get some of the properties taken down, he reported.

South Avenue is “a challenged corridor,” McNally acknowledged, not just directly along the road but the side streets that branch into its neighborhoods. While some demolition has taken place along the corridor -- with more to come on South as well as on LaClede and Dewey avenues -- the city is looking to find a “benefactor” to fill a role similar to that of Community Corrections Association, which cleaned up and maintains once blighted properties on Market Street.

Both the South and Wick avenues corridors “have to be major focused on the next year or so,” he said.

Should city voters approve the amendment, McNally expects to solicit applications for the newly created position of director of community and economic development and have someone in place by Jan. 1. He doesn’t see much separating the two functions.

“Obviously the most important qualification is demonstrated experience in economic development,” the mayor said, “both at the larger level and at the smaller level, whether it’s in the neighborhoods or dealing with larger development projects.”

Often small-business owners are unaware of the assistance available from the city.

“We have to do a better job of getting out there and speaking to them about that,” McNally said. “Our staff has already started to do that.”

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

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s 17th Annual Day of Caring, sponsored by NYO Property Group and Lowe’s, is Friday.

More than 550 individuals from local businesses and organizations will take part in the communitywide volunteer experience, many working on projects at United Way-affiliated nonprofit agencies.

The United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley decided to take its Day of Caring to the next level and make a larger impact in the community by teaming up with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and Green Youngstown to revitalize a neighborhood on Youngstown’s North Side, said Robert Hannon, United Way president.

Hannon said about 275 of the registered volunteers will spend the day in a three-block area between Fifth and Ohio avenues focusing their efforts on 21 blighted homes that are located on Fairgreen, Lora and Norwood avenues. Volunteers will clean up debris and overgrown vegetation and board up vacant homes, he said.

YNDC is excited to join United Way and Youngstown for the Day of Caring, said Ian Beniston, YNDC executive director.

“This is a huge first step in implementing the Crandall Park Neighborhood Action Plan as we fight blight at 21 vacant homes,” Beniston said.

The volunteers will use R.U.B.Y. (Revitalization and Urban Beautification of Youngstown), a trailer that contains tools and supplies that can be borrowed for free for cleanup or beautification projects within the city.

At the Day of Caring breakfast at 8 a.m. Friday at the Covelli Centre, campaign co-chairmen Ed and Chris Muransky will announce the campaign goal. Youngstown State University President Jim Tressel will be the featured speaker.

At 9 a.m., the volunteers will start their projects.

Volunteers are assigned to projects at 17 nonprofit agencies, such as Potential Development, the YWCA and Neighborhood Ministries.

They will help with landscaping, cleanup and remodeling, and chaperone field trips.

Other Day of Caring sponsors are State Farm, AIM NationaLease, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, Dearing Compressor & Pump, Huntington Bank, Park Vista, Sam’s Club and Simon Roofing.

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. is offering loans of $1,000 to $10,000 to certain small businesses in the city for equipment purchases.

The loans are available to start-up and existing businesses operating in Youngstown with no more than five full-time employees, one of whom is the owner and must be a city resident. The mission of the program is to promote self-employment, small-scale business creation and economic independence in city neighborhoods, according to YNDC. The loans have flexible repayment terms with 2-percent annual interest

Loan-application materials can be obtained from the YNDC office at 820 Canfield Road, or by emailing Liberty Merrill, YNDC land re-use director, at lmerrill@yndc.org.

Loan applications are due to the YNDC office by 5 p.m. Oct. 15, with approval in early November.

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here. 

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. received a $124,429 Technical Assistance Grant from the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institution Fund.

The fund makes awards of up to $125,000 under the technical-assistance component to allow established entities seeking to become certified CDFIs with the U.S. Treasury to build their capacity to provide affordable financial products and services to low-income communities and families.

Once certified, YNDC can leverage public and private funds to provide critical financial products and services for housing, neighborhood revitalization, and small-business development throughout the city, said Ian Beniston, YNDC executive director.

Vindicator staff reports

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here. 

In an effort to help small businesses here grow, the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. is taking applications for equipment loans for anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 until Oct. 15.

Liberty Merrill, YNDC land re-use director, says applications are open to any startup or business that employs five or fewer, provided the business is in Youngstown and the owner lives in the city. Other factors will also play into whether the credits are granted, she adds.

“We do have a limited amount of funds, so there will be criteria in order for you to benefit -- [things such as] are they low-income individuals? Are they hiring? And, is it a business that's likely to succeed? All these [considerations] will be gone over when we're evaluating the application,” Merrill says.

The loans will be awarded in November, Merrill adds.

“It's a little bit different from a bank because it has that process. Instead of doing it on a rolling basis for approval, people won't be approved until November,” she explains. “This is not for people who go, 'Oh, something broke and I need a new one.' It's for things that will be needed in the future to expand your business.”

The loans will have a 2% annual interest rate. YNDC chose the figure, Merrill says, to ease the burden on the businesses approved.

“We're hoping it will allow them to start up or expand, maybe even hire more people. We want this to be an economic benefit to the city,” she states. “We're hoping that, with favorable terms and being flexible to how many years they need [to repay], that this will be a leg up for small businesses that might have a difficult time.”

With no restriction on the types of businesses that can apply, YNDC expects a wide variety to come forward. Merrill says she fully expects restaurants and landscaping companies to apply, but companies in other sectors, such as hair salons, might as well.

The loans will be a pilot program to determine whether YNDC expands its mission into micro-businesses, she adds.

Loan applications are available in the YNDC office, at 820 Canfield Road, and by emailing Merrill at lmerrill@yndc.org.

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

Congressman Tim Ryan is announcing today a $124,429 grant to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation from The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). The CDFI fund provides support to expand financial products and services that will be available to the Youngstown area and will help our area achieve long term neighborhood sustainability.

“Federal support for organizations like Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is essential to making neighborhoods safe and productive," said Congressman Tim Ryan. “In just a few short years, YNDC has started changing the landscapes of our neighborhoods. Their work has never been more important, and I will always be supportive of their efforts.”

"YNDC is excited to be awarded a CDFI Technical Assistance grant from the US Treasury. The grant will build YNDC's capacity to be certified by the US Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) within two years. Once certified YNDC can further leverage public and private funds to provide critical financial products and services for housing and neighborhood development throughout the City of Youngstown," said Ian Beniston, YNDC Executive Director.

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) encourages commercial reinvestment to eliminate blight and negative perceptions throughout the city. YNDC works to renovate neighborhoods through long-term investments to increase the quality of life and provide affordable financial products and services to generate pedestrian and commercial activity.

To read the full story, click here. 

The United Way of Youngstown and Mahoning Valley’s 2014 financial-campaign chairmen, Ed and Chris Muransky, introduced as “people you can always count on,” are counting on the people of the Valley to raise $2.6 million this fall for UW-sponsored programs.

The $2.6 million 2014 campaign goal, announced by local United Way President Robert Hannon on Friday at the agency’s 17th annual Day of Caring, is $100,000 higher than the 2013 $2.5 million goal.

The Day of Caring, dedicated to hands-on volunteer experiences throughout the community, also is the official kickoff of the financial campaign.

“I believe in the United Way,” said Chris Muransky.

As a member of the United Way board, she said she knows where the money goes.

“You can be assured when you donate to United Way that it is going to worthwhile programs,” she said, speaking to the nearly 600 volunteers participating in the Day of Caring, who would spend the day cleaning up blight on the city’s North Side or performing tasks for some 21 nonprofit agencies affiliated with United Way.

“I’m so proud of the people here and proud to live in the Mahoning Valley. This place [the Valley] is turning,” said her husband, Ed Muransky, who grew up on Youngstown’s South Side. A successful businessman, he was an all-state tackle at Cardinal Mooney High School, an All-American at the University of Michigan and played three years in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Raiders.

“This is an inspiring morning, to see all of you here to help other people and give them a little faith and hope,” said Jim Tressel, Youngstown State University president.

“So many of you make a difference, and that’s what makes the Mahoning Valley special. Its people are special,” Tressel said.

“Ed and Chris [Muransky] could live anyplace in the world, but they choose to live here. As Ed said, ‘This place is turning.’ There are some things on the horizon,” Tressel said.

As part of the sports-oriented panel of speakers, Eric Wolford, YSU’s head football coach, told the Day of Caring volunteers they have a chance to make a difference in people’s lives.

“That’s what the Mahoning Valley is about ... putting some muscle behind our words,” Wolford said.

Some of the people lending their muscle power to the Day of Caring were about 20 volunteers from Lowe’s stores in Niles and Boardman and students from YSU’s Williamson College of Business Administration.

“It’s not about getting the day off; it’s about helping people,” said Richard Upshire of Niles, a department manager at Lowe’s in Niles and a first-time participant in Day of Caring.

Tom Lyden of Boardman, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration and an employee at the Mahoning County Auditor’s Office, was one of the Williamson group.

Betty Jo Licata , the dean of the business college, explained why the college fielded a Day of Caring team: “Part of being a good business leader is being a good community leader and giving back to make it a better place to live.”

In addition to announcing the $2.6 million goal, Hannon reported that the Pace Setter campaign, made up of 54 companies and partner agencies, through donations and special fund-raising events brought in $730,549.73, or 28 percent the campaign goal.

The 17th annual Day of Caring was one of the largest for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, with nearly 600 volunteers from 52 businesses and organizations signed up.

For this year, the United Way teamed up with the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. and Green Youngstown to revitalize a North Side Youngstown neighborhood. About 275 of the volunteers spent the day in a three-block area between Fifth and Ohio avenues, focusing their efforts on 21 blighted homes on Fairgreen, Lora and Norwood avenues.

The Day of Caring is cosponsored by NYO Property Group and Lowe’s. Other sponsors are State Farm, AIM NationaLease, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley, Dearing Compressor and Pump, Huntington Bank, Marucci and Gaffney Excavating, Park Vista, Sam’s Club and Simon Roofing.

To read the full story at Vindy.com, click here. 

Hundreds of volunteers spent Friday working hard for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley’s Day of Caring.

A kickoff breakfast was held at the Covelli Centre for the 17th annual event. United Way President Bob Hannon unveiled this year’s campaign goal at the breakfast, which is set at $2.6 million.

This year’s Day of Caring features the most volunteers in the history of the event with close to 600 helping out.

United Way Spokesperson Roxann Sebest said the north side of Youngstown was their target with most of the volunteers helping out to clean up that area.

Mowers, clippers and heavy trucks lined Lora Avenue. Volunteers cut grass, trimmed bushes, and boarded up blighted houses. Garages were torn down and debris lying in yards and around vacant homes was taken away.

Sister Mary Alyce Koval, director of Beatitude House, said clients in the program are required to keep the four properties of the organization clean inside and out, and she is happy to see the neighborhood spruced up.

“I am grateful that the United Way has organized their volunteers to focus on our neighborhoods,” said Koval. “I think to see that other people are concerned about the same values that we have here at Beatitude House, I think it is encouraging for them, too.”

Many hands make light work was truly reality. Even students from Summit Academy helped out.

“We want to clean up and make the house nice for the people who live here and really show off these beautiful old houses,” said volunteer Liberty Merrill.

At Wick Park 80 volunteers put together a new play structure. With all the help, the structure should be complete before schedule. The YSU men’s basketball team was helping out at that location.

The project is a partnership with Youngstown CityScape, We Can Move Too and the city of Youngstown.

About 21 houses on the north side were spruced up with the help of 22 organizations.

To read the full story from WKBN, click here.