PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg Mayor Bob Newell is asking members of city council's finance committee to fund a market study.

The committee will consider a request for $50,000 for a retail market study covering three locations. The 60-day study will cost $70,000. The city is being asked to spend $60,000 with the other $10,000 coming from the Wood County Economic Development Authority.

Of the city's share, $10,000 will come from Community Development Block Grant Money, leaving the remaining $50,000 up to council, Newell said.

"This is the reason we have the capital reserve fund," he said. "To have money for these things."

The capital reserve fund has about $1.1 million in it, according to Newell.

The study will be done by the Buxton Co. Buxton, which Newell said represents many national brand clients, will put officials in contact with companies with development goals matching the city's attributes.

"You have to spend money to make money," Newell said.

The mayor said the city is at crossroads to develop West Virginia 14 and Fort Boreman where officials are hoping to land a new National Guard armory-civic arena and generate significant business growth.

Newell is also asking council to appropriate $95,000 in matching funds to cover grants for the Little Kanawha Connector Trail.

The grants, coupled with the city match, will extend a bike-walk trail from the Salvation Army to Corning Park. The proposed route will go to Depot Street, underneath the East Street Bridge, along Mary Street and Staunton Avenue before reaching the city limits near Corning Park.

"We can't wait for the rest of the country to catch up before we act on these opportunities," he said.

The finance committee will meet 6:15 p.m. today on the second floor of the city building. City council's regular meeting will follow at 7:30 p.m.

City council will consider the mayor's appointments for the bicentennial commission.

In March, Newell announced the creation of a bicentennial commission to devise, create, plan and enact a year-long celebration of events in honor of the city's 200th birthday, beginning in January 2010 and running through January 2011.

Newell has 10 citizens he is submitting to council for consideration to the commission, in addition to council President Sharyn Tallman. John Lutz, Abby Hayhurst, Cecil Childress, David Newell, Jess Mancini, Roger Sheppard, Jay Jones, Jim Fox, Felice Jorgenson and Susan Bayles are up for consideration to the commission.

Council also will consider the appointment of Kim Wilson to the Municipal Planning Commission.