The National Development Council (NDC) announces a significant New Markets Tax Credit investment in the Urban Community School and an affiliated MetroHealth medical center in Cleveland, Ohio. The total allocation from NDC is $5 million (of a $17 million project).
The Urban Community School, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit community school that serves primarily low-income families who live in the Ohio City neighborhood on Cleveland’s Near West Side. This census tract has a poverty rate of 27 percent and an unemployment rate at 1.14x the national average. In collaboration with MetroHealth, the largest public hospital in Ohio, the new campus addition includes:
- -10,000 SF for Urban Squash Cleveland, which will offer instruction in the sport of squash, academic support, and enrichment opportunities for 100 students (including 50 from UCS) 4th to 12th grade students
- -32,535 SF medical center operated by the MetroHealth public hospital system providing primary, mental and dental health care via 84,000 visits annually
- -17,400 SF for an Early Childhood Education Center serving 100 children ages 6 weeks to 3 years operated by Urban Community School
- -115 SF for a Cleveland Food Bank satellite office that will serve 25,000 meals annually
The one-hundred 4th through 12th grade Cleveland students will attend squash and academic sessions three times per week; participate in community service activities; travel to different cities and universities; play in local and national squash tournaments; attend summer camp and gain internships; and work closely with volunteers and mentors as they prepare for a meaningful post-secondary opportunity.
The MetroHealth System School Health Program at UCS will be an integrated primary care and behavioral health practice. Services will include: family medicine; pediatrics; OB/GYN; behavioral health; substance abuse; nutrition; Hispanic language and culture health clinics; residency and attending clinic; pediatric dental and optometry; and a new express care program which would offer an alternative to the emergency department. The intended program for dental and optometry will explore mobile equipment and scheduled service that could be used for student services instead of permanently occupying exam room space.
The project will create or retain 136 full-time, living-wage jobs in construction, healthcare and education/athletic instruction. An estimated 20-25 percent of these positions are expected to be filled by minorities.