Fund for Warren’s Future Awards TNP $20K Grant
WARREN, Ohio — The Fund for Warren’s Future has awarded a $20,000 grant to Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership to support a project to promote investment opportunities and entrepreneurship on Youngstown Road.
The grant to TNP is the first awarded by the fund, which was announced last October. The fund was established by the city of Warren with local businessmen Sam Covelli and Anthony Payiavlas, who serve on the fund’s board.
The city is spending $4.1 million to rebuild the road, including a new road surface, new sidewalks, ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and sewer drains between Laird Avenue and Ridge Road. The work began last fall and is expected to be completed in October.
“This project will transform one of the worst streets in the city into one of the nicest. More than 12,000 cars travel this stretch of Youngstown Road every day, and it will soon be a pleasure to do so,” Mayor Doug Franklin said.
TNP’s efforts are meant to lay a foundation for economic development that takes advantage of the city’s investment, according to the news release announcing the grant.
“The health and economic vitality of this street affects several neighborhoods in important ways. A key element of TNP’s work is to be sure that it’s done in consultation with the people who live there,” Matt Martin, TNP executive director, said.
The TNP project will include a complete survey of buildings on the target portion of 422 along with details relevant to potential investors. TNP will also survey residents living near the street, asking them what types of services they would patronize if they were available to them.
Current business on Youngstown Road will be invited to participate in a separate research project to identify additional steps that might restore the street to its former position as a major commerce corridor.
The data from this research, as well as maps, and information on resources available to investors from local governments, will be compiled into a marketing book which will be distributed to entrepreneurs, developers and other potential investors, as identified by the research results.
“We felt that this project made sense, in part, because it leveraged a large investment already being made in the city,” Covelli said.
“We were impressed with TNP’s track record in doing this type of work and the professional credentials they bring to the project,” Payiavlas added.
The fund is maintained by the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley. FWF’s mission is to support projects that lead to economic development in the city of Warren.
Those interested in contributing to the fund, or in seeking a grant from it, should visit the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley website.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
