‘I expect we will face this uncertainty, time and time again, until eventually it does not end in our favor.’
by The Tremonster
Tremont West Development Corporation held its annual meeting on Thursday, May 15. The buffet dinner supplied by Cilantro Taqueria was outstanding, votes were cast for a slate of Tremont West board candidates, and there was the comfort of annual routines like scanning the room for your block club table sign. But in her Director’s Report for the Tremont West 2025 Annual Meeting, Julie Dahlhausen sounded an alarm.
“Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding continues to be Tremont West’s most significant and vital source of support. For months, our team has carried the heavy concern that these funds could be reduced—or eliminated entirely,” she said. “Such a loss would result in substantial cuts to our programs and to our staff.”
But, Julie announced, “Last night, we received a bit of relief: it appears we can expect approximately [our 2024] level funding for the coming year. In other words, we live to fight another day.” She went on to warn, “However, this is just the beginning. CDBG—and, by extension, community development corporations like ours—are often first on the chopping block. I expect that we will face this uncertainty, time and time again, until eventually it does not end in our favor.”
To put it more plainly, she said, “…we can no longer count on federal funding to meet our community’s needs…”
Julie called on Tremont West membership and all residents of the neighborhood: “Tonight, we’re asking for your support in two important ways. First, please contact your Councilperson and urge them to support Ordinance 113-2025. This legislation would shift funding for Community Development Corporations from unpredictable federal dollars to the City of Cleveland’s general fund—a long-overdue change.”
Julie pointed to a QR code link to a template letter (ClevelandForNeighborhoods.com) that’s quickly personalized and sent to the corresponding Councilperson, the Council President Blaine Griffin, and to Mayor Justin Bibb.
“Let them know our work matters—and that we deserve to stay,” she said.
“The second way you can help is through a financial donation.” Julie pointed out another set of QR codes with a PayPal Tremont West donation link and a Venmo Tremont West donation link on the back of the Annual Report: “Scanning it will take you to a secure donation page. Your gift is tax-deductible and will directly support the programs, services, and advocacy that make a tangible difference in Tremont. More importantly, it will help set Tremont West on a path toward greater autonomy—less reliant on the shifting priorities of federal agencies, and more empowered by the people who live, work, and care about this neighborhood.”
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Julie’s Director’s Report follows, in full.
As we gather to reflect on this past year, I want to begin by grounding us in the vision and mission that drive everything we do. Tremont West is dedicated to serving our neighborhood by building an inclusive and connected community, promoting Tremont as a unique destination, and working together to create a resilient and thriving urban village.
2024 was a year of meaningful momentum. From beautifying our streets and supporting seniors to growing our business community and engaging neighbors in advocacy, our work is as diverse as Tremont itself—and it’s all possible because of the people in this room and across our community.
Inside the Annual Report, you’ll find a glimpse of the progress we’ve made throughout the year. While it doesn’t capture everything, it highlights the core initiatives and ongoing efforts that define Tremont West’s mission and impact.
Additionally, within our new strategic plan, you will see the goals and strategies we are going to pursue through 2027 to continue to strengthen the neighborhood and create a Tremont that we can all be proud of. Our core values define both who we are today and what we aim to build for the future: Inclusive Community Engagement, Organizational Transparency & Accountability, Innovation in our Impact, Sustainability & Respect, and the ability to change, and to grow. What makes this plan especially meaningful is that it was created by the people in this room: our staff, board members, and residents—the very individuals who know this neighborhood best and are deeply invested in its future.
One of the major organizational conversations this past year was a potential merger with Ohio City Inc. Following an extensive and robust year-long planning process that involved staff, board, and community input, both organizations decided to place the merger on hold. This pause allows each of us to focus on our individual missions and priorities, while leadership at Ohio City Inc. undergoes its own internal transition and planning process. Tremont West remains committed to collaboration and exploring shared opportunities when the time is right, but for now, we are focused on deepening our impact right here in Tremont.
Over the past year, we’ve seen more than 11 new businesses open or expand in the neighborhood, continuing Tremont’s tradition as a dynamic place to live, work, and visit. Businesses like All Things For You, Pace Cafe, and the long-anticipated STEAK restaurant have brought new energy to our streets. It is clear that interest in the Tremont business community continues to grow.
We celebrated a major milestone this year with the 20th Taste of Tremont, drawing 25,000 visitors to Professor Avenue to dance, dine, and celebrate together under a picture-perfect sky. Lincoln Park continued to serve as the cultural heartbeat of Tremont, hosting Arts in August and the Tremont Arts & Cultural Festival, which showcased more than 125 vendors and welcomed over 20,000 attendees. Each week from May to October, the Tremont Farmers Market brought hundreds of visitors to the park, expanding access to fresh, local food while supporting our small businesses and local economy. And every month across summer, Walkabout Tremont energized our business district with live performances and local artisans—a staff favorite here at Tremont West.
And we introduced a new community favorite—the Tremont Trees Giveaway—distributing 100 trees and shrubs, planting the seeds for a greener, more sustainable future.
Our network of block clubs held more than 70 meetings this year. This level of engagement is unique to our neighborhood, and is a great source of pride. These gatherings are the heartbeat of our community, and we thank each of you who makes the time to participate.
The Senior Home Repair Program continues to make homes safer and more livable for lower income seniors, resulting in real, life-changing results for those most vulnerable in our community.
Tremont West is proud to provide fiscal agency support at no cost for 27 neighborhood groups, from gardening to history to senior wellness. These groups enrich our community, and we thank these resident leaders for their tireless efforts.
During our Holiday Food Drive, we raised over $20,000 and collected thousands of donations for 12 local pantries. This was one of our strongest efforts yet, and would not be possible without your generosity.
The programs, services, and everyday ‘cat stuck in a tree’ moments—those one-off calls for help that come through our door at 2406 Professor Avenue—are all part of what makes Tremont West who we are. We’re your neighborhood nonprofit, focused not just on development, but on connection, care, and community. When there’s a need—big or small—it’s our responsibility to show up and support.
Now that we’ve recapped the great work that kept us busy over the last year, I want to speak with you about the very somber future that is at our doorstep. Like many community development organizations across the country, Tremont West is facing severe uncertainty due to cuts in federal funding. This shift is already impacting our ability to deliver the services and support our community relies on.
Over the past few months you’ve likely heard about our partnership with MetroHealth to provide updated electrical systems and appliances in 75 Tremont homes over the course of 3 years. This federally legislated EPA grant, meaning enshrined into law, was unexpectedly terminated without warning. Our staff member Marty personally called each resident who had signed up, including those already midway through repairs, to inform them the funding had disappeared effective the day we received that termination notice. These are painful conversations that weigh heavily on all of us, and are a glimpse of what is likely to come.
Community Development Block Grant funding continues to be Tremont West’s most significant and vital source of support. For months, our team has carried the heavy concern that these funds could be reduced—or eliminated entirely. Such a loss would result in substantial cuts to our programs and to our staff. Last night, we received a bit of relief: it appears we can expect approximately [our 2024] level funding for the coming year. In other words, we live to fight another day. However, this is just the beginning. CDBG—and, by extension, community development corporations like ours—are often first on the chopping block. I expect that we will face this uncertainty, time and time again, until eventually it does not end in our favor.
I am telling you all of this because it is clear that individual support of Tremont West is more critical than ever. This year has been a stark reminder that we can no longer count on federal funding to meet our community’s needs, and that these funding sources don’t always reflect the values we hold dear.
Tonight, we’re asking for your support in two important ways. First, please contact your Councilperson and urge them to support Ordinance 113-2025. This legislation would shift funding for Community Development Corporations from unpredictable federal dollars to the City of Cleveland’s general fund—a long-overdue change. It would allow our work to be guided by local priorities and measured against goals that truly reflect our neighborhood’s needs, rather than the shifting agendas of Washington, D.C.
Right now, Community Development Block Grant dollars only reimburse us for a narrow slice of our work—business support and home repairs. Everything else we do—community events, organizing, arts programming—is funded through small, unreliable grants. This is simply not sustainable.
Supporting Ordinance 113 is a direct way to support us. On your table, you’ll find a quarter-page flyer with a QR code. Scan it to access a template letter you can quickly personalize. It will be sent to your Councilperson, Council President Blaine Griffin, and Mayor Justin Bibb. Let them know our work matters—and that we deserve to stay.
The second way you can help is through a financial donation. On the back of the Annual Report, you’ll find another QR code—scanning it will take you to a secure donation page. Your gift is tax-deductible and will directly support the programs, services, and advocacy that make a tangible difference in Tremont. More importantly, it will help set Tremont West on a path toward greater autonomy—less reliant on the shifting priorities of federal agencies, and more empowered by the people who live, work, and care about this neighborhood.
These are challenging times—but there is still so much to look forward to. In the months ahead, we’ll continue to come together, as we always do, through community programs, neighborhood events, and shared advocacy. We’re especially excited to launch a micro-neighborhood planning study in the HBR-MCC area, a collaborative effort to shape the future of the South Side with resident voices at the center.
As we face an uncertain future, one thing remains clear: we are here for you. Whether you have an idea to share, a concern to raise, or just want to connect, Tremont West is your CDC. We remain committed to doing this work—together— and we look forward to navigating the days ahead with you.
Now, I get to talk about my colleagues. Tremont West’s impact is made possible by a small but mighty team of staff and volunteers who show up with heart, creativity, and resilience, no matter the challenge. As we work toward a more self-sufficient and community-powered future, it’s important to recognize and thank those who make that future possible. Each staff person, if you would stand as I call your name:
Rebekah Utian, Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellow
Dharma Valentin, Community & Equity Organizer
Marty Brass, Community Engagement Specialist
Tevin Pruitt, Bookkeeper
Donna Grigonis, Director of Economic Development & Real Estate
Scott Rosenstein, Community Involvement Manager & Tremont Arts and Cultural Festival ManagerI also want to thank our Board of Directors for their guidance, time, and deep investment in this neighborhood. Your leadership steers this organization through challenge and opportunity alike, and I am so grateful for your support. To our outgoing board members, Rich Sosenko and Dan Cotter—thank you for the years you have given us, the ideas you’ve shared, and the role you’ve played in shaping Tremont West’s direction. You will always have a home with us.
Now, I’d like to hand it over to Scott, who will share a few words about this year’s Holiday Food Drive—and following that, we’ll move into the best part of the evening: our Community Impact Awards, where we get to recognize the people and partners who go above and beyond to make Tremont the special place it is. Thank you all again for being here—and for being part of this incredible community.
