SitemapYoungstown officials are in discussions with One Health Ohio to open an community health center in the former Bottom Dollar Food building, a city official confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
One Health Ohio operates clinics targeting low-income individuals and families, including on the North Side and in Warren, Newton Falls and Alliance.
Sharon Woodberry, the city’s director of economic and community development, confirmed Wednesday that One Health Ohio working with the city on its proposal to open a health center in the former grocery store building on Glenwood Avenue.
“This is a deal that we believe will move forward. It’s just in its early stages,” she said. “We absolutely think this is a strong project that looks like it’s going to move forward. Both parties are motivated to make it happen.”
Earlier in the day, the city’s Board of Control approved a license agreement with Big Dipper Food Co. to use the building, 2649 Glenwood Ave., to store and ship inventory. The agreement allows the company, which makes peanut brittle and popcorn products, to use the building through late August.
Under the agreement, Big Dipper Food will pay for utilities and maintenance, Woodberry said.
“This particular agreement just allows use of the facility until the end of August. This is something that we believe will support a growing company to meet their needs for this short period of time,” she said.
Marty Seidler, Big Dipper Food co-founder, is “very appreciative and happy with this short-term arrangement that we were able to work with them on,” added Mayor John McNally.
“This will help them with a particular short-term contract for their business,” he added. “I’m hoping that we’ll be able to find them larger space s in the city to keep them and their employees here.”
Woodberry said she expects a deal to be in place by the end of summer with One Health Ohio.
“The timeline is being driven by a couple of things,” she said. The company is performing due diligence on the property, determining a budget to make it suitable for its needs, and what services would be provided at the center.
“There’s also an appraisal being done on the building. Once we have that appraisal and an estimated budget, then we’ll go before City Council with the project,” Woodberry said.
To read the whole story from The Business Journal, click here.