A new survey is reporting the City of Warren is the fifth least connected city when it comes to internet in Ohio.

That's why city and Valley leaders are coming together to help bridge the digital divide. 

"Modern society requires you to be connected," explained Pat Kerrigan, Executive Director with Oak Hill Collaborative. 

The recent U.S. Census Bureau report inspired The City of Warren, TCAP, Oak Hill Collaborative, and TMHA to create a new initiative to help those struggling to navigate the world wide web. 

"Being armed with that information, it was important for us to take action and make sure we were bridging that gap," explained Mayor Doug Franklin. 

Warren-Trumbull Digital Advantage Center is an educational system that's already a success in Youngstown.

"We were approached by Warren officials seeing what we do in Mahoning County and in Youngstown and they said they would like for us to do that for them," Kerrigan said. 

Warren's digital initiative will eventually offer free internet and computer education along with discounted computers to those in need.

"How we do that is we get computers from a variety of sources and then we refurbish them or get them refurbished," Kerrigan added. 

Mayor Franklin and Kerrigan agree there are endless benefits in utilizing this program.

"They can do telemedicine and they have employment opportunities that will be at their fingertips," Mayor Franklin added. "It's also an educational program for our seniors as well."

"We feel that these types of things are necessary to get people back into the mainstream," Kerrigan added. 

"This whole process has been very rewarding because all of our partners have recognized and understood the challenge and stepped up to the plate and collaborated with us to bring us to this day to roll out this program," Mayor Franklin said. 

Kerrigan said money to fund this initiative could come from ARP dollars from the city or county commissioners to hopefully expand the program throughout Trumbull County.