Thursday, July 22, 2010

Cleveland Ward 14 community development services and funding update

I'm pleased to report that our Ward 14 Ward Office is now up and running.  We are located at 3167 Fulton Road, Suite 305, located in the Lin Omni Building close to St. Rocco's Parish.  Our primary phone number utilized for City Hall, 216-664-4238 will be utilized at the Ward office.

The following are the Cleveland Ward 14 funding allocations to-date for 2010/2011.  There will be additional authorizations as indicated in the notes below, but the major funding allocations for community development services have been made.

Currently, community development services are being provided by the following organizations – see below.  Note that residents of Ward 14 living from W. 25th Street going east to Tremont are serviced by the Tremont West Development Corporation (TWDC).  All other areas as of July 1st, are now serviced by a New Community Development Services Office administered by the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO).

Ohio City Near West Development Corporation (OCNW) and the Brooklyn Centre Community Association (BCCA) are also providing services.  All of these organizations are currently in the process of working with our Council office and Neighborhood Progress Inc., in developing better collaboration and comprehensive services for Ward 14 and the Stockyards neighborhood.

Councilmen Matt Zone and Jay Westbrook, of Wards 15 & 16 respectively, are also assisting and supporting the development the new service model.


  • Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, 216-961-4242
Service Area:  Stockyards, Clark-Fulton and Ward 14 portions of Brooklyn Centre and Ohio City.  
  • New Community Development Services Office (SCFBC)- Megan Meister, Program Director, 3167 Fulton Road, Suite 303, Lin Omni Building (a/o 8/1/2010).
  • Tremont West Development Corporation, 216-575-0920,
Service Area:  Ward 14 portion of Tremont; Code Enforcement for parts of Clark Metro and Ward 14 portion of Ohio City
  • Brooklyn Centre Community Association, 216-644-0471, Services/Area:  Code enforcement for Ward 14 portions of Brooklyn Centre, Stockyards and portions of Clark-Fulton
Note the most recent developments for community development services -- Gail Long (formerly of Merrick House) and Jim Pelikan are being contracted through Neighborhood Progress Inc. to assist in developing our new community development service model.  Cleveland City Council and NPI will share the cost of the consultancy.

In addition, Megan Meister, formerly of Stockyard's Redevelopment Organization (SRO) has been named Program Director for the new service model organization. NPI is anticipated to authorize $40,000 to assist in the funding of the new service model.  Adam Gifford (also formerly of SRO) has also been hired.  There are plans for a total of 5 to 6 staff members; three to work primarily on outreach/organizing and general housing rehab program services and three to work on vacant lot, code enforcement and neighborhood services.  Generally these services are viewed as stabilization services and commercial development and future housing project development services are anticipated to be covered by TWDC and DSCDO.

Gail Long and Jim Pelikan are in the process of planning to contacting neighborhood leaders for preliminary meetings to begin the development of a neighborhood participation strategy, i.e., Advisory Committee for the new service model.  Public meetings will follow.  A draft neighborhood leadership list is being worked on that will include active block club and civic associations, social service and other non-profits and faith-based organizations leaders.  Anyone residing in the new service area that would like to be added to the list can contact our office or Megan Meister at 216-961-4242.

In addition to working on increasing community participation with resident groups, we are also working with Lucy Torres, Hispanic Liason for the Mayor's Community Relations Board, WIRE-Net and the NEOhio Chamber of Commerce in meeting with and collaborting with area churches, clubs, and businesses.  Social service agencies will also play a major role in identifying community needs, mapping their service areas and ultimately collaborating to ensure all members of the community can take full advantage of service being provided.

REF:


 $471,000  Balance of Funds (Ward 14)

      3,000         *OBCDC/Brookside/SCR Food Program (Nov/Dec 2009)
    15,000         *Esperanza
      1,000         *Greater Cleveland Volunteers RSVP - (tutoring)
         500          Cleveland/Walk&Roll
  100,000          Tremont West Development Corp
  300,000          Detroit Shoreway Comm Development Org
      2,000          Neighborhood Progress Inc. (NPI),
                         Community Participation/Advisory Committee contract
      5,000          Ohio City - Assistance in Community Organzing/Saftey for
                         Barber-Vega area of Ohio City/Ward 14.
    10,000         *Merrick House

Other organizations being considered for funding as programs and funding balances are confirmed ($2,000 - $10,000):

                        *Julio DeBurgos
                        *Art House
                          Cleveland Restoration Society
                          Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for NEOhio
                        *Hispanic UMADAOP
                        *Brookside Center
                          Hispanic Alliance
                          Cleveland Tenants Organization
                        *Ohio City Bike-coop
                        *Senior Citizens Resources
                        *City Music

 $436,500         TOTAL 2010/2011 Authorizations

   $34,500         Current un-spent/authorized balance


NOTES:

  1. * Indicates Social Service programs, note that there is $61,500 available for year 2010/2011 social services programs. Depending on de-certification of funds from previous contracts this amount may be able to be increased.
  2. There is currently a review of contracts that will be closed-out from previous years and un-spent balances will revert back to the Ward 14 allocation.  There will be a report issued once that process is complete and the balances re-confirmed along with new authorized amounts for services.
  3. There are $0 dollars allocated to Council/Wards for street resurfacing.  The Street's Dept. is overseeing a City budget that will repair/patch streets throughout the City based on a pavement management system initiated 2-years ago.