MANSFIELD —  The North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC) is turning community feedback into action. Following a successful series of seven community forums held between August and October 2025, NECIC is advancing several key resident-driven initiatives to strengthen the North End, including the Springmill Corridor Cleanup and a Community Store project (grocery, café, staffing stop, and food pharmacy designed to expand food access and economic opportunity).

Led by CEO Matthew Benko-Scruggs and Community Organizer Shanican Pender, the forums gathered hundreds of resident votes and conversations centered around seven priorities: housing, health and safety, education, economic development, public infrastructure and transit, land use and community spaces.

“Residents make the road map for our work,” said Pender. “We are the car, but they are the
engine, and their feedback tells us exactly where to go next.”

From Feedback to Action

The top community priorities – housing, safety, and access to resources are now guiding
NECIC’s 2026 plans. Two projects will anchor this next phase.

Springmill Corridor: 2026 Spring Cleanup & Community Beautification Initiative

Set for April 22–25, 2026, this large-scale cleanup event will unite residents, local organizations, and city partners to restore pride and safety along the Springmill/Bowman corridor. The effort will focus on litter removal, landscaping, signage improvements and beautification on Springmill from U.S. Route 30 to 6th Street and on Bowman Street from the Urban Farm to Harker Street.

Confirmed partners include the Richland County Land Bank, Park National Bank, Men’s Garden Club of Mansfield and the City of Mansfield Public Works Department, among others. NECIC aims to make this an annual North End tradition aligned with Dumpster Day and other resident-led events.

The NECIC Community Store: A local Hub for Food Access and Opportunity

“Building off of the community feedback around health, safety, and youth development, NECIC is aiming to launch the NECIC Community Store project at 486 Springmill St. in 2026,” said Benko-Scruggs. “The store will increase access to affordable groceries, local produce, new jobs, a café and eventually grab-and-go meals while providing structured workforce and leadership development opportunities for local youth and residents.”

Looking Ahead

“NECIC remains committed to turning community vision into real change,” said COO Tionna Perdue. “Our real ‘aha’ moment came when Matthew and I realized that our core mission isn’t just about programs, it’s about building an economic engine that improves the lives and livelihoods of North End residents. We’re bringing those services, that power, and that purpose back home to the North End.”

“We’ll keep engaging neighbors through events, volunteerism, and partnerships as these projects move forward in 2026,” said Benko-Scruggs. “Bringing NECIC back to the heart of the North End isn’t just symbolic, it’s about recommitting to the work, the people, and the promise of this community.”