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."

Warren Worx is asking the Warren County Commissioners to approve another $100,000 in the county’s 2026 budget.

No decision was made during this week’s meeting, with the county budget to be proposed later this year.

Jim Decker, WCCBI president, and Jenny Phillips, Warren Worx marketing director, spoke during the public comment portion of this week’s Warren County Commissioners meeting to update the commissioners on Warren Worx’ progress over the past year, plans for 2026 and to formally request a new round of county funding. Warren Worx is asking for $100,000 from both the city of Warren and Warren County to support a $441,000 budget for 2026. While Decker requested $100,000 from the city of Warren, some council members want to include $75,000 in the city budget while encouraging smaller townships and boroughs to contribute more to the Warren Worx effort.

Decker said Warren Worx will have secured $410,000 in revenue, which leaves a $31,000 shortfall. Decker said Warren Worx should have money left over from 2025 to help plug that gap while other organizations interested in specific projects are also likely to contribute funding.

In addition to the city and county, the Community Foundation of Warren County, the DeFrees Foundation, the Sololoski Family Foundation and the LaMeur Family Foundation have committed money toward Warren Worx’ 2026 budget.

“I think the proactive nature of this group and and thinking about the momentum that we have, I think we’re positioned pretty well heading to 2026,” said Shawn Walker, Warren Worx board member. “It does take dollars to run this, right? It’s unfortunate but this doesn’t come for free when you think about marketing outside of the county and within the county, Jenny described print, digital, you know all the things that you talked about video production and so on. There is an investment into this, so like Jim, I hope that the county, the city, all the private organizations and so on can see the progress we made and continue to invest in what we’ve done.”

Phillips told the commissioners that marketing efforts have begun in earnest, with digital campaigns for Warren County that include video on social media and digital television streaming platforms, attendance at a recent manufacturing day event in Erie attended by roughly 2,000 students and a 30-second promotion video about Warren County that has been posted on the Warren Worx YouTube page.

Digital marketing efforts are being steered toward those ages 25-44 with incomes between $50,000 and $200,000 who are particularly interested in hiking, camping, the outdoors, fitness and exercise. Marketing efforts in 2026 include a digital newsletter, a blog, campaign landing pages, new videos featuring citizens and interesting events in the region and updated photography.

“We do have a marketing tool kit on our website and through that marketing toolkit we’re encouraging, asking people to discover,” Phillips said. “And then as I go out to organizations and businesses to help us market, you know we’re only going to be as good as we collaborate together. The more people we can drive to the Warren County website and get them to understand who we are and what we have to offer, the better.”

Similar to Phillips’ and Decker’s recent appearance at the Warren City Council, plans for 2026 include 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.

Decker said much of Warren Worx plan goes back to the comprehensive plans passed by the city and county, including planners’ recommendations for coordinated development efforts throughout the county, marketing availability of assets and downtown employment centers throughout the county, assisting with marketable jobs, assisting downtown centers with updating their visions and goals to encourage private investment.

“So I think we’re really hitting all of these recommendations and strategic actions with the program work that we put together under Warren Worx,” Decker said. “I think we need to keep in mind, and I hope that the community hears that full investment from the city and the county we’re really looking at about $5 dollars per head. So if we take that in terms of, I know there was a publication that suggested that maybe the Warren Worx investment on the part of the municipal governments could better have been spent as a tax break. I don’t think $5 would have made a significant difference in any of our lives. So we’re parlaying that $5 investment into about $20 total investments from the private side. From our perspective it’s a great investment in the future of Warren County. We certainly appreciate your support …”