Changes Coming as Director Retires

A retirement and promotions are bringing changes to key programs at Lorain County Community Action Agency.

Retirement in CSBG

Frank Prihoda, Director of Planning and Community Services, will retire as of Dec. 31, 2020. Prihoda oversees all programs funded by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). These include Getting Ahead, Tech Connect and Youth Services. He also oversees all the Utility Help programs including Winter Crisis and Summer Crisis.

A lifelong Lorain County resident, Prihoda has held positions in industry and the public sector. Prior to joining LCCAA in 2014, he was a Workforce Development specialist at Ohio Means Jobs - Lorain County (formerly known as the Employment Network). He also taught business management classes at the college level for 15 years and ran his own business for 23 years.

A drive-by retirement celebration will be held for Prihoda at 936 Broadway Ave., on Monday, Dec. 14 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Changes in Youth Program

Youth Services Coordinator Bobby Taylor has been promoted to Deputy Director of Planning and Community Services and will take over Prihoda’s role on Jan. 1, 2021.

Taylor was hired by Prihoda to expand the Youth Services program to include work experience. He has grown the program to include the LCCAA Bike Shop on West 10 th Street in downtown Lorain. Taylor is well-connected in the community and brings a wealth of experience.

Taking over for Taylor is newly hired Youth Services Coordinator Joshua Smith who started work Nov. 16. Smith has been familiar with LCCAA’s youth program as a volunteer at the Elyria Bicycle Center, where our youth were trained to operate the LCCAA Bike Shop.

Smith is a native of Grafton, Ohio with a science degree from Bowling Green State University (that he began at Lorain County Community College) and several years of industrial experience.