Planning process continues for Stockyard and Clark Fulton areas
by Chuck Hoven

(Plain Press, April 2010) Efforts to create a new local development organization to serve the Clark Fulton and Stockyards neighborhoods continue. Residents and stakeholders in the Clark Fulton and Stockyards neighborhoods met on Thursday March 11th at W. 58th Street Church of God to learn more about the proposal sponsored by the Stockyard Redevelopment Organization. The plan calls for the creation of a new local development organization to service the area from W. 25th to W. 82nd and from I- 90 to I -71. With an early April deadline for submitting proposals to the City of Cleveland and Cleveland City Council for funding consideration, questions still remained as to how much funding the fledging organization could hope to receive. The next funding cycle for local development organizations begins July 1st.

The proposed service area is estimated to have a population of between 28,000 and 29,000 – more than a City Council Ward (now capped at 25,000). The three City Council representatives present would not commit to funding the new organization in an amount proportional to its population and poverty rate.

While the bulk of the new organization lies in Ward 14, served by Councilman Brian Cummins, portions of the proposed service area are in Ward 15, served by Councilman Matt Zone, and in Ward 16, served by Councilman Jay Westbrook. The three councilpersons all agreed in principle to the idea of creating a new organization to serve both neighborhoods.

Representatives of the major funding bodies for local development organizations were all present at the discussion: the three Cleveland City Council members, Terrence Ross of the City of Cleveland Community Development Department and Walter Wright of Neighborhood Progress Inc. Each of the 19 Cleveland City Council members are responsible for allocating $440,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funds through a Neighborhood Development Program. The City of Cleveland Community Development Department uses a competitive grant process to allocate up to $72,000 to each of about 30 local development organizations. Neighborhood Progress Inc. allocates money from foundations to 14 local development organizations on special projects.

Ross of the Community Development Department said the City of Cleveland makes decisions on its grants based on outcome measures, not population.

Meeting organizers noted the core services that local development organizations currently provide neighborhoods include services in three core areas: community outreach services; housing related services; and business assistance programs.

Several Councilpersons commented on how complicated the process of deciding how to fund the new organization would be. It was noted that other organizations were already providing services to the target area. It would have to be decided if services would continue with those organizations or be taken on by the new development corporation. Ward 14 Councilman Brian Cummins noted that collaboration between City Council, the Administration and existing agencies was necessary to share information for decisions on determining service needs in the combined service area.

Possible areas of collaboration with other organizations were discussed-- such as using the expertise of other organizations to offer various services in the new target area such as weatherization, housing programs, servicing existing block clubs, providing social services, safety services and services to businesses.

Additional meetings to plan the new organizations will be held. Next steps outlined at the meeting included: finalizing funding; finalizing a budget; revising the by-laws; expanding the board; creating an operating plan; identifying a new location in the center of the service area; and selecting a name for the new organization.

Concerns were raised by residents as to who would staff and serve on the board of the new organization. Councilman Matt Zone said it would be inappropriate for Councilpersons to get involved in those decisions. He said it was up to the organization to solicit nominations from the community for positions on the new board of trustees and that board would hire the executive director and decide on staffing for the organization.

Questions were also raised as to how to assure that the new organization would be inclusive in serving the neighborhood. One stakeholder pointed out the notable absence of Hispanics at the meeting, even though the proposed service area has a large Hispanic population. An elderly man pointed out that inevitably there would be winners and losers in the allocation of resources in the neighborhood. Councilman Westbrook expressed faith in the process of community engagement and empowering the community, “if the process works there won’t be winners and losers, only winners,” he said. Westbrook promised as changes take place in funding local development organizations, “No neighborhood is going to be a loser.” He further stated, “I know there is going to be full inclusion.”

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