flckr: Brittney Bush

Great news! The City of Dayton and surrounding communities were awarded $29 million in stimulus funds to deal with some 1,200 abandoned, foreclosed and deteriorating homes.  (Here's a video announcement.)   Stimulus funding will also connect Dayton to other cities in Ohio by high-speed rail.

Stimulus controversy! The State of Ohio submitted a Race to the Top grant application to the U.S. Department of Education.  Oakwood, Kettering, and Centerville agreed to participate in this school funding competition, but Dayton Public Schools did not.  Dayton stood to receive at least $5 million if the application succeeds, but the teachers union opted out.  It seems the grant guidelines had too many strings attached!  Read more in the Dayton Daily News.

More local news:

• Dayton Daily News coverage of United Way on Sunday's front page and in the editorial section
• WorkflowOne Employee Foundation announced $20,000 in grants
• The Troy Foundation announced $160,000 in grants
• How the Dayton Mall supports local charities
• Dayton History takes on management of Old Courthouse and Memorial Hall
• CityFolk Director steps down
• Are hospital CEOs paid too much?

Save the Date!  Wright State University will host best selling author Greg Mortenson, who wrote Three Cups of Tea and the new book, Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  He will speak at the WSU Student Union on April 7 at 7:00 p.m.  Free.

• University of Dayton purchases the former NCR Headquarters - Why it matters
• Stimulus funding goes to Head Start and to help businesses hire workers
• CareSource Foundation announces grant recipients
• Public Health of Dayton & Montgomery County receives a $105,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Health
• Longfellow Alternative School wins grant from Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation
• Dayton Daily News offers helpful background on the innovative approach to charitable giving used by 100 Women Who Care

• The Levin Family Foundation is moving from its Downtown location to Washington Township, reports the Dayton Business Journal.
• The Ohio Department of Development announced funding to assist homeless individuals and families state-wide. 
• Montgomery County Arts & Cultural District has announced grants to arts organizations and artists.
• Dayton will be well-represented at this year's Governor's Awards for the Arts.  The Human Race Theatre Company will be honored for outstanding arts administration, and Jim and Enid Goubeaux of Greenville will be honored for their patronage of the arts.
• Nonprofit organizations to be honored at the Dayton Business Journal's Business of the Year event include the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Dayton Area Tooling and Manufacturing Association, and Good Samaritan Hospital. 
• Here's a creative fundraising partnership between Hannah's Treasure Chest and the Dayton Mall.