With funding from a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 32 regional organizations have come together across Northeast Ohio with an ambitious plan to capitalize on what the region has to offer and improve its future.
YOUNGSTOWN
With funding from a $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 32 regional organizations have come together across Northeast Ohio with an ambitious plan to capitalize on what the region has to offer and improve its future.
Just one in a series of events by the group, known as the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Community Consortium, took place Tuesday at the Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor in downtown.
In a bid to brainstorm ideas about the economic, environmental, transportation and land-use challenges confronting Youngstown and the broader region, both residents and members of the Young Mahoning Valley Leaders were on hand to keep “a lens on the issues,” said Jeff Anderle, consortium spokesman.
Mostly geared toward a younger demographic, Anderle said his consortium’s initiative is all about developing a comprehensive framework for “best tools and practices,” aimed at better solving problems across northeast Ohio’s 12 counties, which include Mahoning and Trumbull.
He identified the process as complex and challenging, but necessary, for a part of the state that has seen its population dwindle and its economy fall short in recent years.
In all, the consortium is funded through the end of 2013, and by that time, Anderle said the goal will be to provide insightful solutions from working sessions such as those in Youngstown. Those recommendations then will be passed along to community leaders, municipal governments and proprietors so they can make informed decisions as the region grows to confront current and future challenges.
“It’s difficult to get traction in these instances,” Anderle said. “But this is all about giving citizens and officials the tools they need to make things happen. We want to give them a living document to get things off the ground.”
For the most part, the sessions are a way for area youths to generate talking points on what’s working for a place such as Youngstown and what’s not working.
Thus far, the consortium’s efforts have created a conditions-and-trends platform that identifies solid ideas and common grievances.
On Tuesday, about 12 participants were reacting to the findings and offering their perspective on what groups in Youngstown and elsewhere already have discussed.
For instance, Young Mahoning Valley Leaders have identified a need for more young elected officials, greater urban restoration and more rehabilitation programs for addicts and criminals.
“Public transportation is not working for this county,” said Howard Markert of Youngstown, who participated in Tuesday’s session. “There are not enough options, and there aren’t the right kinds.”
But turning talking points into reality often is difficult. For Markert, the session was a way to bring minds together on the issues confronting Youngstown, with the greater goal of engaging the community at large.
“Things like this are an excuse to get people together and get them talking,” added Jacob Harver, who also owns the Lemon Grove, a bar and restaurant in downtown Youngstown. “It’s the people that sustain the local economy, and you have to get them engaged.”
The Young Mahoning Valley Leaders, along with the consortium, will have its next working session in the city sometime in October.
Comments
These folks make me tired. Same idea, we need government to get involved meaning more money thrown at a problem that really needs people with a backbone to get educated and get off their dead rearend and get out of town as quickly as possible. Leave mommy, because most likely dad is not around, and get out in the world, and see that it is not like this all around this great country.
Sounds like an ACORN, MVOC,YNDC morphing. Haven't we all seen enough of this nonprofit class and their entrenched salaries with mediocre production. Youngstown 2000, Youngstown 2010 and the urban centers only getting worse but successful in selling their votes for Welfare. Now they are outright stating their anti-Capitalist bent.
Wouldn't the $4.2 million be better spent by giving it to the Rescue Mission and the food pantries who actually help people. How many people would that much money employ and how many old houses would it demolish. Unfortunately, talk is not cheap--$4.2 million.
If we are going to compete in a global economy we need to start competing as a region. The article is vague but the NEOSCC is not about government involvement as much as developing policies that will allow our many small and powerless jurisdictions to work together and carry some weight in a global economy. They are actually trying to replace the 20th century tools (policies that divide us) with 21st century tools (policies to unite us).
I applaud the young folk for taking an interest. They are the ones who who are going to lead us into the future. I agree more young blood is needed with our political figures and urban restoration needs addressed continuously but more rehab for addicts and criminals, I might argue that. Bottom line is JOBS. You don't have work we all suffer.
4.2 million to talk.....we need the money to entice companies to invest in Youngstown, not talk about what we need. Yes, we need a comprehensive plan for the city, but not 4.2 m worth of talking, we need action that will work!
I used to be pessimistic about Youngstown but now I'm a lot more hopeful. I'd prep downtown as possible locations for offices of the companies that are tapping the shale. That's a lot better than opening more stupid restaurants.
The young always have big ideas. When they are older and have their own funds those ideas suddenly don't look so good.
dd933, it is about 4.2M in government involvement. The local jurisdictions will never work together. Do you actually think they will give up their little bit of power?
We have some of the most successful builders in the world in this area. If rebuilding the downtown was a good idea, they would have done so by now.
Y-Town still has a better chance to turn in Detroit than it does to turn into a thriving urban area.
pay off the Collevi Center with that 4.2 million, which is good for the area.
The nation is changing.. But not to where you just ignore the center core of a metro area of a half million people.. Downtown must thrive for any chance of revival to the Valley..Pburg, Philly and Cbus are good examples of what can be done.......The biggest problem with the area is simple really... The Democrat party.. I suppose there hasnt been a Repub in decades that had any good ideas.. Not a one...Amazing.......Competition in politics is a good thing just as it is for making widgets... And the side effects of being a one party town that wont change is Brain Drain..The valley is into its 3rd generation of young people who are leaving for opportunity elsewhere and to make a life for themselves..... If you keep on doing what you always done,you will keep on getting what you have always gotten....
And for the record,if there is a town out there that has voted Repub. for decades, bet they have similar issues..
This sounds like a big college civics class that is costing us 4.2 million dollars for crying out loud. This Anderle guy should have been a farmer because he spreads manure with the best of them. He describes the process as "complex and challenging". It is when one is trying to maneuver through that amount of BS. Goodness, if he was paid by the word, he'd walk out with all $4.2 million in his pocket. Is it any wonder we are about 16 trillion dollars in debt when we spend money on this type of babbling nonsense. What they've come up with so far could have been done in about five minutes and 12 cents.
For all the naysayers, please enlighten us about what civic minded projects you are involved with and what they have done to positively impact our region?
A $4.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...seems as though it's another handout to fund a study that will yield nothing!
Thinker, some excellent points. howard, you're typical of those who have no concern on wasted projects and wasted tax money in this country. This is pure nonsense. Regions/cities have mayors, city planners, city managers, city councils that do this. We pay for that already. Don't concern yourself about what projects we have done. We have people who do that. The government can't stop spending. They tell us they can't find areas or ways to cut back spending. I just found them $4.2 million, and I wasn't even looking.