We have many doubts about Warren Worx, and while not all of those doubts have been quelled yet we are encouraged by something discussed at this week’s City Council meeting.

The city of Warren and Youngsville Borough have revitalization teams. But not all areas in the county have such bodies to focus on things that can breathe new life into smaller townships and boroughs. John Papalia of WCCBI said Warren Worx is creating a revitalization team in Sheffield. Once a team is created the group can work to develop a plan for the township that can be used to drive new development, new activities or other things that can attract new residents to rural areas.

Efforts to expose more area students to local workforce opportunities is also encouraging. into the workforce. In the works, Papalia added, is the planning of a Career Day for next school year and plans to reach out to the Bradford, Corry and Jamestown (N.Y.) school districts to highlight some employment opportunities and careers in Warren.

One way to bring more people here is to create more life and vitality in Warren and other population centers throughout Warren County. Taking a template like the one created by Revitalization of Youngsville and trying to duplicate it elsewhere is a lot easier than small groups trying to recreate the successes of ROY on their own. Exposing people to opportunities in Warren County that may not exist in neighboring counties is also a good step.

Will these things alone reverse our population decline? No. But one of the first steps for an effort like Warren Worx is to create excitement about the future, which it appears Warren Worx is doing thus far.

Warren Worx has a long road ahead of it, but what’s happening in these early months is a start.