Latest news with #JeffreyYoung
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
International grocery store brings relief to Baltimore neighborhood in food desert
International grocery store LA Mart opened a new Maryland location less than a year after a store closed in a Baltimore neighborhood, leaving a food desert. The new store opened at 4624 Edmondson Avenue, at the former location of a Giant Food store. Supermarket closure leaves food desert When Giant announced it was closing in June 2024, the company redirected customers to its newly remodeled store on Wilkins Avenue, two miles away. "It was mixed feelings for the community," said Jeffrey Young. "I don't know what the situation was, but I don't think they were concerned about the community at all. Not knowing that it affected people that live in this community and the surrounding communities that have nowhere to go to get fresh food at a supermarket." Young doesn't live far from the supermarket and, like others, is happy there's a grocery store that neighbors can walk to again. "When the Giant left, we became a food desert," said Councilman Paris Gray, who represents District 8. Neighbors appreciate new grocery store LA Mart offers a wide selection of produce, international products, a bakery and a seafood department with fresh fish, lobster and crabs. Customers like Carolyn Young, who lives nearby, were devastated when Giant closed in 2024. She said it was especially hard on older neighbors who had to venture further to get their groceries. Young is no stranger to LA Mart as she used to drive to one of the store's other locations. She welcomed the new location, which is closer to her home. "It's a multicultural area, so the market really gives everybody in the neighborhood what they need, so I think it's a great fit," Young said. Young and other customers said they're enjoying the fresh produce and low prices. "I just think the best thing about it so far is the prices on the fruits and vegetables, and even the salmon and fish and stuff like that," said neighbor Rudo Minson. "Lobster is on sale, crabs." Minson lives down the street from the new store, and for months, he has been commuting to different markets to get groceries. "I appreciate the supermarket being here, that's for sure," he said. New development in Baltimore neighborhood Councilman Gray worked with the owners at Edomdson Square and the Edmondson Village Shopping Center next door to find grocers when he learned Giant was closing. The new LA Mart opened less than a year after Giant closed. "I think it shows the economic power that we have in southwest Baltimore," Gray said. "Oftentimes we are overlooked, but we have strong communities, stable communities that can support not only one but what we will see is two grocery stores." Aldi is slated to open a location at the Edmondson Village Shopping Center. Gray said there is no timeline yet, but the lease is signed. It's part of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment in the works by The Chicago Trend Corporation. Baltimore's Edmondson Village Shopping Center is undergoing a renovation project. The Chicago Trend Corporation "What we're really excited about is just the opportunity and the opportunities that are going to come from both shopping centers when it comes to jobs, when it comes to food accessibility, making sure our dollars in Baltimore stay in Baltimore," Gray said. Quickway Japanese Hibachi and Charley's Philly Steaks also plan to open locations in the shopping center, and additional stores are expected to be announced. The changes can already be seen with Councilman Gray pointing to improved lighting, new awnings outside most stores, new signage and improvements to make sidewalks more accessible. "We're already starting to see the changes, but it's going to be really important that folks keep their eyes open and continue to see the changes each and every day and each and every month as we move to full completion," Gray said. The new developments are something neighbors are already taking note of. "I'm happy to see the construction and development in the neighborhood actually coming up," said Carolyn Young. "I think that everyone can appreciate that." Local restaurant wanted for new development As development continues at Edmondson Village Shopping Center, the search is on for a local restaurant, Gray said. "If you want to be a part of the renaissance that's happening in Baltimore and the beautiful thing is it's happening in all corners of Baltimore and not just one area, come to the Edmondson Village Shopping Center because we have a place for you," said Gray. Restaurant owners interested in opening a southwest Baltimore location can reach out to Chicago Trend for more information or contact Gray's office.
CBC
02-06-2025
- General
- CBC
'It's frustrating and tiring': Another western Newfoundland daycare faces government delays
The Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation in Stephenville is trying to open a registered child-care centre in a newly leased building, but it's stuck in a limbo period while waiting on provincial government approval to move forward with renovations. "It's frustrating and tiring. We are exhausted," Jeffrey Young, president and CEO of the foundation, told CBC News. Young applied for the child-care capacity initiative funding through the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development in early January. The funding program is designed for not-for-profit organizations, like the Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation, to develop regulated child-care services where the need has been identified. He said there was a strong response from staff in the regional office, but he is stuck waiting for an approval from the minister's office for the next phase of the project. "It's been this ongoing … silence and no responses. We were initially told by one of the employees in the department to give it a six-month period for you guys to be open. That was in January. We are coming up on six months and we don't even have Phase 2 approved by the government," said Young. The approval would allow renovations, staffing and furniture purchases for the newly rented space, which already has multiple conference rooms, playrooms, two kitchens, bathrooms and access to the outdoors. Young said he has emailed and phoned the department's current and old ministers, and contacted opposition parties about his concerns. Just 24 kilometres away in St. George's, child-care operators face similar frustrations with governments this month, as they wait to open a registered daycare to accommodate an already long waitlist. Young says he is getting calls and emails every day from Stephenville residents wanting to know when the daycare might open. "We needed this daycare yesterday, not tomorrow. People are needing this service now. If the government don't speed things up, we are going to be losing people in our community, and maybe even our province," he said. "Because the services are not here. People want to go to work." While the Education and Early Childhood Development departments wouldn't do an interview with CBC News, Angela Sullivan, a communications director, sent an e-mailed statement. "The department carefully evaluates each submission to ensure a thorough and fair assessment process. The process considers overall project timelines, commitments to other child-care projects, and long-term viability of projects," Sullivan wrote. There was no mention of the specific southwest coast daycare delays. The Mi'kmaw Cultural Foundation was established over a decade ago to preserve and promote the Mi'kmaw culture in the province. Members work on community-based programming and focus mostly on youth. The goal is to open a registered Indigenous child-care centre and offer the service and employment opportunity within the Bay St. George area. "They are not recognizing the value of the programming we want to offer," said chairperson Ang Brockway. She says culturally relevant learning for children is always beneficial. "We want them to learn from authentic people in our communities who grew up on the land and know these things. We are really committed to offering that type of learning and environment." The Education Department says the government is focused on improving access to high-quality and affordable child care for families across the province, and it's trying to increase spaces to ensure families have access to child-care services. Brockway says her foundation is sick of broken promises and their application is very straightforward with no requests for new builds or massive renovation costs. "They have agreed to the reconciliation piece. They have put it out there that they are ready to do this work. But we are coming up against these barriers that make us think … are you really ready to do reconciliation work or are you relying on the people on the ground working to make everything happen?" Brockway said. "We could have [a] culturally relevant daycare, which is something our province is really lacking." As for Young, he is sitting and waiting for government officials to call so he can move on with the next stage. He says the organization has enough money reserved to rent the large building until the end of the summer.
