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CANFIELD — The Ursuline Motherhouse in Canfield’s repaving project is nearly complete, bringing much needed improvements to the location — visited by some 1,500 people per month during nonpandemic times.

Sister Mary McCormick, general superior, said some final touches are needed for the $325,000 project, which fixed problems with broken, cracked and uneven pavement.

“Not only were there safety concerns, drainage issues were causing driveway flooding. The improvements corrected those and also increased parking spaces, more than doubling spaces reserved for visitors with physical disabilities.,” she said.

McCormick said the drives and parking areas accommodate visitors, employees and residents.

The Canfield campus comprises the Ursuline Sisters’ Motherhouse, Ursuline Ministries, Ursuline Sisters HIV / AIDS Ministry, Ursuline Education and Wellness Center, the Ursuline Center Pool, Ursuline Preschool and Kindergarten, and Ursuline Sisters Senior Living.

“Participation in our programs is always growing. A number of our visitors have mobility issues, and the new construction makes our lots much safer for everyone.” McCormick said.

The Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown received four grants to help pay for the major project, which contributed 17 percent of the overall cost: a $25,000 grant from The Florence and Ward Beecher Foundation, dispersed over two years; a $20,000 grant award from the Youngstown Foundation; a $10,000 grant from Rick and Jody Vernal / RT Vernal Paving & Excavating, North Lima; and a $2,000 award from the Home Savings Charitable Foundation.

R.T. Vernal was the main contractor on the project.

McCormick said the capital improvement project is part of ongoing maintenance and improvements to the Motherhouse complex.

Late last year, Simon Roofing and the Simon family of Youngstown donated a $280,000 grant to install a new roof over the Sisters’ living quarters.

Since 2012, the Ursuline Sisters have invested $8.6 million in building and property upgrades. Grants and private donations have funded approximately 18 percent of these improvements.

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