The Fund for Warren’s Future to finance Youngstown Road Revival Project
(Warren, OH February 6, 2018)
The Fund for Warren’s Future (FWF) today announced its first grant for a project to help revitalize Youngstown Road. The grant of $20,000 is being made to Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership (TNP) to support a project to promote investment opportunities and entrepreneurialism on Youngstown Road in the city of Warren.
Thanks to federal and state grants obtained by city of Warren engineer Paul Makosky, the city is investing $4.1 million to rebuild the road, including a new road surface, new sidewalks, ADA ramps, and sewer drains between Laird Avenue and Ridge Road. The work began last fall and is expected to be completed in October 2018. TNP’s efforts are meant to lay a foundation for economic development that takes advantage of the city’s investment.
Warren Mayor, and FWF Board member, Doug Franklin says, “This project will transform one of the worst streets in the city into one of the nicest. More than 12,000 cars travel this stretch of Youngstown Road every day, and it will soon be a pleasure to do so.”
The TNP project will include a complete survey of buildings on the target portion of 422 along with details relevant to potential investors. TNP will also survey residents living near the street, asking them what types of services they would patronize if they were available to them. Current business on Youngstown Road will also be invited to participate in a separate research project to identify additional steps that might restore the street to its former position as a major commerce corridor.
The data from this research, as well as maps, and information on resources available to investors from local governments, will be compiled into a marketing book which will be distributed to entrepreneurs, developers and other potential investors, as identified by the research results.
TNP Executive Director Matt Martin says, “The health and economic vitality of this street affects several neighborhoods in important ways. A key element of TNP’s work is to be sure that it’s done in consultation with the people who live there. We think the market research will be very valuable; we value the input of the residents most concerned with Youngstown Road’s future and will seek it out in a variety of ways.”
FWF Board member Sam Covelli stated, “We felt that this project made sense, in part, because it leveraged a large investment already being made in the city,” and fellow Board member Anthony Payiavlas added, “We were impressed with TNP’s track record in doing this type of work and the professional credentials they bring to the project.”
The marketing report is expected to be completed and distributed in November this year.
The Fund for Warren’s Future was created in November 2017. The initial capitalization of $100,000 was through a transfer of $50,000 made from the city of Warren’s economic development fund, which was endorsed by a unanimous resolution of Warren City Council. That contribution was matched by $50,000 donated jointly by AVI Foodsystems, whose President and CEO is Mr. Payiavlas, and by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Covelli.
The fund is maintained by the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. FWF’s mission is to support projects that lead to economic development in the city of Warren.
Those interested in contributing to the fund, or in seeking a grant from it, should visit the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley web site: www.cfmv.org.
For more information please contact FWF administrator:
Dennis Blank
914-346-0102