Latest news with #LoveYourBlock
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Melton Highlights Progress, Outlines Future Plans in His State of the City Address
Mayor Eddie Melton delivered his second State of the City address Tuesday, using the milestone to highlight the city's progress as it continues rebuilding. The address, delivered at Embassies of Christ Church, comes nearly 18 months since he took office and offered a shift from campaign promises to a review of the administration's accomplishments thus far. 'In last year's State of the City address, we talked about what we must do to stabilize the city and restore security for our city's most basic needs,' Melton said. 'This year, we must continue to execute on the array of solutions that are going to help grow the city.' Melton's address was largely built around a presentation highlighting many of the administration's victories, from paying off old city debts to overseeing a 17% increase in property tax revenue. But he surprised the crowd with a major announcement toward the end of his speech. He revealed that FedEx will build a 317,000-square-foot warehousing and distribution facility in Gary, investing more than $60 million. The facility is expected to be in operation in 2027, he said. Decisions like bringing on the city's first engineer and grant writers have been instrumental in instituting programs that have directly impacted residents, including the city's American Rescue Plan Act-funded, $3.4 million 'Relight the City' project and the grant-funded 'Love Your Block' program. Phase one of the relighting project has already begun on Broadway and Ridge Road, and Melton pledged more. 'Next, we're going into the neighborhoods so every single light in this city will be repaired,' he said. Melton also spotlighted improvements in public safety, noting that the city police department hired 16 new recruits last year. In addition, he said Gary achieved: a 77% homicide closure rate, a reduction in nonfatal shootings, with 134 incidents in 2024 compared to 147 in 2023, and a drop in homicides from 52 in 2023 to 40 last year. He also highlighted the city's crackdown on illegal dumping, reporting 25 arrests in 2023 and 11 arrests so far this year. Looking ahead, Melton said the city is partnering with the Gary YWCA to open a new shelter on the city's east side to serve women and children in need. He also announced plans to launch a special response unit to remove the ubiquitous graffiti throughout Gary. Though his time as mayor has been eventful, it is perhaps his last act as a state senator that has paid the most dividends for the city early in his administration. Senate Bill 434, which was authored by Melton and signed into law in 2023, has produced tangible results around the city, including demolition and blight elimination in the Miller and Aetna neighborhoods and the nearing possibility of a new Lake County convention center attached to Hard Rock Casino. Melton delivered his first State of the City address just 100 days into his administration, prior to the initiation of most of his vision. Now, with nearly 18 months under his belt, the mayor was able to speak from experience as opposed to aspiration. This story will be updated. The post Melton Highlights Progress, Outlines Future Plans in His State of the City Address appeared first on Capital B Gary.
Chicago Tribune
08-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
IU Northwest provides new space for CURE
A program that connects the community to a wide-reaching partnership with Indiana University Northwest now has its own place where senior citizens can learn how to use their iPhones and middle school kids can learn college and career skills. Led by IU President Pamela Whitten, officials snipped a ribbon Monday outside of CURE's new headquarters just outside the south lobby entrance in the Library Conference Center. 'This is exciting and it took us so long to get here,' said interim chancellor Vicki Román-Lagunas. 'It's a deeply rooted commitment to our community… we dedicate every resource to that partnership.' Launched in 2004, CURE aims to engage the university and the community to create sustainable programs and initiatives, led by its director Ellen Szarleta. CURE's activities support the development of positive and sustainable collaborations between the university and the community, officials said. Its program offerings and partnerships include Senior University, Kids College, adult education, a community garden, police candidate training, the Indiana Civic Health Index, an annual Forum on Child Abuse and Neglect, and Partners-In Conversation, recorded conversations between students, faculty and community members to stay connected during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'We were in a very sense created by the community with CURE as the permanent gateway,' said former IU Northwest chancellor Ken Iwama, who's now director of IU's regional campuses and online education. Before it gained its new space in the Library Conference Center, Szarleta said its ages 55-and-over Senior University courses were held at various classroom sites across the campus. With the new single location, Szarleta said it's easier for seniors to foster relationships and settle into a course. She said CURE also is assisting the City of Gary with its Love Your Block mini-grant program application for community residents. Tiara Williams, Gary's Love Your Block project manager said the application deadline closed Monday. Williams praised CURE's involvement. 'It's like a fire is ignited to get the word out,' she said. The Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation funds Love Your Block. 'Any time there is a CURE issue, Ellen is the doctor,' said Melton. 'Her team has been instrumental for us every year.' Whitten cited the 2023 efforts by IU-Northwest students who worked with Lake County officials to examine and document more than 7,000 'churner' properties that are offered again and again at tax sales. Their effort led to a 2023 law transferring the ownership of properties that fail to sell twice at tax sales to the county or a municipality for redevelopment. 'This space will undoubtedly enhance the ability to serve the region,' she said.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Bye Bye to Blight': Gary's Aetna Residents See Hope as Demolitions Continue
Since 2015, Penelope Love and her fellow neighbors of the Aetna Manor Revitalization Program have worked to restore the neighborhood through various cleanup projects. But eliminating blighted structures would take more than they could muster alone. Now, an ongoing city initiative fueled largely by volunteer efforts gives Aetna the boost Love sought. 'It's a good feeling when someone comes alongside to support consistent efforts or to do what you could not do,' Love said. 'We thank everyone as we, the Aetna Manor community, continue to say bye bye to blight, hello to beauty.' Shortly after sunrise Monday morning, a sea of elected officials, company heads, city workers, and volunteers gathered in Aetna for what they hope will be the dawn of a new day for the neighborhood and the entire city. With spring on the horizon, Gary is ramping up efforts to tackle blight and revitalize the city one neighborhood at a time. Mayor Eddie Melton and U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan joined volunteers as crews demolished abandoned properties — one of many initiatives, including Love Your Block, aimed at restoring the city, reinforcing a sense of hope among residents, and signaling a renewed commitment to cleaner, safer communities. 'This initiative isn't just about tearing down buildings — it's about building up our community,' Melton said. 'By eliminating these hazardous structures, we're creating safer neighborhoods today and laying the foundation for new homes tomorrow. And we're just getting started. Gary's revival continues with more targeted demolitions coming to Midtown and Emerson this year.' Demolitions are typically costly, but on Monday, crews from local construction firms — including Hasse Construction, Actin Inc., RMD Construction, Superior Construction, the Lake County Highway Department, and Rieth-Riley Construction — stepped up, volunteering their time and resources to clear Aetna's blighted properties. 'This gets a little emotional for me because this is where I grew up,' said Jim Wiseman, a marketing specialist with Rieth-Riley. 'I'm very fortunate that my company, Rieth-Riley, shares my vision of a better tomorrow for Gary. When I say a better tomorrow, it's all about the children. Children are our future, and we're giving back to them, our residents, our people, and all Northwest Indiana. Gary was, is, and always will be the economic force of Northwest Indiana.' The city plans to demolish 20 homes in the coming weeks, adding to the 35 Aetna structures demolished in 2024. Structures are selected for demolition by the Department of Redevelopment, which under Indiana statute requires assessing the condition of each structure and notifying 'When you tear down blight, it's not just the demolition and moving the trucks,' said Mrvan. 'What you are doing is creating a new tomorrow for affordable housing, for community parks, for business attraction.' 'As a member of Congress representing Gary, Indiana, I commit fully and wholeheartedly to continue to bring resources back to Northwest Indiana so that we can have more great days like this,' he continued. As the city continues its efforts to bring down abandoned structures in Aetna, the Gary Parks Department is working alongside them to restore green spaces for community use. During the first week of demolition, multiple city departments provided additional support to the Aetna neighborhood. The Gary Fire Department is implementing the Red Cross smoke alarm program, while the Police Department is providing enhanced patrol presence and drone documentation. The Health Department is conducting rodent abatement, and Public Works crews are addressing infrastructure needs, including road patching and sign installation. Meanwhile, the Environmental, Park, and General Services departments are collaborating on cleanup efforts, debris removal, and public space improvements throughout the area. On Monday morning, just a few blocks from ongoing demolitions, crews were at LaBroi Park at East 13th Avenue and Fayette Street, clearing trash, tires, and debris while also removing hazardous trees to make the park more inviting. The cleanup is part of the Parks Department's work alongside the city's blight removal efforts, making sure that as vacant homes come down, parks and green spaces in Aetna are cleaned up and revitalized. 'We're here to bring parks back to life,' said Parks Director Mattiee Fitzgerald. 'Parks are for people, and if we can make each park in our city more welcoming, families will come back and use them.' The post 'Bye Bye to Blight': Gary's Aetna Residents See Hope as Demolitions Continue appeared first on Capital B Gary.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Deadline near for potential homeowners to apply with Show-Me Central Habitat
Area residents only have a couple more weeks in which to apply for a Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity home. The organization is taking applications through 4 p.m. March 29, and there are some requirements for consideration. Application pick-up and drop-off is available Tuesday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are available at Show-Me Central offices at 1305 E. Business Loop 70. Blank applications also are linked on the Show-Me Central website. If assistance is needed with the application, help sessions are scheduled 10 a.m. to noon March 16 and 2-4 p.m. March 22 in the Love Columbia conference room at 1209 E. Walnut St. Online registration is needed to sign-up for a help session. An applicant must meet minimum income, credit, and criminal history requirements and the applicant's credit score cannot be below 600. There are instances where no credit score is acceptable. Applicants must demonstrate a need, which could include current living conditions, housing cost, overcrowding or other factors. Applicants also must be willing to put in "sweat equity" hours in helping to build their home. More: Columbia will host Love Your Block grant application assistance events Homes are located in Show-Me Central's Boone Prairie Subdivision. Show-Me Central will celebrate a new homeowner move-in on March 22. The community also should get ready for the 35th annual Broadway Christian Church garage sale April 5 in support of Show-Me Central. Last year at least $30,000 was raised. Women build is back again May 1-3, which won the Impact CoMo Award last year. Finally, Frame the World is July 19, when framers from all over mid-Missouri will come to Columbia to build a house in one day. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Show-Me Central Habitat for Humanity taking homeowner applications
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Flint storefronts along Pleasant Street get a makeover. How can other businesses join in?
FALL RIVER — Shops along Pleasant Street are turning heads with clean brick façades, new awnings, and fresh storefront signs that bring new charm, and pride, to the Flint. In an area of the neighborhood that sees many a passerby, a push for urban renewal and 'revitalization,' said Michael Dion, executive director of the Fall River Community Development Agency, has begun its first phase of improvements. Already, Gilbert's Jeweler's at 1370 Pleasant St., Nelly's Clothing, 1376 Pleasant St., a barbershop, and a currently vacant storefront between 1370 and 1386 Pleasant St. have an auspicious new look suited to attracting customers. White Rose Bakery at 1642 Pleasant St. joined the four other stores in a first round of applications to the CDA. This is only the beginning, Dion said, and 'many more' business owners 'want in' when it comes to applying for a storefront makeover — which is just one layer in a 'long-range' plan to 'restore pride back in the Flint,' Dion said. Where's the affordable housing? Fall River has 113 new affordable apartments coming. Where they are and how to get one Dion said $1.7 million in grant funding has been set aside for infrastructure improvements. Sidewalks, streets, lampposts and planting trees, he said, are all developable aspects that may receive funding. Last year, state Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues, who represents the First Bristol and Plymouth district, which includes the City of Fall River, secured $7 million from the landmark Housing Bond Bill, originating from the 2024 budget. The bill addresses housing and homeownership in Gateway Cities like Fall River, but also is intended to supplement infrastructure improvements, ascertaining neighborhood equity, sustainability, and reducing barriers to development. Dion said the CDA and Coogan administration will welcome Yvonne Hao, the Massachusetts Secretary of the Executive Office of Economic Development, for a visit 'to show her the Flint' sometime in the coming months. Additionally, 'mini' grants sponsored by nonprofits in the city can be used for smaller but significant enhancements along Pleasant Street, Dion said. Fall River is one of 16 communities to receive funding — $100,000 — from the Love Your Block grant program, established by Bloomberg Philanthropies in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, that may be used for 'resident-led neighborhood revitalization projects' between 2024 and 2026. Nuisance buildings: Fall River is cracking down on vacant and abandoned properties. Here's what the law does. 'They need to go through me,' Dion said, prodding a stack of paper applications on his desk during an interview with The Herald News. While small business storefronts might be crowding to the front of revitalization efforts, Dion said there are new events planned that involve the community in restoring the Flint. A clean-up day to collect litter; a 'graffiti day' to redress the sides of buildings, and a block party will ask residents to work together 'with businesses, and people,' Dion said, 'and make the Flint a better place to live.' This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River's Flint storefronts improved with state grant funding
