A school for troubled youth in Mahoning county whose future was in limbo is now seeing a bright future.

The Mahoning Valley Community School and Community Learning Center just received millions of dollars in federal money to expand.

The new school will be located at what used to be the old unemployment office building on South Avenue in Youngstown.

Just last year former Youngstown city school superintendent Justin Jennings had planned to evict the school from their current location, but now a federal funding package will make it possible for them to expand their services at this new location.

It will fund all of phase 2 of the construction

"Which will include our gymnasium, our workforce development classrooms that will be added, a wellness center, our child care facility will be back. We had one on site since 2010 for students who have children and need a place for their children to go while they are getting their education," said school superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Merritt.

Juvenile court Judge Theresa Dellick says the school is vital for the youth of the community.

"We saw a lot of students who were expelled or suspended from school ending up before us in court. These students needed to be in school. Had they been in school they wouldn't have gotten in trouble. This school was created to help those students who are struggling in traditional schools and keep them in school," said Dellick.

Resources at the new facility will be available for community members are well as enrolled students.
School officials expect it to be up and running by June.

There are also plans to expand its workforce development programs with YSU and possibly become a satellite campus for them.