Millville Neighborhood Summit

Yesterday Janurary 31st 2009, the Neighborhood Summit was held at Memorial High School.
It was organized by(AHOME)Affordable Homes of Millville Ecumenical and Millville Weed and Seed Program, with a grant from the Wachovia Foundation. This year's Neighborhood Summit was conducted differently from last year's event in that is was a working conference to hammer our issues affecting the Weed and Seed area of Millvillle.

The five biggest issues were discussed: crime and public safety, neighborhood cleanliness, abandoned and run-down buildings, lack of jobs, and a general absence of friendliness among neighbors.

With a handful of moderators such as Stephen Kehs, vice president of Vineland-based Triad Associates,on site, attendees formed five groups to tackle the five problems, Ideas and solutions were listed and shared by residents and organizers at the summit. Many ideas were given to make the center city a better place to live. After all Center City is the heart of our city!
All in attendence commended the Millville Police Department for the improvement in the neighborhoods. Chief Ed Grennon stated that all officers will receive training in Community Policeing.
This is the third in a series designed to address Center City problems. The second was held on November 13th 2008.

An original Wachovia grant of $90,000 was provided to AHOME for the purpose of finding out the problems. AHOME held a block party and asked residents to complete a survey in August to ask residents about the problems and try to narrow them down; the result was the list of five urgent issues.
Getting the grant requires developing a plan and getting input from as many people as possible Merchants have been contacted, as has the Millville Board of Education. The Summit is one more step to this goal.