By NORWOOD NEWS

The Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), a nonprofit support corporation of Montefiore Medical Center, continues to hit its mark as an active not-for-profit serving the Norwood community and other neighboring communities with its brand of economic development and community initiatives, including the award-winning Norwood News.

“Since 1981, MPC has been a force of economic and community development in the north Bronx. Through strong partnerships and dedicated staff, we have been able to accomplish major programming that positively impacts the communities we serve,” said Roberto S. Garcia, executive director of MPC.

Among its bevy of accomplishments:

• Grants totaling $132,000 were awarded to MPC from local city agencies, elected officials and foundations for Fiscal Year 2014-2015. This is an increase of $57,000 or 76 percent from the previous program year. This funding allowed MPC to continue conducting Economic & Community Development programming and to publish the Norwood News. MPC continues to provide Economic Development initiatives in five commercial corridors and build on the Sanitation Initiative in four commercial districts.

• MPC continues to grow its relationship with the New York City Parks Department. During the spring and early summer seasons, MPC supported local cleanup initiatives in the Williamsbridge Oval Park and on Mosholu Parkway.

• The Norwood News, published by MPC, won several awards this year including Best Small Circulation Publication and Best Photograph, given by the CUNY School of Journalism, and third place prize for Coverage in Business, Economic and Financial News by the New York Press Association. Due to this funding, MPC also hosted two Bronx Youth Heard sessions through the Norwood News.

• MPC received $60,000 in funding from Small Business Services for both East 233rd Street and White Plains Road and Webster Avenue merchant associations. In addition, MPC also received $25,000 for business attraction and retention for the Jerome-Gun Hill Business Improvement District to assist in the BID expansion.

• MPC, in conjunction with JGH-BID, hosted the second annual Easter Egg Hunt at Williamsbridge Oval Park with over 1500 attendees. This event was hugely successful with families participating together in the activities.

• Through grant funding, MPC planned and hosted three separate merchant sidewalk sales in collaboration with the East 233rd Street and White Plains Road Merchant Association. These were hugely successful, with many merchants participating. This event was held in collaboration with Councilman Andy King, a major booster of MPC’s efforts.

• MPC planned and coordinated five capacity building workshops for the merchants along the East 233rd Street and White Plains Road commercial corridor.

• MPC hosted a strategic visioning session for the East 233rd Street and White Plains Road commercial corridor in collaboration with Councilmember Andrew Cohen and Councilmember Andy King. The goal is to create a five-year strategic plan for the corridor, leading to the formation of a business improvement district.

• MPC developed and created merchant directories for Kingsbridge Road, Webster Avenue and East 233rd Street and White Plains Road merchant associations. In addition, tote bags and decals were also created for Webster Avenue and East 233rd Street and White Plains Road merchant associations.

• MPC recently hosted the first ever sidewalk sale for the Webster Avenue Merchant Association. This event brought together merchants, residents and local community leaders.

“Other projects included a top-down redesign of MPC’s website, with the Norwood News website not too far behind. Both websites will have mobile compatibility,” said Marcia Cameron, deputy director for MPC. “We have certainly hit the ground running for quite some time, and are extremely thankful to our supporters, and elected officials.”

With the year half over, MPC still has several events in the works. They include a series of movie screenings at Williamsbridge Oval Park, with help from JGH-BID and the Parks Department this July. The event is made possible by Partnership for Parks, who awarded MPC $2,000.