Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren Mayor David Wortman speaks during Monday night’s Warren City Council meeting. Council agreed to create a committee to hammer out a funding agreement for council’s commitment to the WCCBI’s Warren Worx initiative.

It appears that Warren City Council broadly supports a funding commitment to the Warren Worx initiative.

But not without the formation of another committee.

The Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry has put forward the Warren Worx initiative and requested that the city and county governments each contribute $100,000 in year one.

The general idea behind Warren Worx is the need to develop a central facilitating entity for initiatives and projects in the county. Warren Worx’ first major assignment would be the development of a county brand that can be used by existing organizations to enhance outreach efforts.

Mayor David Wortman outlined the request he was making of council on Monday: Approve the $100,000 request and direct city staff to develop a funding agreement.

“I’m fully behind the Warren Worx initiative,” he said, calling it a “strategic partnership.

“The time is now to take bold” actions to implement the comprehensive plan and reinvigorate the city and county, he added. “It is time to embrace this initiative, use this as a catalyst to drive continued growth of the city, county and region.”

Councilman Maurice Cashman then made a motion that he, Wortman and Council Vice President Danielle Flasher be appointed to a new committee “to work out the details for the funding agreement” that would come back before council.

“I’m in favor, in favor of funding this,” he said. “(We) need to get the details into a funding agreement.”

He added that the amount of the city’s commitment would be up for discussion before that committee.

Council met last week with WCCBI staff and county officials to hear answers to dozens of questions regarding the proposal.

Councilman Jared Villella said he felt like he only had the majority of the details since that session.

“I think that’s the level we need to get to,” he said, adding that he was in favor of the initiative. “We have to do something.”

Council then had more questions.

“We’re not looking at this as a one year plan,” Jim Decker, WCCBI president/CEO, said in response to a question regarding the city’s ongoing funding commitment.

“In our minds this is a new way of doing business. … This is a 10-15 year plan.”

Decker said they “expect” to find a larger pool of individuals and entities to help cover the cost. “(It’s) shortsighted to say this is a one year deal.”

Chamber staff have put forward an aggressive timeline that would see funding secured in the coming weeks so that the branding effort and the hiring of a marketing director can proceed.

Councilman John Barbera asked whether that marketing director would be required to live here or work as a hybrid/remote employee.

Decker said it would be the Chamber’s “highest priority” that the marketing director be a resident of Warren County. “Is that going to be possible? I don’t know. We haven’t gone out and tested the market. I don’t know what the responses are going to look like.

“To define” that issue “at this stage of the game is really premature,” he added.

Council unanimously agreed to create the committee to assemble the funding agreement.