Times Observer file photo by Ann-Marie Gariepy James Decker, WCCBI president, speaks during the announcement of the Warren Worx brand, "The Place To Become."

The Warren City Council appears likely to spend at least $75,000 on the Warren Worx initiative in 2026 – though that figure is the council’s suggested starting point.

Warren provided $100,000 in the 2025 budget toward Warren Worx. The issue was discussed by council members following a presentation by Jim Decker, Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry CEO, and Jenny Phillips, Warren Worx marketing director, during a council meeting earlier this week.

Decker and Phillips briefly revisited the Warren Worx launch of its “The Place To Become” brand last week, with a focus on what will be coming in the year ahead with funding Phillips and Decker hope to receive from the city,

Councilman Maurice Cashman asked Decker if there had been any indication yet how much Warren County may be contributing. Decker said he has talked to two of the three commissioners, both of whom said the county’s finances are better this year, with both commissioners supportive of funding. No dollar amount has been formally discussed.

“But there’s an obvious desire to return to funding and supporting the initiative,” Decker said.

Cashman, who ended up making the motion to begin budget talks with a $75,000 allocation to Warren Worx, said he would like to see both county government and smaller local governments step up to pay for more of the Warren Worx costs.

“We talked the last time about the effort to get to the other entities and start raising money there,” Cashman said. “From my standpoint I think this is a countywide effort and for the city to be putting in $100,000 a year for what is essentially a countywide effort and not much of a city effort. I congratulate the success you’ve had and what the plans are going forward. From that standpoint I’d be willing to say we put $75,000 in the budget. That’s my view of it.”

Moving forward, Warren Worx will focus on two strategies – retention and growth. Marketing efforts and county initiatives to retain the county’s current population through advertisements – including newspapers, social media, digital ads and merchandising – community collaboration and events.

“When I say community collaboration it’s the project work that goes on behind the scenes,” Phillips said. “It’s those efforts we take with other municipalities, townships, organizations and groups to help become a better community in collaboration. It’s creating more mobile hot spots in our communities and events. It’s going to mean mini grants for events in communities. It’s for working with Randy (Rossey) and his group to improve signage across the county. It’s things like that. There’s a lot of things we can do to bring more awareness and continue to improve Warren County.”

Growth efforts will focus on an awareness campaign outside of Warren County aimed to educate a targeted audience about the county using print, social media, streaming radio, streaming video, digital ads and billboards. Target areas are Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and southeast Pennsylvania, Buffalo and Rochester in New York and the Cleveland, Akron and Columbus areas in Ohio. Phillips said the groups will look to attract the 18-44 year old demographic as well as outdoor enthusiasts, those who enjoy fitness and exercise, homeowners, location independent people who can perform their jobs outside of bigger cities and those looking to move from urban areas.

“We need to make sure we’re bringing a younger generation to Warren County,” Phillips said. “By actively marketing outside Warren County, we’re bringing awareness of who we are and what we have to offer.”

The 2026 Warren Worx plan, according to Decker, will include more mobile hot spots, including in Warner Park in Russell, in Columbus Township and possibly at a trailhead at Jake’s Rocks as well as mini grants throughout the county. Warren Worx is exploring a childcare facility in the county with the Jam Team Foundation in Erie, expanding 3D video tours of area businesses so local high schoolers can experience local companies, bringing back Kinzua Rocks the Wake and associated electrical upgrades at Kinzua Beach , a river sojourn associated with the 250th anniversary of American independence that would begin in Warren and ideally include a visit from Gov. Josh Shapiro and travel to Pittsburgh. Community entry signs, community planning grants for smaller townships and villages and additional housing studies are also on the 2026 agenda.

“That’s a pretty healthy list of projects that we will be involved in either directly in driving or as a very strong partner for other events,” Decker said. “There’s a lot of things going on the docket for 2026.”