Group grills state on funds

By KATIE SEMINARA

YOUNGSTOWN — A group representing the Mahoning Valley met with the Ohio Department of Development in Columbus recently to express frustrations that Youngstown didn’t receive as much money as they thought it should have through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.

“We let them know that Youngstown has been the orphan child and we’re no longer willing to put up with that,” said Patricia Dougan, president of the 7th Ward Citizens’ Coalition, who was among city officials, state legislators and community activists at the session.

The meeting was arranged by the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, a group that seeks to aid Youngstown neighborhoods by getting block-watch groups and elected officials to work together to eliminate vacant and dilapidated properties.

“[The trip to Columbus] was one way to show we’re all together, all going the same direction,” said Bill D’Avignon, Youngstown community development and planning director.

The meeting focused on determining why Youngstown was not allocated more money when NSP funds were distributed in late-December, said D’Avignon,

Ohio received $258 million with $141.2 million awarded to 22 cities and counties in September 2008. At that time, it was announced that Youngstown would get $2.7 million from the NSP, which is a federal program administered by the state.

When ODOD released the list in December of which areas would receive portions of the remaining $116.8 million, Youngstown was left out. The coalition wanted to know why Youngstown was left out.

“[The state] evaluated each city on guidelines provided by the federal government,” said Ken Carano, the governor’s regional director.

“Unfortunately, Youngstown came up short,” he said.

The guidelines took into consideration city foreclosures from the past 18 months at the time the money was distributed. Youngstown ranked 18th, and larger amounts of funds were given to cities with the most foreclosures.

Youngstown had many foreclosures that occurred more than 18 months before the second round of funding, Carano said.

Youngstown should have received more money, said D’Avignon, who estimates that Youngstown would need $42.9 million to fix its foreclosure and vacant housing issues.

At the meeting, the MVOC gave the state data from surveys that rated and identified troublesome properties. Presenting the data was an effort to show where Youngstown currently stands and to encourage the state to assist the city with additional funding.

If some communities don’t use all their NSP funding, it’s possible that some of that money could come to Youngstown, state officials said. No time line was given by the state as to when or if such a redistribution of funds might happen.

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said that the state is working to find any further assistance possible, according to Mayor Jay Williams ,who called the meeting “very positive and productive.”

There is a “strong indication” that the state will look to aid Youngstown with funds outside of the NSP, said Carano.

“The frustrations of the Youngstown group were well presented,” he said.

“We want to make ourselves known and accounted for,” said Williams.

“I think we sent a clear message that this is a new Youngstown, a new Mahoning Valley,” he said.