Kroc funds to change Salvation Army sites

Officials will know by the end of November if the grant will be received.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's East Side may soon be home to a new complex with expanded Salvation Army services and a new library.
Salvation Army Major James E. Foley said Ray and Joan Kroc of McDonald's hamburger fame left the Salvation Army $1.5 billion to be spread across the country to open new Salvation Army centers. The buildings will be called Kroc Community Centers.
"Joan Kroc's plan in giving us this money was that the army provide more elaborate services than the traditional services provided by the Salvation Army," he said.
The money will be awarded to various qualifying Salvation Army agencies across the country based on the size of the population that particular agency serves. An agency in a city the size of Youngstown would be eligible for between $10 million and $30 million.
Foley said the local Salvation Army has applied for $25 million. Should the local Salvation Army be chosen to receive the $25 million to build the new building, an additional $25 million also will be placed in escrow for operating costs.
What's expected
Foley said Salvation Army officials will not know if the application is accepted until the end of November.
If the area is selected to receive the funding, he said, officials will have to "think outside of the box," beyond food and clothes giveaways and other traditional services offered by the Salvation Army.
He said partnering with those in education and entrepreneurs will be a part of the plan for the new center.
One of those partners would likely be The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
Janet Loew, library spokeswoman, said the library purchased six acres at East High Drive and Early Road in the spring for $15,000. Loew said the library intends to close its East Side branch and put a new library on the newly purchased land.
Loew said the library's strategic plan calls for new libraries on the east and south sides of the city. She said library officials are hoping to partner with the Salvation Army and build the library sooner than initially planned.
"We will not move on the library at all until we know about the grant," she said.
What's intended
Should the local Salvation Army receive the grant, Foley said the intention is to buy the land from the library and then build the Salvation Army facility at the site, allowing the library to build a separate building at the same location. Both entities could then share resources, he said.
Foley could not say what exactly would be included in the new facility if the grant is received. He said those particulars would have to be decided through various meetings with the public and other entities that may partner with the Salvation Army. He did say the services and programs will focus on serving a wide range of people in the community.
The Salvation Army has four locations in the Youngstown area. Foley said its East Side location would be closed and relocated to the new facility if the grant is received. The other three locations will remain open.
jgoodwin@vindy.com