The “Warren Worx” initiative is starting to take shape.

And it’s come to the stage where organizers have made a specific ask of both the City of Warren and Warren County – $100,000.

The Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry presented the effort to Warren City Council on Monday and the county commissioners on Wednesday.

WCCBI President/CEO Jim Decker told the commissioners that the concept has been in the works for 18 months and focused on breaking a trend: Projections from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania show a 22 percent loss in 26-60 year olds in Warren County by 2050.

“Basically, that’s our labor pool,” Decker said, calling such a decline “unsustainable as a community.

“It’s the wakeup call we’ve heard time and time again,” he said. “It’s time to open our ears collectively and do something about it.”

A charter document for Warren Worx outlines five areas of focus – developing a common brand, strategic planning, project coordination and event support, funding and resources and communication and marketing.

Decker said entities across the county are doing good things.

“We’re all working independently of one another,” he said, “not providing any mutual support across the board. We need to get better at that.”

He acknowledged that part of moving this ahead will be getting buy-in and stressed that Warren Worx is “open to anyone in Warren County that has a stake in Warren County improving and getting better.”

“This is too big for one entity to move forward,” Shawn Walker told the city council, stressing that it’s going to take public, private and non-profit entities coming together. “I believe the group can do some really great (work) for the county.”

He detailed that the first major step for Warren Worx would be “focusing on a common brand for the county,” defining what makes Warren County distinctive.

Walker also said that stakeholders participating in Warren Worx would still maintain their autonomy but bring their resources to what he called a “strategic action group.”

Decker acknowledged to the commissioners that the effort is “not a cheap date.”

The charter details three year budgetary projections at $340,000 in 2024 and then $270,000 and $280,000 in the two subsequent years.

Decker said the higher first year amount is due to the marketing consulting element of the branding work.

He added that they’ll seek grant funds to fund the effort moving forward but said those funds – just due to the timing of this – “will not be available in 2024.”

Decker said $40,000 has been committed for the branding initiative already leaving $300,000 left to secure. He said they are requesting an “equal sharing” of that total between the City of Warren, Warren County and the WCCBI.

$120,000 of that total is for marketing purposes – $10,000 per month – while an additional $160,000 is for two new positions – an administrator for Warren Worx as well as a marketing director.

Given the size of the request, both city and county officials had questions and comments when Warren Worx was presented.

City of Warren Mayor David Wortman said the city’s comprehensive plan calls for an organizational partnership and resource hub and said Warren Worx is the best option to meet that objective.

“(It) leverages like-minded people that see issues ahead of us and want to take action as well,” he said.

Councilwoman Wendy McCain asked how “bold is our pallet” in the community for this type of effort.

“Yet to be defined,” Decker said. “It depends on how well we can convince people. Bold moves are going to have to be made.”

“We have a lot of great work going on” in the county, Walker added. Warren Worx would aim to “get everyone on the same page.

“There’s no lack of great ideas around this community.”

Decker said Warren Worx would also look to make sure projects undertaken in the county are consistent with the common brand that’s developed.

He stressed they won’t want to overstep and can’t logistically take over all projects.

“We’re not going to be all things to all people,” he said.

The goal is to start the effort on Jan. 1.

Commissioner Tricia Durbin said the board would “take it back and have discussion regarding” the $100,000 request.

Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said the $100,000 could be funded from the proceeds of the North Warren land deal dating to 2005 that paved the way for the Warren Commons development.

It fits into the purpose of the fund,” he said, that is “mostly… sitting there.”

“I would consider this a long-term investment,” Durbin added.

Mayor Wortman said council is “obviously interested in proceeding further” and will take the request into consideration.

“We think it’s time that we come together as a community and truly get aggressive (to) stem the tide of population loss,” Decker said.