Events & Activities
If you would like to have more information please contact:
The JPC Office at (315) 734-9608 or e-mail at info@johnsonparkcenter.org
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Ribbon Cutting
WKTV, UTICA, N.Y. — It has been so many years in the making that it doesn’t seem real; however, 62 new units of affordable housing in Cornhill are now filled with people who need them in Utica’s Johnson Park Center.
“We took in 21 seniors, because most of this block, 1300 block, are seniors that lost their houses…and so we wanted to give back. There’s really not a lot of senior housing. So, 21 apartments are dedicated to 55 and over with a chronic health condition, and we have 10 more with mental health and the rest is low income,” Rev. Ursula Meier, chief operating officer at Johnson Park Center, said.
But the many partners responsible for this day said that it’s not just those tenants who should be rejoicing.
“You know, if the heart is sick, the rest of the body is sick, and I think the same thing, you can’t have a vibrant city if one part is not doing well, so we need to really have a holistic view,” Meier said.
Here’s how it works, financially.
“New York State puts a grant enforcement mortgage on the property, so it’s a mortgage that’s free, in the sense that, no one’s looking for financial payback. The payback is a 30-year commitment to providing the services and the housing,” Dana Greenberg of the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, said.
“The investors get the tax credit for providing the private partnership funding that goes into developing the buildings,” Greenberg said.
It’s not just new housing units they’re celebrating today; it’s a community room.
“Playing games, coming together, walking together, because we live in a time when everybody is on cell phones. We isolate, and with that, we get depressed,” Meier said.
Green community housing means rooftop solar arrays, energy recovery ventilation systems that constantly exhaust and bring in fresh air.
The sense of optimism and fulfillment in the air—that’s generated by humans.
“We love living here in Cornhill. We wanted to see change where we live, and that change is taking place,” Rev. Dr. Maria Scates, president and CEO of Johnson Park Center, said.
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Opening of New Indoor Food Pantry
UTICA, N.Y. — Johnson Park Center will unveil its new indoor food pantry this upcoming Monday.
NEWSChannel 2 had a sneak peek today.
Visitors to the pantry are typically accustomed to driving or walking up to receive donations at JPC.
This new facility offers a new option.
“A lot of people, it’s been said that they’re skipping meals in order to have enough to make ends meet. And we’re here to say that we can help,” Rev. Dr. Maria A. Scates said.
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$500,000 Grant Awarded to Utica’s Johnson Park Center
UTICA, N.Y. — A local organization that addresses poverty, homelessness and economic instability in the community will receive a $500,000 grant.
The Johnson Park Green Community Center is part of JCTOD Outreach, Inc’s, which provides access to community skill-building classes, children’s programs, childcare, food pantry and community space.
“JCTOD Outreach, Inc. dba Johnson Park Center (JPC) is a faith-based non-profit organization that promotes positive change, revitalization, and community development in the heart of Cornhill, the poorest neighborhood in the City of Utica, New York,” the Johnson Park Center’s website states.
According to a release from the governor’s office, “JCTOD will complete the community center by building out the second floor of the Johnson Park Community Center to house the current JPC children’s program called Head, Hand, and Heart (HHH), as well as the Head Start program.”
The money is part of more than $15 million in Regional Economic Development grant funds allocated to 19 projects across the state.
JPC was recommended for the funding for their project readiness and alignment with each region’s strategic plan, according to the governor’s office.
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Spring 2024 – Employment Opportunities
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Employment Oppertunities – Spring 2024
