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WARREN -- City Council on Tuesday heard a presentation from the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber about a new state grant program aimed at addressing the region's housing needs amid anticipated economic growth.
The Residential Economic Development District Grant Program, included in Ohio's recently passed operating budget, is designed to support workforce housing development in areas like Warren, which are within 20 miles of major economic projects such as the upcoming Kimberly-Clark distribution facility.
City council members in attendance included Ron White, D-7th Ward, Michael O'Brien, D-at Large, Honeya Price, D-6th Ward, Helen Rucker, D-at Large, Greg Greathouse, D-3rd Ward, and Andrew Herman, D-2nd Ward.
During the meeting, Nico Morgione, the chamber's director of government affairs, and Brenda Linert, director of community impact, outlined the program.
It is set to provide $10 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027 to fund housing initiatives. The grants can be used for capital for housing development, site preparation, infrastructure improvements like water and sewer connections, and addressing public safety needs because of population growth.
"We're very excited about the development happening in Warren," Morgione said, as he noted the city's existing infrastructure is a key advantage. "Warren is in a unique position because you have the infrastructure for infill housing, unlike some other communities."
According to an information packet handed out to those in attendance, the program requires applicants to adopt "pro-housing policies," such as streamlining permit reviews, reducing water and sewer connection costs or promoting higher density zoning.
Projects must include at least 100 housing units and can involve collaboration with housing developers, port authorities or neighboring jurisdictions like townships or other municipalities.
Linert highlighted the Mahoning Valley's housing challenges, noting that while homes are available, many are not the right size, location or condition to meet the needs of a growing workforce.
"With Kimberly-Clark and other potential jobs coming, we could see hundreds or thousands of new workers and we don't have enough homes to accommodate them," she said.
Council members raised questions about the program's specifics, many of which remain unclear as the Ohio Department of Development must finalize criteria by Dec. 31.
Community Development Director Michael Keys asked whether grant funds could reimburse consultant costs for housing plans or support multi-jurisdictional projects with neighboring townships. Morgione said these were among the questions the chamber plans to clarify with state officials.
Mayor Doug Franklin expressed enthusiasm for the program, seeing it as a timely opportunity to meet housing demands driven by economic development.
"This fits well with our comprehensive housing affordability strategy," Franklin said. "We want affordable, quality housing, not substandard units that could depress neighborhoods."
Franklin talked about the importance of aligning city policies with the state's pro-housing requirements to maximize grant eligibility.
"We'd need to streamline our processes to make it easier for developers and ensure shovel-ready projects," he said.
O'Brien questioned whether the chamber would endorse a single regional application or support multiple local submissions. Morgione said the chamber's goal is to inform and encourage communities to apply, not to endorse specific projects.
Council will consider adjustments to zoning and permitting processes to align with the grant's scoring metrics, which prioritize higher density, smaller lot sizes and reduced setbacks. Morgione and Linert encouraged early planning, stating the competitive nature of the grants, with 20 eligible regions across Ohio vying for funds.
As Warren prepares for potential growth from projects like Kimberly-Clark, council sees the grant program as a critical tool to address housing needs while ensuring quality development. "We're doing our homework to score high on these applications," Franklin said.
The chamber plans to provide updates once the state releases detailed guidance.