The Work Force also plans to solicit grants from the private sector to reach the $320,000 it needs to survive another year, and Swanger said he will appeal to the federal and state governments for long-term support.

"Historically it hasn't been easy to get private sector funding," Swanger said. But he added that project directors had received very positive indications."

The program will probably be able to begin rehiring staff members in April or May, Swanger said.

But Davis predicted that the program will not be up to its previous performance level for two or three years.

The Work Force Program was part of a package of state-supported services cut in September as a result of a tightening state budget, according to Mayor Alice K. Wolf. "This is a very good program and an important program," she said, adding that the city will have to "find different ways of being able to fund the programs that are being lost because of cuts at the state level."

Councillor Timothy J. Toomey Jr. suggested at the council meeting that the city work towards inclusion of the Work Force on its annual budget. But Myers said that "many, many programs have been cut right now and we aren't going to be able to fund on an annual basis every program that's been cut."