The EfficientGovNow program, presented by the Fund for Our Economic Future as part of the ANEO Choice Awards, aims to accelerate government collaboration and efficiency by providing as much as $300,000 in funding to as many as three collaborative government projects from throughout Northeast Ohio. The Fund will select the round of finalists and the residents of the region will determine which projects receive funding.

The Mahoning Valley has two important proposed projects at stake:

Partners: Mahoning River Corridor Mayors’ Association communities (Lowellville, Struthers, Campbell, Youngstown, Girard, McDonald, Niles, Warren and Newton Falls)

Meet this finalist via a 60-second YouTube clip.

Utilizing the YSU Center for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS), the nine communities in two counties in the Mahoning River Corridor Mayors’ Association propose to collaborate in implementing an interactive website marketing sites available for economic development in the river corridor.

Information about property available on the websites is incomplete, or non-existent, due to the lack of resources and expertise to implement and maintain them. Despite the need, the cost for each community to implement their own interactive site would be cost prohibitive.

As partners in the broader YSU CURS Mahoning River Corridor Initiative, the communities are collaborating in identifying, inventorying and prioritizing sites for economic, recreational development, preservation, implementing brownfield assessment/remediation and infrastructure improvements.

The website would provide comprehensive and interactive site maps/photos and updated information on site characteristics, ownership, zoning, utilities, property taxes, permitting procedures, financial assistance tools, marketing demographics and points of contact.  In effect, it would be a one-stop shop for marketing property in the corridor communities.

The project will expand the regional collaboration’s effort, enhance the corridor’s economic competitiveness and more efficiently and effectively use resources to promote economic development at a substantially reduced cost to each of the nine communities. One-time and recurring savings to each community are estimated to be $24,721 and $6,750, respectively.

Matching funds for project implementation will be provided by each community from the financial commitment made to the Corridor Initiative.  Thereafter, communities would share the cost of managing the website through their Corridor Initiative assessment.

The City of Campbell will serve as the Lead Applicant.  

Project Goal:
To implement an interactive website to enhance economic competitiveness and the more efficient use of local government resources to promote economic development in the Mahoning River corridor communities.

Total project budget:
$67,590 

Amount of reward request:
$57,451

and

Partners: Mahoning County Auditor’s Office, City of Youngstown, Boardman Township, Austintown Township, City of Canfield

Meet this finalist via a 60-second YouTube clip.

Six local and regional governments will interconnect to available multi-county broadband networks for the purpose of providing three primary services: 
1.    Access to critical information assisting law enforcement agencies
2.    General IT Services/Shared Services
3.    Disaster Recovery Services

Local and Regional governments are being challenged daily to provide an increased demand for services while tax bases and consequently budgets shrink in comparison. Taxpayers are being burdened with increased tax rates that are, in part necessary because of duplicated services in key areas. Local/regional governments find themselves acquiring/building/maintaining separate individual information technology systems and infrastructures to provide services which they all have in common, wasting tax dollars on these multiple duplicate systems.

Usually local governments are without service or under-served in utilizing technology to improve service quality and keep taxes lower. Many local governments are forced to do without needed services because of shrinking budgets. This diminishes the very security of their citizens. The criminal justice system is a major area where local governments find ever increasing expenditures outpacing tax revenues.

Substantial gains in cost savings and service provision can be achieved through sharing common services among governments. Using high speed connectivity and appropriately managing shared services, the duplicated services can be eliminated increasing the quantity and quality of services across all collaborating governments.  This optimizing of shared services can lower taxes and provides efficiencies in government work and process that enhances the economic competitiveness of the collaborating region and northeastern Ohio.

Project Goal:
Reduce local government expenditures and increase economic competitiveness for 6 regional/local governments by collaborating in shared information technology services

Total Project Budget:
$312,000

Amount of Reward Requested:
$120,000

Please take a moment to vote for these projects, if you haven’t already. Thank you!

I authored a guest post for the Working Class Perspectives blog on technology, libraries and the working class. If you missed it earlier, I also published a Vindy post a few weeks back on the library-funding crisis.

Ohio has made news in the last month by proposing to slash hundreds of millions of dollars in library funding from its annual budget. Funding for Ohio’s libraries is determined by a formula that ties a percentage of the state’s general revenues. Revenues have plunged in the current economy, leaving libraries wondering what lies ahead. Compared with 2008 funding levels, 20% of state revenue has been lost since January of 2009. Another 30% cut has been proposed on top of that for this year, with further expected cuts of 47% in 2010 and 45% in 2011. As state revenues fall nationwide, Ohio is certainly not the only state whose libraries are facing crippling cuts at a critical time.

This double whammy is the sad story facing American workers today. Economic decline means lost jobs and fewer state dollars to support libraries where the unemployed can both get temporary assistance through unemployment benefits and access to tools to hopefully get another job.

The headline said “Downtown demolition will mean more parking.” I suppose that’s a fairly value-neutral statement. It’s not “Demolition alleviates parking crunch” or “Do we really need another parking lot?” Though, I think, the latter would have been my preferred headline.

The city’s design review committee approved a plan today to demolish four vacant storefronts on West Boardman Street, near Youngstown city hall and across the street from the Mahoning County administration building.

The buildings, between South Phelps Street and Market Street, will be down by early September with the area converted into a 29-space parking lot.

Why is any demolition being approved for a parking lot? A friend to whom I forwarded this asserted, “Demolition permits should only be issued after a new building permit is issued.” I think that sounds like a terrific stance.

The first thing I want to draw your attention to starts this week. It’s the Tour of the Valley 2009, produced by Carbon Racing and the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Billed as “the largest event with 300+ racers and 4,000+ spectators expected over 3 days and 17 races.” Carbon Racing has ensured this will be a carbon neutral event, coordinating carpooling, recycling, litter control, tire recycling and other efforts.

Tour of the Valley’s schedule begins with a time trial in Ellsworth at the Mastropietro Winery, July 10th. That afternoon downtown Canfield will host a criterium course. Saturday features a 6-mile road race in Columbiana. Sunday will prove to be particularly exciting, with a criterium course in downtown Youngstown!

That’s not all going on this weekend, of course. The 6th Annual Smoky Hollow 5k Run and 1 Mile Family Fun Walk is Saturday, July 11. The run starts at 9am and the family fun walk starts at 9:10am. Everything starts and finishes at Harrison Field on Walnut Street.

This is just part of the Summer Festival of the Arts taking place both Saturday and Sunday on the YSU campus. Each year my family and I enjoy strolling through the many art vendors, participating in the SMARTS drum circle, eating from the many ethnic and international booths, checking out sidewalk chalk art in front of the McDonough Museum and seeing pretty much everyone we know out there, too.

Check out the Northside Farmers’ Market preview next to the Wick Pollock Inn.

The Forte on the 50 is also part of the celebrations. July 11 at Stambaugh Stadium starting with the Dana All-Star Band at 7:30pm and concluding with (more!) fireworks at 9:30pm. Tickets are $10 and available at the gate.

You may have already heard about the movie series at the Covelli Centre. Sit on the grass, enjoy some candy from Howl at the Moon and watch some great movies. Here’s this month’s schedule:

July 6 (Tonight!): Jaws
July 13: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
July 20: Sixteen Candles
July 27: The Family that Preys

There’s also a series of free outdoor concerts at the Judge Morley Pavilion at Mill Creek Park; all shows at 7pm.

July 8: Rudy and the Professionals (A taste of the Caribbean)
July 15: Del Sinchak & Eddie Vallus II (Polkas!)
July 19: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Big band swing)
July 22: The Eldorado Band (Country)
July 26: Aftermath (Experience the 60s) 5:30pm & 7pm
July 29: Teddy Pantelas Quartet (Jazz) Vocals by Tania Grubbs

Let me say a word about Teddy Pantelas. Folks, this guy is the real-deal guitarist. Teddy is a fantastic player who’s played everywhere and with everyone. Jeff Grubbs is a bassist with the Pittsburgh Symphony and will be joining Teddy, along with his wife and Valley native Tania Grubbs. This is a concert not to miss!

The Northside Farmers’ Market kicks off this month, both at its Saturday morning location on Elm Street across from Wick Park from 9am through 1pm starting the 18th. Also on Tuesdays downtown in the Central Square next to the Chase bank 1:30pm – 5pm.

The weekend of the 18th is also packed with fun. Start your day at the Northside Farmers’ Market, then head down to the Pig Iron Street Festival on Phelps. Finish things off at the Mahoning Valley History Center with live music, cocktails and “cool treats.” Treat yourself to a $40 ticket and become a member of MVHS or get a basic ticket for $25 and enjoy the good stuff at the former Harry Burt/Ross Radio Building at 325 West Federal.

More history you want? Check out summer story time at the Arms Family Museum of Local History at 648 Wick Avenue Wednesdays July 8, 22 & 29th from 10-11:30am. Targeted at ages 3-5, kids will “learn about history through a story, craft and free play in the Hands-On History Room.” Admission is free, but call 330-743-2589 to hold your spot.

We’ve got more sports, too, of course. Mahoning Valley Thunder hosts the Green Bay Blizzard on the 25th at 7:00pm at the Covelli Centre.

The Mt. Carmel Italian Festival runs from Thursday, July 23rd through Sunday, July 26th at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, just northeast of downtown. (Turn your sound down before visiting the site and be prepared to scroll…)

The Youngstown Italian Fest comes right at the end of the month, from July 31 to August 2. The annual event continues to enliven downtown with food, music and carnival-style diversions.

This weekend is a perfect example of all that is great about Youngstown: Friday night Rob Joki at the Oakland, Saturday night Zou and Digimob at Cedars, Monday night Lars Brondum and Elsa Higby at UUYO…

Yesterday, however, was my favorite day. We host a semi-regular potluck at our house for friends and neighbors, and yesterday we welcomed a new couple to town. They bought a couple of duplexes (duplices?) on the West side and are fixing them up to rent out. They are coming from Berkeley, where they looked around the country for the most affordable and excellent places to live, picking Youngstown from their short list for its centrality to great locations like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago and New York.

More than thirty people turned out to show support for Clint and Howard, despite the downpour preceding and the mugginess pervading the afternoon. We sat for hours sharing stories and thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s company.

Later in the evening, we attended another neighborhood get-together, which welcomed a new family to Fifth Avenue. They have five kids, which will exponentially increase the number of children living on upper Fifth Avenue. We chatted with the familiar neighbors and met the new ones.

It underscores why we’re here. We’re in Youngstown because the people here are unlike anywhere else. They are warm, caring, open and committed to the City. When we first arrived, a neighbor appeared at our door with dinner, ensuring that we had a great first night in our home. We’ve never forgotten it. It set the tone for our return, and we want everyone who comes to Youngstown to feel just as welcome. It makes a difference.

With the low cost of living, proximity to great locations, unmatched natural resources, incredible people, vibrant arts and proud history, Youngstown provides a platform for living life to its fullest. My friend Paul forwarded a quote this morning from the back cover of William Brenner’s 1976 “Downtown and the University”:

To all who are dissatisfied with their present home we give a cordial invitation to come to Youngstown. We have plenty of room for Skilled Labor or for Capital, and our latchstring hangs on the outside to all who are seeking health, a happy home, education or investment.

Paul said, “It made me smile.” Me, too.

I wish we had more jobs. I wish there were fewer foreclosures. There are larger forces at play that affect these trends, and we have to take a long-term view in correcting these issues.

Crime, however, though obviously affected by the economic environment, can also be addressed directly with city- and police-driven initiatives. I don’t claim to be an expert in crime prevention or abatement, but I am a resident and home-owner who is concerned about the direction the trendline is heading with regards to break-ins.

Last night at the community room at Park Vista, a large number of residents turned out to hear police chief Jimmy Hughes, city prosecutor Jay Macejko and 3rd-Ward Councilman Jamael Tito Brown talk about crime and whether or not anybody has a grasp of the current situation. The one thing you know going into these meetings is that many people already have their minds made up on that account, and nothing they hear will improve their opinion.

One concern is that we’ve got a bunch of rowdy kids roaming around, hot and pumped up, and the North Side pool–currently the only pool open in the city–can’t handle the demand. One incident that was discussed is a recent night where a number of kids, turned away from the pool due to overcrowding, began to fight and “riot.” Police came to break things up, but the juiced-up pack just moved on to other areas, most likely to continue to wreak havoc.

With great respect to an overtaxed and undermanned police department, I’m less concerned for the purposes of this discussion about the question of whether Borts Pool should be opened to accomodate the demand and more interested in the policing tactics and mindset this incident reveals. Why just tell them to break it up and go elsewhere? Why not find a nearby fire hydrant and soak the kids who are, so to speak, hot and bothered? Wasn’t there some creative solution to the problem?

Then there’s the “Madera Avenue woman,” as the Vindicator calls her in its coverage of the meeting, who “was home sleeping just after midnight one recent Sunday when someone threw an axe through her living room window then pulled her flat-screen television through the window.” I know her and spoke with her on Wednesday. She has a job downtown and is part of the pro-yo scene, yet even she is contemplating leaving Youngstown for, perhaps, Liberty. If we lose someone who believes in what’s going on and is committed to the city’s future, what hope do we have for the population at large?!

It’s scary out there, folks, and there’s something that the Vindicator, notably, didn’t talk about in its article, though it was discussed at the Thursday-night meeting. A number of these break-ins, including one that happened to our next-door neighbors and to friends a few blocks over, occur in the wee hours of the night after Vindicator subscribers suspend their delivery for vacation. The last I heard, the police were starting with questioning the delivery guy, but as of last night they apparently didn’t have anyone in custody. Again, I’m not making a value statement on that; I don’t know what’s involved in pursuing these kinds of cases. I was more piqued by the Vindicator’s omission of its indirect role in these cases on Youngstown’s north side.

What can you do to mitigate your risk of break-in and help your neighborhood? Here are some of the suggestions from the meeting:

• Join or start a block watch
• Turn on or install outside lighting
• Use deadbolt locks
• Get a wireless upgrade to your alarm system (the burglars are cutting phone lines before entering to prevent the alarm company from getting notified, then ripping the alarms out of the walls to silence them)
• Install security doors
• Consider glass block windows for vulnerable areas
• Close blinds and lock windows
• Record serial numbers of commonly stolen items
• Make a book with photos of jewelry and other valuables
• This is not an official recommendation, though residents voiced this: don’t suspend your mail or paper delivery next time you leave town; get a neighbor to look after things for you

Did you go to the meeting? What did you take away from it?

[Edit: 4:00pm] We are getting a new alarm system installed that includes wireless monitoring. I recommend you call Kory Banning at Platinum Protection 989-620-7661.

Also, Youngstown police tip line is 330-744-8989.

Because the success of the project is dependant on efficiency and time constraints, access to the site will be limited toTuesday, June 23, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM ONLY.

I have a meeting in the morning and won’t be able to make it to the event. If anyone can go and take pictures to share on the blog, I’d appreciate it. Here’s the rest of the media notice:

Monday, June 22, 2009

City of Youngstown Conducts Deconstruction Pilot Study

City Explores Green Demolition Process

Steve Novotny of the City of Youngstown’s Community Development Agency says “Blighted and abandoned structures are a huge financial burden for the community. It is about transforming this tremendous challenge into an opportunity.”

WHEN: The City of Youngstown invites members of the media to the first site of its Deconstruction Pilot Study. National expert David Bennink of RE-USE Consulting will be managing the deconstruction of 945 Brentwood Ave., located in the Idora Neighborhood on the city’s south side. Because the success of the project is dependant on efficiency and time constraints, access to the site will be limited to Tuesday, June 23, from 10:00 – 11:00 AM ONLY. Please be advised that the site is closed to the general public for the duration of the project.

WHAT: Deconstruction is the systematic disassembly of a structure to maximize reuse and recycling of the building materials that compose the structure. The process enables the salvage and reuse of valuable commodities used in building, such as lumber, brick, metal, and asphalt shingles.

WHY: The City of Youngstown has over 4,500 vacant structures that present a tremendous challenge for the community. Due to the large number of vacant and abandoned structures, the city is exploring innovative ways to transform this challenge into an opportunity. Deconstruction offers the possibility to create a self-sustaining blight removal mechanism.

WHO: David Bennink has over 16 years in the deconstruction industry and has facilitated the completion of over 450 deconstruction projects and 3,000 salvage projects throughout the United States. Bennink has been instrumental in bringing the process to many cities across the US, which has led to the development of organizations such as Buffalo ReUse (http://www.buffaloreuse.org/) and other non-profit organizations throughout the US. Bennink also manages his own consulting firm known as RE-USE Consulting (http://reuseconsulting.com/). He was recently named National Building Deconstructor of the Year by the Building Materials Reuse Association (http://www.bmra.org).

I got a look at the plans for the renovation of the planned Mahoning Valley History Center at the Harry Burt/Ross Radio building, and it really lets light into the place. There will be several exhibit spaces, a meeting facility with kitchen, offices, educational spaces and climate-controlled archival storage.

The first award of the night was the Community Revitalization Award which went to the Fallen Fire Fighters Bridge.

The bridge formerly known as the Spring Common Bridge was refurbished and renamed the Fallen Fire Fighter’s Bridge in 2008. The Bridge was designed by the engineering firm of Wilbur Watson and Associates of Cleveland and constructed in 1949 by the Mt. Vernon Bridge Company. The objective of restoration was to enhance the Bridge while preserving the original design, materials and appearance. The deck was replaced; a new sidewalk was constructed with new railings; and structural steel repairs were made to the beams and girders. The structural steel was cleaned and repainted a shade of red that both commemorates the fire fighters and complements the surrounding environs.

The second award was the Commercial Revitalization Award, to architects Ron Faniro, Paul Hagman and Frank Rulli, of the Sweet Jenny Land Company.

Youngstown’s late 19th and early 20th century history of development from a small Midwestern town into a thriving metropolis is well documented by the built environment in its downtown. Stemming from concern of the rapid loss of these assets, the three architects of Faniro Architects formed the Sweet Jenny Land Company for the purpose of rescuing and rehabilitating the John R. Davis Building. Built in 1899 the architects saw this building as an opportunity to save an historic structure and to develop it in such a manner as to serve as a model of a mixed-use, adaptive reuse of a historic urban property. The structure houses a street-level retail space, the offices of Faniro Architects on the second level and a loft-style residence on the upper floor.

The final award was to the Bolan Family for their remarkable effort in rehabilitating the Emerald Street homes you see when driving on the 422 connector east of Wick Avenue. I see these homes almost every day, and they’re a signal throwback to this kind of working-class housing that is so prevalent in the rust belt. Their condition, so highly visible to YSU students and visitors alike, is an important impression, and the Bolan Family is to be commended for their commitment to and personal investment in the project.

Built between 1900 and 1912 presumably by the steel mills as worker homes, the eight remaining row houses along Emerald Street in Smoky Hollow were acquired by the Bolan Family between 1999 and 2008. Four of the homes are completed and occupied my members of the family, while the remaining four are in various stages of rehabilitation. The renovations have been funded completely by the family who want to protect the environment by resuing and recycling materials, restore the homes on the outside to as near as authentic as possible, use local businesses and vendors, and improve the quality of life in Smoky Hollow.

We had the pleasure of sitting next to three of the Bolans at the dinner and were impressed with their stories. When they accepted their award, one family member said, “We are rich, we just don’t have money.” This is so true of our area right now. How can we complain for what we lack when we have families like the Bolans who are dedicating their very lives to the area’s restoration?

Increasing the visibility and viability of local art is a cause that is being seriously taken up, and you’re invited to join up.

Looking at the two posts this week from Artists of the Rust Belt and Artists of the Mahoning Commons, it’s obvious art here is special. And of course that extends beyond visual art to include theatre and music.

On Thursday, June 18 at 4:00 pm at The Butler North Education Center (562 Wick Avenue, next door to The Butler Institute of American Art), the Wean Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and The Youngstown Foundation are sponsoring a session titled “Valley of the Arts: How artists can transform our neighborhoods.”

A panel of community development and arts experts will discuss the role of the arts in transforming neighborhoods. This will include a brief overview of a paper called From Rust Belt to Artist Belt (RB2AB). The paper’s executive summary states:

Since 1950, the nation’s industrial capitals have experienced an equally fast decline. From St. Louis to Chicago to Pittsburgh, they have seen thousands of jobs disappear and thousands of citizens flee.

Many of these cities are now home to only half the residents for which they were built and are likelier to be labeled “fly-over country” than to be recognized for their prominence in research and innovation. And while the Rust Belt’s industrial cities still have strong artistic communities, the outside world tends to recognize these urban centers for their problems rather than for their creative workforces.

RB2AB is focused on revitalizing post-industrial, Rust Belt cities by engaging artists in community development efforts. As part of the panel, arts and community development professionals will present the success and challenges of developing and implementing community artist-based partnerships.

The panel will include:

Brian Friedman – Executive Director of Northeast Shores Development Corporation in Cleveland

Matthew Galluzzo – Arts District Manager at Friendship Development Associates in Pittsburgh

Sarah Gyorki – Executive Director of Arts Collinwood in Cleveland

RSVP by Monday, June 15 to Cheryl Crooks at 330-394-5600.

Jaci found an available studio space, too, so there will be more news forthcoming from that.

One of my favorite spots is the Mahoning Avenue-level workshop of Tony Armeni, whose sculptures are not just fun to look at but also to experience.