WARREN, Ohio - A group of citizens in Warren is pushing forward with plans to establish a community-owned food co-op grocery store, announcing a feasibility study and inviting the public to events on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to combat food insecurity in the city, with a fully funded study by Freedom BLOC, an organizing group based in Akron, Ohio. The Mari Galliger Research and Consulting Group of Chicago, Illinois, has been selected to conduct the study.

A press conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace AME Church, 1137 Main Avenue SW, to officially launch the feasibility study and discuss the path forward for a potential food co-op.

Later today, a community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in the Harding Room of the Warren Public Library. Representatives from the Mari Galliger Research and Consulting Group will speak at this meeting about the upcoming study.

Shane K. Floyd, Ph.D., pastor of Grace AME Church and facilitator for the initiative, emphasized the importance of the project.

"We envision a plan to galvanize our community and help fight food insecurity, leading to the development of a community-owned Food Co-Op Grocery Store in Warren," Floyd said in a statement. "I know this is a herculean effort, but the time is now to faithfully see this project become a reality for the City of Warren. The feasibility study will give us the data needed to make sound decisions moving forward."

Organizers encourage media, community leaders, and concerned citizens to attend both events.