Community leaders to convene in Valley in Youngstown

October 4, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

More than 200 community-development leaders will tour Youngstown this week and see the city’s progress in such areas as urban farming, aquaponics and development.

“We’re excited to share our story,” said Presley Gillespie, executive director of the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, in a release.

The leaders will be in town Wednesday and Thursday for the Ohio Community Development Corp. Association’s 27th annual conference.

They will tour local sites including the city of Warren Historic District, Idora neighborhood and downtown Youngstown.

The event’s keynote speaker will be Will Allen, CEO of Wisconsin-based Growing Power, a national nonprofit organization and land trust.