The Federal Way City Council unanimously voted to approve $75,000 toward a college/university needs assessment study for Federal Way at a council meeting on Tuesday.

Dipping into strategic reserves, the funds will allow the mayor to enter into a Professional Services Agreement for the study to be conducted.

The city has identified Florida-based MGT America to do the study, and anticipates it to begin at the end of October and be finished by spring 2016.

“I wholeheartedly support this and am very much looking forward to continuing the trajectory that we’re on,” said Councilwoman Kelly Maloney at the meeting.

Maloney spearheaded the city’s college/university initiative, which the council approved in July 2014. The initiative commits the city to the goal of bringing a college or branch campus to the city’s downtown area.

The conversation continued after Weyerhaeuser announced last year it would be moving its longtime Federal Way headquarters to Seattle in 2016, as public officials and legislators tossed around ideas of what could take its place — one of them being a university.

Even though it’s unlikely the 430-acre business campus will turn into a college campus, as many have pointed out Federal Way should focus on attracting middle to high wage paying jobs, it kept the conversation alive.

“It is important to note there’s serious interest on behalf of Washington State University and other higher education components,” said Mayor Jim Ferrell at the meeting.

Since last fall, Ferrell has been eyeing a Washington State University branch campus in Federal Way and communicated with late Washington State University President Elson Floyd before he died June 20. He’s also spoken to Eastern Washington and Gonzaga universities.

The study will likely analyze the background and regional needs; mission, values and goals; enrollment targets; partnerships with education and businesses in the south sound region; student demands; state priorities and community input.

Councilwoman Susan Honda said she grew up in Tacoma and witnessed the city change after the mall was built and a law school left. But after the University of Washington Tacoma branch campus was built, the success of the college improved the city.

The funding allocation will be represented in the 2015-16 mid-biennium budget adjustment.