YOUNGSTOWN — The city of Youngstown and JAC Management Group hired Hannah Ferguson, the founder and owner of DOPE Cider House & Winery, as the community engagement and inclusion coordinator for the Wean Park Complex.

The hiring was announced Tuesday with Ferguson starting immediately at the subcontracted position under JAC — which operates the complex for the city — with an annual salary of $40,000 and no benefits.

The complex is a 22-acre riverfront entertainment area, including Wean Park, the Covelli Centre, Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre and Huntington Bank Community Alley.

The job’s focus is to connect with city residents on a grassroots level, gathering community feedback, creating sustainable programming and providing access to the facilities and resources to host quality-of-life events and seasonal programming.

As coordinator, Ferguson will work directly with community groups, churches, neighborhood associations and downtown businesses.

“I am excited to connect with the community and foster their involvement in this multipurpose community park,” Ferguson said.

Mayor Jamael Tito Brown said, “Hannah embodies the spirit of our community. A Youngstown native and entrepreneur dedicated to raising our community through positivity, she was the natural choice for this role.”

Ferguson has operated DOPE for nearly four years out of the Penguin City Brewing Co. building at 460 E. Federal St.

Eric Ryan, JAC’s president and CEO, said: “Our common goal is to engage and include the community as a whole and our JAC team is excited to work with Hannah as we strive to reach our common goals.”

Ryan, Brown and Jennifer Roller, president of the Raymond John Wean Foundation, served on the committee that selected Ferguson.

The job opened when Derrick McDowell, founder of the Youngstown Flea, resigned, effective Oct. 15. McDowell, hired in May 2019 for the job, is running as an independent candidate for mayor.