Update from Phil Kidd on Meeting in Columbus

Update: After the last post, Phil Kidd sent me further information as a comment. I believe that it is important information and have posted it here in its entirety.

Hi Deb:
Thanks for posting the release. In addition, here is a summary/update on the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation. Good stuff.

Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation Update

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION?
A Community Development Corporation (CDC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated to provide programs, offer services and engage in other activities that promote and support a community. Community Development Corporations typically serve a geographic location such as a neighborhood or a city. They can be involved in a variety of activities including economic development, foreclosure prevention, housing rehabilitation and development, community greening, neighborhood marketing and community building.

YOUNGSTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORP BACKGROUND
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation (YNDC) is being developed to undertake strategic neighborhood development and revitalization activities in target areas throughout the city. Historically, Youngstown has had limited community development capacity and currently there is no functioning CDC that is able to work comprehensively on a targeted citywide scale. The YNDC is being developed to fill the existing void and to provide the community with a high capacity and multifaceted organization staffed by talented and experienced professionals capable of achieving the needed results.

MISSION STATEMENT
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is committed to improving the quality of life in Youngstown by building and encouraging investment in neighborhoods of choice for all.

INITIAL WORK OF THE YNDC
Initially, the YNDC will target its work in a handful of neighborhoods based on objective neighborhood selection criteria and alignment with existing neighborhood revitalization efforts. Preserving the viability and facilitating market recovery in the stable and transitional neighborhoods the city has left will be the focus of initial targeting strategy. The YNDC will utilize a broad palette of programs, focused on neighborhood recovery from housing rehab, homebuyer assistance, home maintenance assistance, vacant lot management and greening, neighborhood marketing and engagement, to begin the process of neighborhood stabilization and recovery. These market recovery tactics will be used in tandem with the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative’s (MVOC) ability to strengthen and reknit the social fabric and capacity of the target neighborhoods. The MVOC will also work hand in hand with the YNDC to effectively lobby for sufficient resources to undertake these strategic and innovative community development activities. The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation is intended to be a "sister project" to the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative. The two organizations will work together to rebuild the social and physical fabric of neighborhoods across the City of Youngstown. The two organizations will also work in partnership with existing organizations such as the City of Youngstown, Lien Forward Ohio and other groups involved in urban revitalization activities.

CURRENT STATUS
Currently, a sponsoring committee composed of residents and representatives of stakeholder groups has been meeting monthly to begin crafting and developing the organization. The initial articles of incorporation have been filed and approved. A formal board will be in place in several months and will then continue the organizational development process. A national search for an Executive Director will be conducted in late spring/early summer with the goal of having the organization functioning by summer 2009.

Phil Kidd