UPDATE: HUD to Mahoning Valley: Drop dead

YOUNGSTOWN — Of the $2 billion in federal dollars awarded today to spur economic development in hard-hit communities and to create jobs, the Mahoning Valley received nothing.

“I’m shocked and disappointed,” said Bill D’Avignon, Youngstown’s community development agency director who spearheaded a $33.2 million nine-community proposal that received praise from the prestigious Brookings Institute for its collaborative effort.

The money through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program is to help state and local governments and nonprofit agencies acquire land and property, demolish and/or rehabilitate abandoned properties, to offer down payments and closing costs to low- to middle-income homebuyers, and create land banks.

The Vindy.com headline, “HUD to Mahoning Valley: Drop dead,” was, in the words of Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, "quite appropriate. In fact, it may even be an understatement.”

The Valley proposal included the following communities: Youngstown, Warren, Niles, Girard, Campbell, Struthers, Lowellville, McDonald and Newton Falls.

Of the $33.2 million, Youngstown was to receive more than $11 million and Warren was to get about $10 million.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is “shocked and obviously disappointed,” said Heather McMahon, his spokeswoman. Ryan is looking for answers as to why the Valley proposal was shut out.

Of the $2 billion, the state of Ohio will receive more than $25 million. Cities, counties and nonprofits in the state will receive close to $150 million.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com