YNDC to receive grant for gardens

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp. will receive a $70,000 grant for community gardens today from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The organization received one of the 10 grants awarded to support the People’s Garden Initiative in neighborhoods across the country. These garden projects continue the USDA’s efforts to combat malnutrition while supporting local and regional food systems.

“This grant award will enable YNDC to work with resident groups throughout the Mahoning Valley to improve their neighborhoods through urban agriculture,” said Presley L. Gillespie, YNCD executive director, in a statement Monday.

The People’s Garden Initiative is a grassroots effort to grow healthful food and strengthen neighborhoods by creating school-gardens, community-gardens and small-scale agriculture projects in urban and rural areas, according to a USDA news release.

The program was designed to invest in urban and rural areas identified as food deserts or food-insecure areas, particularly those with persistent poverty.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, will formally announce the award at a 10 a.m. ceremony at the Youngstown Historical Center of Labor and Industry, 151 W. Wood St.