Photo provided to the Times Observer Local officials recently pitched downtown Warren riverfront development to U.S. Senator Bob Casey. In the picture, from left, are County Planner Dan Glotz, Commissioner Jeff Eggleston, Piper VanOrd, Casey and Warren City Councilmen Phil Gilbert and John Wortman.

Local officials continue to cast a wide, wide net for funding to transform Warren’s riverfront.

That included a visit from U.S. Senator Bob Casey weeks ago which included a tour of the area. The visit was only this week discussed publicly, with no notice given by either Casey’s office or local officials of the tour.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said the group on the tour also included City Council members John Wortman and Phil Gilbert, County Planner Dan Glotz, City Manager Nancy Freenock and Allegheny Outfitters owner Piper VanOrd.

“This is a very beautiful area, and we need to do what we can to make this project happen,” Casey said in a news release. “The work to this point is exceptional, and it’s not hard to see it could be even better.”

The hope had been that the project would be funded by the U.S. Economic Development Agency as part of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge.

That application was not successful.

Eggleston said that the visit was before that announcement “however, the Senator plans to continue to work with the community to explore other avenues to secure funding for the needed renovation.”

One potential funding avenue was an ask for Congressionally directed spending, or an earmark.

“That was not successful,” Eggleston said when contacted by the Times Observer. “We’re circling back around with them now to try other avenues. Casey’s Office feels confident there’ll be other opportunities through the EDA, the USDA, or another similar economic development grant program.”

$2.5 million in matching funds was looking to pull down $7.25 million in funding. Elements of the project include a boat launch, street reconfiguration, parking and a new riverfront trail.

“This area has benefited greatly from state investment to redevelop the main building,” Eggleston told the Times Observer. “We need federal investment to see the rest of the area achieve its full potential.”