BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STUDI= ES

OF THE = ERIE AREA

for the Civic Coordina= ting Committee

June, 2002<= /span>

CONTENTS<= o:p>

List of Economic Devel= opment and Related Studies

for the Erie<= /st1:City> and Northwest Pennsylvania Areas

Summary Information from Selected Erie County and Northwest PA

Economic Development Reports and Studies

Themes from Survey Work: Erie Citizens’ Opinions

Recommendations and Action Items of <= /p>

Five Major Economic Development Plans for the Erie Area

Compiled by=

James A. Ku= rre, Ph.D.

Economic Re= search Institute of Erie<= /st1:City>

Penn State Erie= , School of= Business

5091 Station Road, Erie, PA&nbs= p; 16563-1400

(814) 898-6266

k12@psu.edu=

Summary Information from Selected

Erie County and Northwest PA <= /p>

Economic Development R= eports and Studies

(In reverse chronological order.)

Perceptions of the Quality of Erie County Life from the COMPASS Study.

(Compass: Community Objectives Met through a Partnersh= ip of All Segments of Society).

Autho= r: Final report prepared by Amy Onest = of Strategy Solutions, Inc.

Date:= April 2002

Lengt= h: 38 pages

Spons= or: United Way of Erie County

Data type/source: Survey (1,800 respondents of 18,000 sent)=

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County with sub-areas

Focus= : Community opinion and priorities

Stren= gths: Well designed sample strategy; lar= ge sample; broad-based community input; broad range of issues; quantifies resu= lts; cross-tabs of results

Weakn= esses: Results sometimes contradictory; br= oad range of issues; possible bias in respondents from self-selection? No sense of tradeoffs among respon= dents?

&n= bsp;

The Erie County Citizen Survey

Autho= r: Graney, Grossman, Ray, Colosimo and Assoc.

Date:= February 2002 (draft)

Lengt= h: 22 pages

Spons= or: Erie County Department of Plan= ning

Data type/source: Survey (501 respondents of 1,500 sent)

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Community planning and land use

Theme= s: Sprawl and land use

Stren= gths: Sample of 501; voice of the citize= ns; detailed comments of respondents.

Weakn= esses: Results not scored/weighted for comparison; some inconsistency of respondents' opinions; some minor numeric= al errors?; possible bias in sample due to use of voter list and self-selectio= n?

&n= bsp;

C= orry Vision.

Autho= r: Corry Community Development Corpora= tion

Date:= December 2001

Lengt= h: (On website: www.corrypa.com/ccdc/cv/index.htm= )

Spons= or: Corry Community Development Corpor= ation

Geogr= aphical area: Corry

Policy Recommendations: Local re= tail development; expand industrial development and retention efforts; foster a family-friendly environment; improve the image of the community; develop regional linkages

Toward an Economic Development Strategy for Erie

Autho= r: Brian Bosworth, FutureWorks and Regional Technology Strategies

Date:= October 16, 2001

Lengt= h: 73 pages

Spons= or: Economic Development Corp of Erie County; City of Erie, C= ounty of Erie, <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Erie Conference

Data type/source: Various, inc= luding government (secondary), surveys, forums with experts

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Economic development, with a gover= nment undertone

Theme= s: 1) We're in serious trouble and ne= ed to do something different. 2) Th= is is one regional economy.

Polic= y Recommendations: 1) Create C-Cubed; 2) Bro= aden Erie County government's role; 3) Government consolidation; 4) School distr= ict consolidations; 5) Audit of County government; 6) Broadband; 7) Community college; 8) Metals and plastics support;&n= bsp; 9) Transportation/logistics; 10) Health related manufacturing and services; 11) Technical entrepreneurship; 12) Downtown entertainment/commercial development.

Stren= gths: Strong call to action; economic development focus; broad range of topics within economic development area; broad range of data sources; specific recommendations

Weakn= esses: Quite negative; doesn't provide al= l data mentioned; poor local self-image is a problem, but this report focuses on t= he negatives; no summaries of the forums presented.

&n= bsp;

Erie Metropatterns: A Regional A= genda for Community and Stability in the Erie Region.

Autho= r: Myron Orfield and Thomas Luce

Date:= October 2001

Lengt= h: 28 pages

Spons= or: County of Erie Department of Plann= ing

Data type/source: Secondary/government

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Financing local government service= s; land use planning

Theme= s: Social/racial separation; sprawl a= nd infrastructure costs; fiscal disparities across jurisdictions

Policy Recommendations: Inter-jurisdictional planning; tax-base sharing; split-rate property= tax

Stren= gths: Focus on social issues

Weakn= esses: Not an economic development focus<= /p>

&n= bsp;

Household Survey and Community Forums: Summary of Overall Results.

(Compass: Community Objectives Met through a Partnersh= ip of All Segments of Society).

Autho= r: COMPASS participants

Date:= May 2001

Lengt= h: 23 pages

Spons= or: United Way of Erie County

Data type/source: Surveys (1,8= 22 of 18,000 sent) and community forums (approximately 40, with 530 people)

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County with sub-areas

Focus= : Community opinion and priorities

Stren= gths: Well designed sample strategy; lar= ge sample; broad-based community input; broad range of issues; input from interested community focus groups.

Weakn= esses: Results sometimes contradictory; br= oad range of issues; possible bias in respondents from self-selection? No sense of tradeoffs among respon= dents?

“Report: Ready for a New Century” and “A Golden Opportunity for Erie in 2000”

(Two stories from the Erie Times-News summarizing a st= udy by Parr and Kenney)

Autho= rs: Neal Pierce and Curtis Johnson

Date:= September 6 & 7, 1998

Lengt= h: 2 full newspaper pages

Spons= or: Regional Government Opportunities = Task Force (Erie Conference)

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Regionalism

Policy Recommendations: Service sharing agreements across local governments; revenue sharing, regional transportation authority, regional land use authority, regional cultural as= set district (w/ sales tax support); NOT "one super government"

Stren= gths: Government focus only

&= nbsp; Weaknesses: Government focus only

C= ity of Erie Telecommunic= ations Planning: Phase 1. Executive = Report.

Autho= r: ION Consulting

Date:= April 3, 2002

Lengt= h: 79 pages

Spons= or: City of Erie

Geogr= aphical area: City of Erie

Focus= : Broadband access

Brain Drain in Erie County

Autho= rs: James A. Washburn and Hazel G. Sadi= arin (under the direction of James A. Kurre)

Date:= November 2001

Lengt= h: 30 pages

Spons= or: Penn State Erie= , Economic Research Institute of Erie

Data = type/source: Secondary/government

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Brain drain

Theme= s: Young and higher income people are leaving; it hasn't always been that way.

Marketing Erie County and Northwestern Pennsylva= nia: The Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s 2001-2004 Marketing Pl= an

Autho= r: Van Amburg Group, Inc.

Date:= March 26, 2001

Lengt= h: 231 pages

Spons= or: Erie Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Data type/source: Various

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Tourism & convention business<= /p>

Policy Recommendations: Regional cultural asset district

Strategic Action Agenda for the Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Economy, Final Report.

Autho= r: Donald T. Iannone and Associates

Date:= May 17, 2000

Lengt= h: 32 pages

Spons= or: Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission

Geogr= aphical area: 8 counties (Clarion, Crawford, Erie, For= est, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)

Focus= : Economic development

Theme= s: Infrastructure/business site development; regional marketing/advocacy; workforce development/ education; future industry and business growth opportunities

Policy Recommendations: Regional= GIS-net; marketing strategies; “Treasure Chest” database; “Talent Net”; “Wired for Success”

Differences in the Cost of Livi= ng Across Pennsylvania’s 67 Counties. <= /b>

Autho= r: James A. Kurre, Economic Research Institute of Erie, Penn State Erie

Date:= March 2000

Lengt= h:   78 pages

Spons= or: Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Harrisburg PA.

Data type/source: Secondary (government, private) generates cost of living estimates

      Geographical area: All 67 of PennsylvaniaR= 17;s counties.

Focus= : Spatial cost of living differences=

Theme= s: Rural vs. urban costs

P= lanning Study for the Northwest Pennsylvania Entrepreneurial Network.  &n= bsp;

Autho= r: Brandow Company

Date:= December 1998

Lengt= h:   78 pages

Data type/source: Interviews, = focus groups, other

Geogr= aphical area: 8 counties (Clarion, Crawford, Erie, For= est, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)

Focus= : Entrepreneurship and business star= t-ups

Strategic Economic Development Plan and Economic Development Delivery System Plan: Status Report and Retrospective.

Autho= r: Strategy Solutions, Inc.

Date:= September 21, 1998

Lengt= h:   47 pages

Spons= or: Northwest Regional Planning and De= velopment Commission

Data type/source: Previous stu= dies and interviews

Geogr= aphical area: 8 counties (Clarion, Crawford, Erie, For= est, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)

Focus= : Economic development

Regional Government Structure and Function: Phas= e One—Final Report.   Analysis= of Options and Recommendations.

Autho= r: Center for Regional and Neighborhood Action, The Citistates Group

Date:= June 1998

Lengt= h:   27 pages

Spons= or: Regional Government Opportunities = Task Force

Geogr= aphical area: “Erie Region&= #8221; (City of Erie, Fairview Boro & Twp, Harborcreek Twp, Lawrence Park, Sum= mit Twp and Wesleyville Boro)

Focus= : Government operations

A Snapshot of the Community: Regional Baseline a= nd Trend Indicators for Understanding and Improving the Greater Erie Area and Its Economic Future.=

Autho= r: Center for Regional and Neighborhood Action, The Citistates Group

Date:= March 5, 1998

Lengt= h:   35 pages

Spons= or: Regional Government Opportunities = Task Force

Data type/source: Secondary (government)

Geogr= aphical area: “Erie Region” (City of= Erie, Fairview Boro & Twp, Harborcreek Twp, Lawrence Park, Summit Twp and Wesleyville Boro)

Focus= : Baseline data

An Update of the “Erie 2002 Economic Devel= opment Strategy and Implementation Program” Project Agenda.

Autho= r: Brandow Company

Date:= May 12, 1995

Lengt= h:   69 pages

Spons= or: Economic Development Corporation o= f Erie County

Data type/source: Input from 36 community leaders

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Economic development, specifically capital projects and site development

Policy Recommendations: Two list= s of projects: manufacturing and Community Coalition

Stren= gths: Assesses each project; considers f= unding sources and probabilities

   &= nbsp; Weaknesses: Only looks at big capital projects= ; no other approaches to economic development

Northwest PA Regional Economic Development Delivery System P= lan.

   &= nbsp; Author: Brandow Company

Date:= January 18, 1995

Lengt= h:   179 pages

Spons= or: Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission

Geogr= aphical area: 8 counties (Clarion, Crawford, Erie, For= est, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)

Focus= : Economic development

The Erie County Economic Adjustment Strategy and Implementation Plan. Final Report. <= /p>
Autho= r: Brandow Company

Date:= December 1, 1992

Lengt= h:   129 pages

Spons= or: Economic Development Corporation o= f Erie County

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Economic development, with 4 areas: industry retention, diversification, project development, equity

Theme= s: Core industry clusters, counter-cy= clical cushion, bricks and mortar projects, opportunities for youth and disadvanta= ged groups

Policy Recommendations: (28 sepa= rate recommendations)

An Economic Development Strategy for the Twenty-= First Century. Final Report.

Autho= r: Brandow Company

Date:= November 5, 1992

   &= nbsp; Length:   131 pages

Spons= or: Northwest Regional Planning and Development Commission

Geogr= aphical area: 8 counties (Clarion, Crawford, Erie, For= est, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren)

Focus= : Economic development

Economic Adjustment Strategy, Erie County Pennsylvania

Autho= r: Delta Development Group, Inc.

Date:= August 31, 1989

Lengt= h:   76 pages

Spons= or: Economic Development Corporation o= f Erie County

Data type/source: Secondary (government) and review of education/training facilities

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Economic development

Theme= s: Workforce education and training
Policy Recommendations: Technical Institute; Small Business Network; assess training needs; school-business linkages; industry tracking system; target growth industries

A Strategy for Success: Blueprint for an Erie Renaissance.= A Progress Report to the Erie Conference on Community Development.

Autho= r: Community Agenda Committee

Date:= September 22, 1988

Lengt= h:   87 pages.

Spons= or: Erie Conference on Community Development

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Quality of Life Task Force, Final Report.
Autho= r: Quality of Life Task Force, Communi= ty Agenda, Erie Conference on Community Development

Date:= September 1988

Lengt= h:   18 pages

Spons= or: Erie Conference on Community Development

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Economic Adjustment Strategy for the Erie, Pennsylvania, Area. Highlights of Fi= nal Report.

Autho= r: Lazar Management Group

Date:= June 1986

Lengt= h:   20 pages (“Highlights&#= 8221; document only)

Spons= or: Economic Development Corporation o= f Erie County.

Geogr= aphical area: Erie County

Focus= : Economic development

Theme= s: Keep income and wages up; prevent = exit of existing businesses; create incentives for expansion of existing busines= ses; foster start-ups; attract new firms.

Policy Recommendations: Revolvin= g loan fund; facility for mini-industries; Albion-Cranesvile industrial park; consortium of colleges; consortium of banks; expand tourism; Erie industrial marketing program; linkage with Fort Drum NY

Themes from Survey Work:

= Erie Citizens’ Opini= ons

There have been several surveys of Erie County residents done recently, sometimes as separate studies, and sometimes as pa= rt of broader works. Not all were designed to focus on economic development, although all of them include information that bears on that topic. This document gives a brief summary of some of the themes that have emerged from four of those studies.

The studies:

&n= bsp;

Boswort= h, Brian. Toward an Economic = Development Strategy for Erie<= /st1:City>: Findings and Recommendations of Consultants. October 16, 2001.   73 pages. (The FutureWorks C= ompany and Regional Technology Strategies, Inc.)

&n= bsp;

Compass (Community Objectives Met through a Partnership of All Segments of Society)= . Household Survey and Community Forums: Summary of Overall Results.&nb= sp; Prepared for the United Way of Erie County. May 2001. 23 pages.

&n= bsp;

Compass (Community Objectives Met through a Partnership of All Segments of Society). Perceptions of t= he Quality of Erie County Life from the COMPASS Study= . Final report prepared by Amy Onest= of Strategy Solutions, Inc. April 2002. 38 pages.

&n= bsp;

Erie Co= unty Department of Planning, assisted by Graney, Grossman, Ray, Colosimo and Associates, Inc. The Erie County Citizen Survey: Draft. Fe= bruary 2002. 22 pages. (Indicated below as Graney.= )

Positives

Survey respondents identified several positive aspects= of life in Erie County, including:

-This is a desirable place= to live. (Graney, Compass)

-Residents have a general = optimism about Erie. (Bosworth, Graney, Compass)

-There is a relatively low= cost of living. (Bosworth, Graney)

-The area has strong higher education institutions. (Bosw= orth)

-The natural environment i= s very appealing. (Graney)

-Local health care institu= tions and services are strong. (Gra= ney)

-There are abundant opport= unities for recreation. (Graney)

Negatives

The studies have also identified some negative aspects= of life in Erie County:

-The economy is very weak;= there is a lack of good-paying jobs. (Bosworth, Graney, Compass)

-Local government leadersh= ip is weak. (Bosworth, Compass)

-There are brain and youth= drains from the county. (Bosworth, Compass)

-There is no shared vision= of the future. (Bosworth)

-Erieites have a negative self-image. (Bosworth)

-Roads and/or public transportation need work. (Compass)

-We don’t have enoug= h adult education and technical training. (Compass)

Land Use Issues

The surveys have asked questions specifically about la= nd use issues, with the following results.

   &nbs= p; -Erieites prefer to keep land in rural uses or open space. (Graney, Compass)

   &nbs= p; -They prefer to live in suburbs rather than the city. (Graney, Compass)

   &nbs= p; -They overwhelmingly prefer single family house.= (Graney, Compass)

Priorities

Survey respondents were asked to give opinions about t= he importance of various public issues.

High priorities:

-Reorganize local governme= nt (Bosworth)

      -Agreement on consolidation of water, sewer, ambulance services across jurisdictions (Graney)

      -School district consolidation: split opinion; no consensus (Graney)

      -But in Compass, 52.6% score for “satisfied” with local government (nearly neutral).

      -Lower rating for the idea of a metro government&= nbsp; (Compass)

-Develop a regional market= ing plan (Bosworth)

-Expand tourism (Compass)

-Labor force and (re)train= ing (Bosworth)

      -Adult retraining, career change training (Compass)

-Build/expand research and development capacity to promote high tech&= nbsp; (Bosworth)

-Develop a long-run plan t= o guide growth (Graney)

-More recreation for youth= (Graney)

-Preserve woodlands, open = space, agricultural land (Graney)

-Drunk drivers (Compass)
-Teen pregnancy (Compass)<= /p>
-Domestic violence (Compas= s)

-Underemployment (Compass)—but nearly neutral at 53%!

Low priorities:

-New highways (Graney)

-Walking/bike paths (Graney)

-Additional recreation facilities (Graney)

-Gangs (Compass)

-Air pollution (Compass)

-Traffic congestion (Compass)

-Downtown appearance (Compass)

Mixed/Opposing Viewpoints

Unfortunately, the surveys present mixed or even confl= icting opinions on several issues.

   &nbs= p; -Respondents strongly prefer single-family homes--but also want no sprawl.

   &nbs= p; -We should extend water and sewer lines but contain sprawl and development.

   &nbs= p; -Land use regulation is good, but “not on my property.”

      -Economic i= ssues were among the “worst” aspects of the area in all studies, but policies to deal with them were not among the most important of future proj= ects (Compass), and the Compass study also yielded a nearly neutral rating for underemployment as a problem.

      -Traffic/tr= ansportation was listed as the #2 problem (in the Graney comment section), but roads were listed as a low priority, and traffic congestion was a low priority in Comp= ass.

      -Respondent= s want better long-term planning, but training of future leaders was a low priority. (Graney)

   &nbs= p; -Compass respondents presented mixed views on the performance of local leadership.
      -Compass do= es not give strong support for consolidation of governments locally—in contr= ast with the other studies, which do.

  &n= bsp;   -Compass respondents listed more recreation for youth as a high priority, but respondents in the Graney study placed additional recreation facilities low= on the priority list.

      -Compass showed weak adult education/retraining scores, but did not list it as a priority for the future

The responses did not typ= ically demonstrate a recognition of tradeoffs among different goals or problems, t= hat more resources spent on one problem or focus means less for others.

Recommendations and Action Items of

Five Major Economic Development Plans

for the Erie Area

This summary presents abbreviated information on the recommendations of five major economic development plans, along with action that has occurred on some of the recommendations. Be forewarned that many other econ= omic development activities have certainly occurred, and this list is not exhaustive.

Thanks are due to the following, who provided informat= ion about the projects that were (or were not) undertaken:

      -Monica Bro= wer, Economic Development Corporation of Erie County

      -Damon Homi= ch, Girard Area Industrial Development Corporation

      -Robert Lig= ht, Penn State Erie

      -Richard No= votny, Corry Area Industrial Development Corporation

      -Jacob Rouc= h, Erie Conference
      -Jeff Spaul= ding, City of Erie Department of Economic and Community Development

1986: = Lazar Management Group. Economic Adjustment Strategy for the Er= ie, Pennsylvania, Area. Highlights of Final Report.=    Prepared for the Economic Development Corporation of Erie County. June 1986. 20 pages.

&nbs= p;

1) Establish a revolving loan fund and a supporting or= ganization (Priority: A)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü Established the Enterprise Development Fund

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü Established the Corry Area Enterprise Zone Loan Fund

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü Currently working on a fund for Union City

2) Establish a facility to house mini-industries (Prio= rity: A)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   üEstablished as the Enterprise Development Center

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü Corry and Girard have also developed business incubators for this purpose

3) Develop an industrial park in the Albion-Cranesvill= e area (Priority: A)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü Created in 1992

4) Expl= ore establishment of a consortium of area colleges to provide research and other services to industry and government (Priority: B+)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü This was the precursor discussion which lead to the creation of the Technic= al Institute (established in 1992) and the Corry Higher Education Council (established in 1992)

5) Expl= ore establishment of an Erie bank consortium for industrial finance (Priority: = A)

6) Expa= nd the scope of tourism-related activities (Priority: C+)

7) Deve= lop an expanded Erie industrial marketing program, to attract new industry to the = area (Priority: A)

8) Deve= lop an Enterprise Linkage program with Fort Drum,= NY, for Erie firms to supply the military base there&nb= sp; (Priority: B+)

1989: Delta Development Group, Inc.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Economic Adjustment Strategy, <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Erie County PA. Prepared for the Economic Developm= ent Corporation of Erie County, August 31, 19= 89. 76 pages.

1) Crea= te a coordinating entity to establish a Technical Institute, without walls, with= in two years.

        &= nbsp;   üTechnical Institute established 1992. (Currently CAMTech)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü The Higher Education Council was established in the Corry Area

2) Iden= tify the 50 local small business that have the greatest potential to create new jobs= and establish a delivery system to provide technical and business services to them. (Set up the Small Busin= ess Network.)

3) Assi= st industry leaders to develop in-house assessments of long-term training need= s.

4) Deve= lop an effective business and education linkage with the primary and secondary pub= lic schools in Erie to develop “quality consciousness” among students and teachers. Utilize Allentown’s “Schoolworks= 221; as a model.

5) Deve= lop an industry tracking system which will provide the economic development commun= ity with “early warning” to significant events or structural shifts underway that affect industrial performance.

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   üEstablished the Team PA business-calling program

6) Deve= lop new programs or target existing financial incentives, industrial parks and incubators, and employment retraining programs to the industries/sectors identified in the report as growth industry prospects.

1992: Brandow Company. The Erie County Economic Adjustment Strategy and Implementation Plan. Final Report. December 1, 1992. Prepared for the Economic Developm= ent Corporation of Erie County. 129 pages.

&n= bsp;

1) I= ndustry Retention focus: Establish concrete and realistic support programs for = core industries.

      a) Establis= h a Competitiveness Council program to assist small businesses.

      b) Establis= h a Strategic Roundtable of development agencies to coordinate activities.

        &= nbsp;   ü Established in 1992 as the Economic Development Strategic Roundtable, facilitated and administered by the Erie Conference. It ceased meeting in 2001 due to the creation of the Team Pennsylv= ania quarterly meetings

      c) Develop industry-targeted Industr= ial Resource Center outreach initiatives to help failing industries.

      d) Communic= ate economic development plans and successes to manufacturers.

      e) Develop a one-stop shop, as locally appropriate, to help businesses connect with programs.

      f) Examine = and improve private-sector lending practices to local manufacturers.

      g) Develop = an outreach program to help manufacturers identify skill and training needs.
      h) Tie skill training to rural, small business, and target population needs, also.

      i) Consider= a Port Erie focus on specialized product handling

      j) Tie into= the Northwest Regional Planning Commission’s export-related initiatives.<= /p>
      k) Tie into= the Northwest Regional Planning Commission’s industry cluster program.

      l) Develop = an incubator/technical park focused on the high end of the plastics or molding industries.

2) D= iversification focus: Formulate a diversification initiative which provides a counter-cyclical cushion to Er= ie’s strong manufacturing sector.

      a) Organize= a tourism initiative focused on the higher value end of the industry.

      b) Develop = the bird-watching tourism segment.

      c) Develop appropriate conference/convention business.

        &= nbsp;   ü The Bayfront Convention Center will begin construction in 2002 and be open for business in 2005, but the impetus for = the Convention Center did not come out of this strategy, rather it came out of = the Port Authority’s vision for an economic development catalyst for the waterfront.

      d) Begin an= alysis for a Presque Isle aviary/visitor center or other tourism magnet.

        &= nbsp;   üThe Presque <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Isle Center will address this need in part.

      e) Tie the = local colleges into the economic development process more.

      f) Develop = Erie as a confere= nce center for core industry-specific issues.

3) P= roject Development focus: Evaluate bricks and mortar development initiatives relative to task force mission priorities.

      a) Pursue development of industrial parks.

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü Currently available:

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'>        &= nbsp;         -East 12th Street Industrial Park (East 12th and Camphausen)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'>        &= nbsp;         -Erie Industrial Park (26th to 33rd on McClelland)<= /i>

        &= nbsp;   -J. Robert Baldwin Business Park (Oliver Road)

-Mi= chael J. Veshecco Industrial Park (Wes= t 12th and Greengarden)

-Th= omas E. Bundy Industrial Park (Route 8 and I-90)

-Al= bion-Cranesville Industrial Park (John Williams Avenue, Conneaut)

-Fairview Business Park (Route 98 near I-90)

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'>        &= nbsp;         -Corry Industrial Park (Sciota Street and Plastics Road)
      b) City sho= uld develop a Transition Initiative to match land with manufacturing firms̵= 7; needs, and procure blighted sites for redevelopment.

  &n= bsp;   c) On an ongoing basis, evaluate bricks and mortar projects based on strategic impact (with a list of impacts such as core industry benefit, business retention, social equity, etc.).

      d) Pursue a= list of site-specific industrial development projects. The “A” list included<= /p>
        &= nbsp;   -Uniflow (1525 East Lake Road)   ü Completed=

        &= nbsp;   -Erie Industrial Park on East 26th St. (26th to 30th, McClelland to McCain)<= /p>
        &= nbsp;         -Some land incorporated into earlier adjoining industrial park=

        &= nbsp;   -Fairview Phase I (80 acres on Route 98= near I-90) ü Completed

        &= nbsp;   -East 12th St. Industrial Park (1561 E. 12th St.)   ü Completed=

        &= nbsp;   -Port Albion Industrial Park   Currently owned and fo= r sale by the Economic Development Corp of Erie County

        &= nbsp;   -Cooper-Ajax Facility in = Corry.     ü Privately developed

      e) Pursue a= list of specific infrastructure projects beneficial to manufacturing. The “A” list included:

        &= nbsp;   -East Erie Enterprise Zone Blight Removal/Transi= tion Initiative in Erie=

        &= nbsp;   -East 10th St. paving ü Completed

      f) Pursue a= list of specific infrastructure and development projects beneficial to commercial and retail sectors. (“A” list includes Aviary study, Discovery Square/Cultural Critical Mass (6 projects).)

4) E= quity focus: Foster initiatives which develop economic opportunities for youth and disadvantaged communities.

      a) Increase minority business ownership, especially through incubation strategies.

        &= nbsp;   üA micro-enterprise, minority loan fund was established and loans were made. Portfolio of loans and/or balance = of loan funds now resides with the Urban Erie Community Development Corporatio= n.

      b) Develop = more entry level jobs for disadvantaged communities, with job training focused on manufacturing needs.

      c) Pursue Continuing Reinvestment in Erie Task Force’s recommendations for communities with credit needs.

        &= nbsp;   üContinuing Reinvestment in Erie Task Group dissolved in 1994-95

      d) Use unem= ployed youth in tourism-related activities to give them training and experience an= d to bolster that industry.

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1995: Brandow Company. An Update of the “Erie 2002 Economic Development Strategy and Implementa= tion Program” Project Agenda. <= /span>May 12, 1995<= /st1:date>. Prepared for the Economic Developm= ent Corporation of Erie County. 69 pages.

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Focused on capital projects and site development for economic development.

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“= A” list manufacturing projects:

      -Veshecco Industrial Park site development   ü Completed=

      -Community Plastics Training Center

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   Perhaps rendered moot by the Plastics Technology Program at Behrend?=

      -Internatio= nal Paper co-generation facility assistance

      -Uniflow Ph= ase IV ü Completed

      -East Erie Enterprise Zone Land Bank initiative

      -Fairview Industrial Park ü Completed

      -Keystone D= rive in Lake <= st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">City
      -Port Albion Industrial Park site development Currently owned and for sale by the Economic Development Corp of Erie County

      -Corry-Hieb= ert facility rehabilitation   ü Currently the headquarters of Erie Plastics.

      -Met-Ed/Pen= elec site in Girard Twp (400 acres) --develop infrastructure if a committed tena= nt surfaces

      -Corry Industrial Park spec building, if a tenant commits for one-half the space

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü This facility was built, filled and sold.&= nbsp; Currently redeveloping the former Erie Plastics Building.

      -Consider development of the Fenestra building into an intermodal distribution and industrial complex

        &= nbsp;   ü Currently being pursued by the Airport Authorit= y

“A&= #8221; list Community Coalition projects:

      -Bayfront i= ntermodal complex

        &= nbsp;   üUnder construction; slated for September 2002 opening.

      -PSU-Behrend Economic <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Development Center<= /st1:PlaceType>

        &= nbsp;   üApproved by State and PSU; in design = phase.        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

      -Fairview Industrial Park

        &= nbsp;   üPhase I & Phase II developed, now shopping for tenants.

      -Pennsylvania Aqu= arium

      -Presque Is= le Waterworks

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2001: Bosworth, Brian. Towar= d an Economic Development Strategy for Erie: Findings and Recommendations of Consultants. October 16, 2001.   73 pages.

1) Esta= blish a civic coordinating council to implement this report and other initiatives to come. They will be the clear = locus of responsibility.

        &= nbsp;   üCivic Coordinating Committee established

2) Expa= nd the authority of Erie County government f= or economic and community development.

3) Coun= ty (with State help) should offer incentives/financial assistance for governments willing to consolidate.

4) Esta= blish a task force to explore consolidation of school districts locally, especially emphasizing finance and equity issues.

5) The = C-cubed Committee should undertake a “performance and potential” audit = of County government to prepare for the coming changes, and to identify areas where the County can strengthen internal capacity.

        &= nbsp;   üUnderway; under the direction of the County Executive and his administration.

6) Purs= ue a coordinated countywide effort for rapid deployment of broadband infrastruct= ure.

        &= nbsp;   ü Erie County Digital Task Force is beginning their formal analysis of sys= tem opportunities, gaps, and service options;

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:2'>        &= nbsp;   ü City of Erie’s study by ION Consulting comp= leted.

7) Crea= te a community college focused on technical and occupational skill development f= or adults.

        &= nbsp;   üCareer & Technical Educational Environmental Scan will be completed by June 2003. E= rie Conference is coordinating; D= r. Jim Jacobs of Columbia University is coordinating the analysis. Al= l 13 school districts, four colleges/universities, and CAMTech are participating along with the County Executive’s O= ffice, Mayor’s Office, and private sector.

8) Build/strengthen inter-firm cooperation for metals = and plastics firms locally.

9) Appo= int an action team to begin the process of attracting more of the high end of the distribution, transportation and logistics industry, linked to the Buffalo-Niagara NAFTA corridor.

10) App= oint an action team to begin the process of expanding the health-related manufactur= ing and service industries.

11) Est= ablish a new program for seeding and supporting new businesses—the Program for Advanced Technology Entrepreneurship, and a private equity seed capital fun= d.

12) Accelerate development of a commer= cial and entertainment district in downtown Erie.

        &= nbsp;   üA feasibility study for the Erie <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Civic Center Complex is being completed and addresses a number of issues relative to the creation of a vibrant commercial and entertainment district in downtown Erie. The Mayor’s office and Erie County Convention Center Authority are taking the lead.

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