July 25th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to create an independent organization comprised largely of private sector individuals to oversee economic development for the Cumberland area. The action is one of the major recommendations made by a consultant hired by the city to develop a strategic plan for economic development. A nonprofit organization, the new Cumberland Economic Development Corporation will have a seven-seat board of directors.  Five of the seats will be occupied by members of the private sector. The board will consist of Jonathan Hutcherson,  CEO of Exclamation Labs, a firm on Washington Street that offers web development for corporations;  Mike Marchini, president of CBIZ; John Balch, president of PharmaCare; Barry Ronan, CEO and president of Western Maryland Health System; Cynthia Bambara, president of Allegany College of Maryland and Jeff Rhodes, city administrator. To be on the new organization's board, members must pay $5,000 a year.  The mayor and City Council will maintain rights to appoint one additional seat to the board.