A $25,000 check from Premier bank is helping people in the Valley become successful homeowners.

The money is going to the Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation's Community Financial Empowerment Initiative.

The program which started in 2014 helps hundreds of people each year by teaching things like budgeting for basic financial needs and even literacy.

The service is free.

So far, YNDC has counseled more than 1,500 people and helped 450 people get homes of their own.