A long-vacant building constructed more than a decade ago with the hope of ending the reputation of Youngstown’s Southside as a food desert could once again fulfill that promise.

Rose Carter, Executive Director of the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods, AKA “ACTION”, has scheduled a noon press conference with Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown at the former Bottom Dollar Store 2649 Glenwood Ave.

 Carter will reveal plans for a Community Marketplace at the former store, which she says will be dedicated to addressing food insecurities and other community concerns.

The project is a collaboration between the mayor, local businesses, nonprofits, and others in the community.

“This space will not only provide immediate relief but also serve as a catalyst for long-term positive change,” Carter says in a media release.

ACTION is a grassroots, non-profit community organization involving faith groups, schools, neighborhood organizations, tenant councils, and other non-profits, is the force behind other community projects, one of the latest includes a Mobile Market to deliver groceries to underserved neighborhoods.

The Bottom Dollar grocery store building remained vacant since the store closed in 2014.

After efforts failed to find another grocery store to move in, the building was purchased by One Health Ohio in 2018 with hopes of opening a neighborhood health clinic.

However, as the major renovations were about to begin, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and brought rising costs that the company couldn't manage.

This year the city bought the building back for $150,000 with hopes of finding a use for it that would benefit the community.

Carter said she is hoping to have the marketplace open by fall 2024. The project will be supported by private donations.