December 16th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

After months of talks that began in the fall of 2019 and continued through spring of 2020 about a possible merger of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation with Allegany County’s economic development department- those negotiations abruptly ended. During an economic development strategic plan briefing this week- city officials discussed revisiting the concept. While both the CEDC board and the county commissioners voted to approve a merger early in 2020- those talks ultimately fell apart largely due to what insiders described as politics and turf battles. Issues of disgreement ranged from which entity would actually be in charge, to where the offices would be located. City Councilwoman Laurie Marchini suggested this week that the idea of consolidation has merit…