vindy.com | Youngstown 2010 garners national award

Key Concepts The principles of Youngstown 2010

√ Accept that Youngstown is a smaller city

Use the city’s land bank to redistribute urban property.
Direct development toward stable neighborhoods and business centers.
Promote regional cooperation.
Streamline local government.

√ Define Youngstown’s role in the regional economy.

Link YSU’s teaching to the needs of the Valley.
Assist small business.

√ Improve Youngstown’s image and enhance the quality of life.

Preserve historical structures.
“Re-energize” downtown.
Clean and enhance access to the Mahoning River.
Reduce blight.
Improve neighborhood safety.
Address racial divisions.

√ A call to action.

Identify clear and specific goals for the plan.
Create a checklist of targets that can be achieved by 2010.
Set up a committee to continuously monitor progress.

Source: Youngstown 2010 citywide plan

YOUNGSOTOWN — The city of Youngstown will receive the American Planning Association’s 2007 National Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach for its efforts in building support for the Youngstown 2010 vision and comprehensive plan.

The APA, in announcing the award today, said “Youngstown has shown how to use the planning process to glavanize citizens to heed a call to action and take concrete steps towards saving their future,” said Carol Rhea, chair of the APA Awards Committee.

The city’s public outreach efforts involving Youngstown 2010 will be recognized at the APA’s National Planning Conference April 17, 2007 in Philadelphia.

The city’s accomplishments as well as those of 13 other 2007 awardees also will be highlighted on a video. in the April 2007 issue of Planning magazine and on the APA’s Web site www.planning.org.