Warren is working on ways to keep companies in the city by updating infrastructure.

The city is on a path to obtain more than $3 million in 2022 from the Economic Development Administration.

"We need to keep the existing businesses there," Michael Keys said, director of the community development department.

"When you have old infrastructure, where trucks are having a hard time getting in and out, water lines are constantly breaking, then you have a company that starts looking outside your area."

Keys says the money would pay for improvements to the road and water lines in the Golden Triangle along Bronze Road, including the intersection of Bronze and Larchmont.

The money would also pay for realigning Paige Avenue at Dana Street.

"The corner of Paige and Dana is misaligned, so what we're going to do it straighten it, so it becomes a better intersection, so the trucks don't have to weave their way around," Keys said.

The city is also considering whether to create another industrial park. An announcement could be made sometime this year.

LOCAL BUSINESS GROWTH

Parkman Road on the northwest side is a bustling residential area, but retail spaces are still open.

New locally owned businesses including event venue The Parkman Shop and Subcity moved in during the pandemic.

"It's been a blessing, especially opening up during the pandemic, and just to have the community support," Cameron Truss said, owner of Subcity.

Truss is the local owner of the carry out food and beverage restaurant, which serves of subs, sandwiches, wings and fries. He says this side of the city could use more economic development support.

"I've been here for my entire life and I would love just to see businesses blossom and that's really just going to take the support of the community," Truss said.

The city of Warren is preparing to help already established locally owned businesses with covid relief grants. Keys says his office is in the process of reviewing all of the applications.

He expects between 30 and 35 locally owned businesses to be awarded money in the next few weeks.

"During covid a lot of businesses suffered and what suffers sometimes is capitol improvements, because you're struggling to stay open during that, so what we're going to do is come through and help them with building improvements," Keys said.