We celebrated
great news
this week for Toledo and northwest Ohio. The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority will receive $16 million through the United States Maritime Administration Infrastructure Development Grant Program. The Port Authority plans to use the federal money at the International Cargo Docks to repair the dock wall, install a liquid bulk transloading operation, and make improvements to the on-dock rail-to-vessel transfer points of access. The $16 million award will be matched with an additional $4 million in local funds. These are badly needed funds that will support thousands of jobs for our city. The Port of Toledo supports $669 million in economic activity and more than 7,000 jobs in our region!
I want to thank U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator Rob Portman, U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, and U.S. Congressman Bob Latta for their help securing the grant.
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Mayor D. Michael Collins Blood Drive
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Also this week, I was honored to donate blood for the annual Mayor D. Michael Collins Blood Drive. It is hard to believe that it has been five years since Mayor Collins died while in office. He was a dedicated public servant as a Marine, a police officer, councilman, and finally mayor. I encourage everyone to
donate blood
. It is easy, painless, and literally allows you to save someone's life.
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Collingwood Green
Finally this week, I want to applaud the
completion of construction
for what is now called Collingwood Green -- the new Lucas Metropolitan Housing Authority complex. On Monday, we symbolically cut a ribbon to mark the completion of the redevelopment’s third phase, which included 55 multibedroom apartments. Toledo is no exception to the national challenge of ensuring there is affordable housing for the working poor. We plan to continue to work with LMHA, and other partners like the Lucas County Land Bank, to do what we can to help fill the gap.
Collingwood Green sends a message that affordable housing does not, and should not, have a lower standard than market-rate developments. Every neighborhood in this community is important and can be vibrant. Even where once there was gray and a lack of brightness, what can sprout is something truly as visually beautiful and structurally important as this. And not just important in terms of the bones of the buildings, but what it means for the people who live here and what it says to them about how they are valued.
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The city of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods' CDBG and ESG partners offer a variety of services to the Toledo Community.
For more information, go this
link
for Community Development Block Grant funded partners and this
link
for Homeless Service Providers.
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The City of Toledo is offering three Community Development Block Grant opportunities for local nonprofit organizations, block watch groups, and neighborhood associations. Funding proposals must be designed to build organizational capacity, increase neighborhood engagement, and/or beautify low and moderate income areas.
The deadline to apply is
4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 24
. Award notifications will occur on Monday, March 16. A final report on project completion will be due on Monday, June 1. All applications will be reviewed for completeness, accuracy, CDBG eligibility, and compliance with federal regulations. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The following grants are available:
The Technical Assistance Grant will support a 501(c)(3) organization that has been in existence for at least three years and serves at least 51 percent low to moderate individuals with improving business practices of the organization or adding new knowledge and skills that advance the organization’s missions. The maximum award amount is $9,000.
The Demonstration Grant will support a 501(c)(3) organization that has been in existence for at least two years and serves at least 51 percent low to moderate individuals in Toledo, offering new or expanded programs and/or activities that strengthen your neighborhood, and makes a measurable impact on the community improvement. The maximum award amount is $2,000.
The Neighbors United Mini-Grant will support Block Watch or Neighborhood Association Groups with local beautification projects that engage residents in low and moderate income areas. All neighborhood associations must be registered with the City of Toledo, Department of Neighborhoods at
this link
prior to submitting an application. All block watch groups must have a verifiable partnership with the Toledo Police Department. The maximum award amount is $500.
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Wednesdays with Wade will be
4:30 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19
at the Mott Branch Library, 1010 Dorr St.
Residents and business owners are encouraged to ask questions on any topic, meet neighbors, and learn about city projects. The meetings are held at different library branches throughout the city.
The city of Toledo supports the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Joan Easler, ADA coordinator, at 419-245-1059.
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AT&T Toledo Smart Cities Hackathon
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Interested in making Toledo a smarter city and solving some of the biggest problems facing our region? Register for the AT&T Toledo Smart Cities Hackathon, in partnership with the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, happening
Feb. 22-23.
Hackathon teams will compete for prize money while finding solutions to issues like access to clean water and transportation in the Toledo area.
If you’re not interested in hacking, but still want to watch the action, you are welcome to take part in the opening and closing sessions.
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The second annual Battle of the Badges is coming back to Savage Arena! Come out to the University of Toledo at
2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29
for the Rockets game against Ball State.
Immediately following the Toledo game, the Police and Fire departments will play in the Battle of the Badges for the ultimate bragging rights.
Tickets are available and
on sale now
for $11. $5 from every ticket sale goes to the charity of each departments choice.
Use promo code "POLICE" for the Toledo Police Patrolmans' Association.
Use promo code "FIRE" for the Toledo Firefighters Local 92.
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How can we help you? The Engage Toledo app lets you make service requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. We are committed to customer service.
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By The Numbers
(year to date)
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13,360
potholes filled
44
water main breaks repaired
201,861
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
2,331
feet of storm sewers cleaned
291
illegal signs removed
121
trees trimmed
1,010
building inspections
1,029
contractor licenses
73,540
gallons of brine used
11,539
tons of salt used
6,189
EMS runs
617
fire runs
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Celebrate Black History Month
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This week, we highlight Jack Ford,
Toledo
’s first black mayor. He was a five-term councilman; a Toledo Board of Education member; an Ohio state representative, and he created a healthcare network for low-income uninsured.
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The United Way is here to help on 211 day - and every day
Feb. 11 is 211 day, the number of the United Way of Greater Toledo. You can call them any time you need help with food, shelter, clothing and utility assistance. United Way 2-1-1 is a free, 24/7, 365-day information and referral service resource available to all residents within Lucas, Wood and Ottawa County. People who are seeking health and human resources, such as shelter, food, clothing, and utility assistance, can call or text 2-1-1 and speak with a trained Community Resource Advisor.
Issue One Ballot Issue
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz discusses the upcoming Issue One ballot issue with John Damschroder, focusing on the economic development impact Toledo’s decision will have on the entire northwest Ohio region.
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