Submitted photo There are plans to build six new single-family homes on Mineral Springs Avenue, shown here, between Glenwood Avenue and Volney Road on Youngstown’s South Side near Mill Creek Park. The Mahoning County Land Bank, in partnership with Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, received a $2.4 million grant from the state to improve access to housing in Mahoning County.

Organizations in Mahoning and Trumbull counties that work to redevelop vacant, derelict properties into productive use have received a financial boost from the state for their effort to improve access to housing.

The Mahoning County Land Bank and the Trumbull County Land Bank, it was announced Wednesday, were among several like organizations in Ohio that will receive some of $29.5 million to acquire, rehabilitate or build homes for income-eligible residents.

The funding is part of the first round of grants through Welcome Home Ohio, a program that plans to invest $100 million in grants over two years to provide affordable and safe housing.

An additional $50 million in nonrefundable tax credits is available to land banks and eligible developers for rehab and new construction projects once a property is sold, according to the state.

“This program represents an innovative and forward-thinking approach that addresses the barriers many Ohioans face when trying to buy a home,” Gov. Mike DeWine said.

In all, the $29.5 million awarded to entities in 17 counties will support the creation of 263 owner-occupied, single-family homes.

MAHONING COUNTY

The Mahoning County Land Bank, in partnership with Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, was awarded $2.4 million to renovate six vacant homes and purchase six newly constructed homes.

Debora Flora, land bank executive director, said the new construction is planned on Mineral Springs Avenue between Glenwood Avenue and Volney Road on the South Side. Most of the property, “other than a couple nicely kept privately-owned houses,” Flora said, is owned by YNDC.

The existing more than 1,200-square-foot, single story homes were built by YNDC.

“That block is really going to fill out as a result of this program (Welcome Home Ohio),” Flora said.

One of the six vacant homes identified for renovation is on Stocker Avenue on the East Side. It’s a home the land bank already owns. The remaining five will be identified according to the grant program’s parameters, and homes outside of Youngstown will be considered, Flora said.

Twelve months is the target for completion, but work cannot begin until there’s a contract with the state. That, said Flora, is something she hopes is accomplished soon “because we want these projects to advance as quickly as possible.”

“We understand the need here in Mahoning County and want to respond appropriately,” Flora said.

TRUMBULL COUNTY

In Trumbull County, the land bank in partnership with Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, was awarded $700,000 to help acquire four newly constructed single-family homes in Warren that would be sold to owner-occupants.

Matt Martin, executive director of Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, said the organization is in talks with Warren City Schools about acquiring property from the district that it once used for school buildings.

“A couple of those sites are very attractive for this because of the way they are positioned in residential neighborhoods,” Martin said.

The organization expects site selection to begin shortly and construction to be complete by early 2025.

“This grant will allow us to make new, quality single-family homes available at a time when they are desperately needed,” Mikenna McClurg, land bank housing coordinator, said.