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Board set to OK $2.7M in ARP projects

Contracts aim to improve city housing, quality of life

YOUNGSTOWN — The city’s board of control today is expected to authorize $2.7 million in projects funded through the American Rescue Plan as well as finalize contracts to have 717 Credit Union administer three housing programs that will use $13 million in ARP dollars.

Most of the 16 ARP projects being considered today by the board were initially sponsored by members of city council. The funding comes from the $2 million in ARP funds council gave each of its seven members in April 2023 for projects that are meant to benefit their wards.

Among the largest ARP expenditures on the board of control’s agenda today are $667,500 to have the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. manage various 2nd-Ward revitalization programs and $400,000 for a program to educate property owners in the 4th Ward about zoning and code violations, and provide resources and recommendations for repairs and compliance.

Also on the agenda is an agreement with YNDC for $600,000 in ARP funding to administer the Youngstown Restorative and Opportunity Center (YoROC), which is being developed to help younger city residents who are unemployed or underemployed with focuses on health care and the culinary arts.

Of that amount, $400,000 is coming from the 1st-Ward allocation and $200,000 sponsored by Mayor Jamael Tito Brown, chairman of the board of control.

Another contract on today’s agenda is to pay $200,000 in ARP funds to the Intentional Development Group to provide start-up costs, planning and expansion for the Cornerstone Food Co-op at 2649 Glenwood Ave., the long-dormant Bottom Dollar grocery store on the South Side.

The project aims to address food insecurities while encouraging economic growth, job creation and improving the community through an agricultural incubator program, a community kitchen and a marketplace co-op, according to city officials.

The $200,000 is being redirected from a $1.5 million ARP allocation, approved Oct. 2 by city council, to redevelop the former 18,285-square-foot grocery store building.

A contract for that work came in at $1,028,900, freeing up the funding.

The Village of Healing, an infant mortality clinic, will be the building’s main tenant, using 6,063 square feet, with the food co-op using 4,194 square feet. A third tenant, not yet determined, would use 5,141 square feet, with 2,887 square feet for a common area.

The board today will also vote to finalize three contracts to have the credit union administer three programs to improve the city’s housing stock.

The largest program is $8 million for the new construction and / or rehabilitation of quality affordable housing, with the other efforts being $3 million to provide up to $10,000 in low-interest loans to qualified homeowners to improve and update the exterior of their houses and $2 million in a revolving loan fund for landlords to make renovations, repairs and / or address housing code violations.

The city sought lending institutions for the three programs and after receiving four proposals decided to choose Seven Seventeen Credit Union for all of them.

City council has approved legislation for all of Youngstown’s $82,775,370 ARP appropriation. The board of control hasn’t entered into contracts for all of the money.

The city has until the end of 2026 to spend all of the ARP money under federal law.

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