Staff report

WARREN

City council approved legislation Wednesday to provide $9,000 for the city’s share of money needed if a consortium of local governments is successful in securing a $76,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant.

The money would be used to hire a consultant to create a plan for improving the roads, intersections, and water, wastewater and storm-water infrastructure for the Golden Triangle area of Howland and Warren.

A 2013 survey of the businesses in the area west of Elm Road and south of the state Route 5 Bypass indicated there are a number of infrastructure deficiencies standing in the way of job growth and expansion.

There are roughly 2,400 people working in the Golden Triangle area, officials say.

The consortium includes Warren, Howland Township, Trumbull County Engineer’s office and the county commissioners, who would all provide financial support.

The grant would require a 50 percent match, or roughly $38,000.

The consortium should know by the end of September whether it has been awarded the grant.

Councilman John Brown Jr., D-3rd, said he likes the cooperation the project would foster between Warren and the township and county entities.