The economic development director would oversee Farrell's annual Community Development Block Grant program and cut back on the need for a consultant, market city property, head up a housing rehabilitation program if the city secures funding, work with the intergovernmental study committee and perform other duties.

"The city's biggest concern at the present time is for the urban renewal project," said City Manager LaVon Saternow.

The city has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the state Capital Budget program -- the same funding source that helped build stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia -- to make the northwest section of town available for development of light industry.

The money would be used to for things such as relocating residents, demolishing old buildings, buying property and combining parcels.

The city has to match the grant and has set aside $300,000 from its revolving loan fund and $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant allocations.

The director also would be assigned duties by the planning commission, similar to those Farrell would require, said Dennis Puko, commission executive director.

Puko noted that the commission has helped communities get grants, such as for Wheatland's housing rehabilitation program and Jamestown's water system project, but that has foisted extra duties on commission staff.

The commission wants to continue being aggressive in getting grants, but also needs additional staff to ally for and administrate, he said.

Farrell and the commission have not worked out where the director would be based or how his or her duties would be split, but Puko said he believes the person probably could be based in Farrell.

The grant would pay the director's full salary for the first year, with the city and commission taking on more of the salary the second and third years.

The city and commission signed an agreement with Shenango Valley Industrial Development Authority to define development initiatives in the city.