WARREN, Ohio - The Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership is working on a new strategic plan aimed at addressing housing and economic growth in the city of warren.

During an interview on WFMJ weekend today, the organization's health and wellness coordinator, Lydia Lynch said the group's original strategic plan has been in place for more than 10 years and the landscape has shifted significantly since it was created.

"In the last 10 years, the funding landscape has changed dramatically with new opportunities," the coordinator said. "That includes new construction outlined through state programs like the Welcome Home Ohio initiative. We've also seen much more funding going into brownfield remediation and opportunities to support emergency home repair programs."

The updated plan focuses heavily on building new homes and expanding emergency home repair efforts. Leaders say those priorities are aimed at preventing housing vacancies and stabilizing neighborhoods.

Economic development is also a major focus of the plan. The organization points to new and expanding industries, including projects connected to Kimberly-Clark and the peninsula development, as potential drivers for growth in the region.

"This is really an opportunity for Warren to capitalize on new population coming in and an existing population having local jobs again," Lynch said. "We want to make Warren and Trumbull County a safe place where people want to live, work and conduct their lives."

The partnership's single-family home building initiative has already drawn interest. Leaders say they hope to construct up to 10 additional homes within the next year as part of the effort.