The Warren County Commissioners have agreed to contribute an additional $250,000 in American Rescue Plan dollars to the city’s downtown riverfront project.

A prior allocation was approved for $500,000 and the first phase of the project, primarily focused on a boat launch at the base of Liberty St., is estimated around $3 million.

City of Warren Councilman Maurice Cashman highlighted the impact to both the city and the county, at large, with increased tourism along the river.

“I think this is sort of a win-win for all,” he said. “We hope this gets a favorable review and approval.”

Councilwoman Danielle Flasher added that this “interagency collaboration” shows that all are invested in improvements for the future and could spur future development.

“What benefits the city benefits the county in terms of tax dollars and revenue,” Councilman Jared Villella added.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston, though, called for the county to have a seat “at the table” in light of their “substantive” commitment to the project.

“The project isn’t a boat launch,” he stressed, calling the launch an “important feature of the project.”

Eggleston said that he sees “such an interest in moving forward with something” that elements of the project are lost in the discussion. He asked the city to engage with the county’s grant writer as there are a “lot of other pools of money you could be going after for that overall project.”

The project could be the “biggest economic… shift in the county in decades if it’s done right,” he added.

Cashman called the launch a “key thing” and an “anchor of this whole project.

“We recognize the fact that there’s more to do (and) more funding that has to be required,” he said.

The commissioners approved the increased allocation unanimously.