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TNP study finds Warren hasn’t lost its youth

To read a copy of Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership’s Youngstown Road report, click here.

WARREN — The city has not lost its youth, and residents want places to get fresh food along Youngstown Road, according to a study released Wednesday by Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership.

The TNP survey found nearly 12,000 vehicles travel on Youngstown Road between Laird Avenue and Ridge Road every day, as it is one of the main routes from Warren to Youngstown.

The road received a $4.1 million improvement in 2017 and 2018. The city used federal and state funds to pave streets, add new sidewalks, add curb ramps and replace sewers.

“We think it is very important to capitalize on the public investment by encouraging our local business community to take advantage of these improvements,” Warren Mayor Doug Franklin said.

The study was made possible through a $20,000 grant from the Fund for Warren’s Future, which is a nonprofit organization designed to promote the city.

The survey found 73 active businesses on this portion of Youngstown Road and 14 empty buildings that could be developed.

TNP surveyed 635 residents who live on streets off Youngstown Road.

“What surprised us was the number of young people,” said Matt Martin, director of TNP. Nearly half of those surveyed were under 34 years old, he said.

“Oftentimes when people talk about Warren, they are concerned about the number of young people leaving the area,” Martin said. “There are a lot young people still living in the city.”

Martin said these young people are not only customers of current and future businesses, but also the entrepreneurs creating the next generation of businesses.

“Not surprisingly, one of the things most respondents said they want along the corridor is a grocery store with fresh food products in it,” Martin said.

Dennis Blank, volunteer administrator of the Fund for Warren’s Future, said now that the survey is done, it is important to get the results into the hands of existing businesses that may be looking to expand and to people exploring new business opportunities.

About 58 percent of those surveyed said they were “extremely likely” to shop for fresh groceries if they were available.

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