Downtown growth group reorganizes revived
By Denise Dick
By DENISE DICK
YOUNGSTOWN
To revive an organization that promoted arts, entertainment and other businesses downtown, groups and individuals have to band together toward the common goal.
That was a common theme Thursday evening at a meeting called to resuscitate the Youngstown Arts and Entertainment District Association. YAEDA, active in the early 2000s, disbanded about two years ago when participation shrank.
Jacob Harver, owner of the Lemon Grove, West Federal Street, organized the meeting to try to revive it.
About 50 people attended.
It was through YAEDA’s establishment that new restaurants and nightspots were able to secure liquor licenses at a lower cost, said Atty. Jeff Kurz, who was part of the initial group.
Harver said that the group should be a grass-roots effort and work as a coalition of arts, businesses, activists and others interested in the city’s renaissance. Joint marketing also would be implemented, and the group would lobby on all levels to obtain grants.
YAEDA also should “stand as a united front against threats that face downtown,” Harver said. “National chains are bad for culture and the economy.”
He suggested supporting legislation to ensure that BW3 is the only chain downtown.
Joe Iesue, one of the organizers of Thursday’s meeting, said that communication among participants is important to make the revived group successful. A first step is determining who wants to be involved.
Membership also would have to examine the structure of the previous organization to determine what goals remain relevant and which need to be changed or updated, he said.