City of Toledo

Did you know some of our summer programs also serve kids after school? We have 35 after-school programs around Toledo, offered by various partners like TEAM Sports, which focuses on providing athletic programs for elementary students. In a recent interview, Youth Services Commissioner David Bush and TEAM’s Director of Development, Shuman Majumder, shared insights on how these programs continue to keep kids active, engaged, and thriving during the school year. Learn more about the impact of our after-school programs and how they’re helping to shape the future of our youth! https://ow.ly/XXUf50TK2GA

This week has been incredibly impactful, and it’s all thanks to our amazing City of Toledo employees! 🙌 To celebrate #CustomerServiceWeek, our employees went above and beyond to serve the community in meaningful ways: 🍲 On Monday, a group served lunch at Cherry Street Mission Ministries. 🩸 On Tuesday, we partnered with the Red Cross of Northwest Ohio for an employee blood drive and collected donations for Goodwill of Northwest Ohio. 🍅 Wednesday was all about food—harvesting produce from a local garden that supplies fresh ingredients to the SAME Café at the Toledo Main Library. Throughout the week, we’ve also had park cleanups, meal packing, and more gardening efforts. 🌱 Thank you to all our City of Toledo employees for your dedication to making our community a better place! 👏

Reducing violent crime in our city is one of Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz's top priorities, and we're proud to share that, through the third quarter, violent crime is down compared to last year. We've seen a 16% reduction in homicides and fewer shootings, making Toledo a safer place to live. But this isn't just about increasing the number of police officers. Yes, we’ve grown our police force, allowing for more community policing—but we’re also focusing on cleaning up blight, stabilizing housing, and creating enriching programs for our kids to keep them engaged and off the streets. From urban gardening to youth podcasts, we’re committed to giving our children positive, constructive opportunities. This progress didn’t happen overnight—it took discipline, collaboration, and a comprehensive approach. Together, we’re making Toledo stronger and safer. Read more about how we’re tackling crime from multiple angles and what’s driving this change: https://ow.ly/yLyG50TJ9FA

Our vision for the PRO Housing Grant is clear: better, more affordable homes, built faster and in the areas that need them most. We plan to implement zoning updates that will remove unnecessary restrictions, streamline development, and allow builders to use housing design templates—pre-approved blueprints that cut costs and speed up construction. These changes will directly impact the development of affordable housing across Toledo, particularly in areas where appraisal gap financing is needed to make projects financially feasible. We need your feedback to make this a reality, comment on our plan by Friday, October 11th. Read the draft application and and leave comments here: https://ow.ly/X8pu50TCFvp

💧Spotlight: Keith McCarver – Embodying the Service Mindset 💧 For nearly 25 years, Keith McCarver has been a dedicated leader in Toledo’s Water Distribution Department. Growing up on Pinewood Ave and graduating from Macomber High School, Keith’s ties to our community run deep. His passion for helping others and restoring water service is truly inspiring. As Todd Saums, Commissioner of Water Distribution, said: "Keith is a natural leader and embodies the service mindset we strive for in our department. His dedication to helping residents and restoring water service is exemplary." Keith’s journey from repairman to foreman shows his commitment to the community, where he leads with compassion and care. Whether it’s handling burst pipes or listening to customer concerns, Keith goes above and beyond to ensure residents feel heard and respected. Read more about Keith’s service here: https://ow.ly/kRmL50THbHP

One of Toledo’s biggest challenges when it comes to affordable housing is our outdated zoning code, which slows down the development process and makes it harder to build in certain neighborhoods. But with the help of the PRO Housing Grant, we’re ready to change that! Here’s how: 1️⃣ Zoning updates will allow for easier, faster development in areas that need affordable housing the most. 2️⃣ Appraisal gap financing will help bridge the financial gap that developers face when building in low-property-value neighborhoods, ensuring that we can bring new homes to life across Toledo. Don’t miss your chance to provide input! Public comment is open from September 27 to October 11, read the Draft Document and share your feedback: https://ow.ly/XUHH50TEl89

🏓✨ Have You Ever Considered Playing Pickleball Downtown? 🌳💃 As part of Park(ing) Day, our Parks and Youth Services team set up an exciting exhibit to reimagine how we can use parking spaces beyond just parking cars. From playing pickleball to gardening, dancing, and outdoor dining, the exhibits this year showcased creative ways to utilize our downtown space! Learn more about Park(ing) Day: https://ow.ly/ZEwF50TCz3w

💛 A Personal Message to All Our Amazing Employees! 💛 Today marks the beginning of #CustomerServiceWeek, and this year’s theme is all about going "Above and Beyond"! We’re not just celebrating the incredible service we provide to Toledo’s residents—we’re recognizing the countless ways our employees step up to serve in other capacities, delivering immediate resources to those in need. Every day this week, we’ll be sharing stories of how our team members go beyond their daily responsibilities to make a difference. This is what true public service looks like, and we couldn’t be more proud! Toledo Residents: Join us in giving a HUGE thank you to all 2,700 Toledo Public Servants for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to our city. We’re so grateful for everything you do—day in and day out.

The City of Toledo Housing and Community Development is introducing housing design templates as part of our PRO Housing Grant application. These pre-approved blueprints will streamline the permitting process, making it faster and more cost-effective to develop affordable housing in our neighborhoods. We’re asking for public input on this initiative to ensure it addresses Toledo's unique needs. Your feedback can help us bring more affordable homes to our community. 🗣️ Public comment is open until October 11—share your thoughts today! https://ow.ly/MbUG50TCwCl

The City of Toledo Housing and Community Development is taking a bold step towards making affordable housing more accessible and available for all. We're applying for up to $7 million in federal funding through HUD's PRO Housing Grant Program to help remove barriers that limit affordable housing production and preservation in our city. This grant could address critical challenges like outdated zoning, inefficient permitting, and market barriers, and allow us to invest in the future of our neighborhoods. Your voice matters! From September 27 to October 11, we’re seeking public input on the draft plan. Read the draft application, and learn more about the grant here: https://ow.ly/kZ3l50TBjAc