Create
A historic influx of federal investments has created a once-in-a-generation opportunity for cities and counties to make transformational investments that can secure long term, sustainable, and equitable growth.
Driven by nearly 50 interviews with powerful Erie stakeholders and the review of over a dozen strategic plans, the Playbook was created by urban policy experts Bruce Katz and Florian Schalliol of New Localism Associates of Arlington, Virginia.
Interviews Conducted
- Jeremy Bloeser, Bayfront Eastside Taskforce
- Karen Bilowith, Erie Community Fndn
- Jeff Brinling, Erie Insurance
- Amy Bridger, Penn State Behrend
- John Buchna, Erie Downtown Partnership
- Kathy Dahlkemper, Erie County
- Brenton Davis, County Executive-elect
- Joel Deuterman, Velocity Network
- Cathryn Easterling, Bridgeway Capital
- Ralph Ford, Penn State Behrend
- Anna Frantz, Our West Bayfront
- Court Gould • Dylanna Grasinger, USCRI
- Chris Gray, Erie Community College
- Chris Groner, Redevelopment Authority
- James Grunke, Erie Regional Chamber
- Tom Hagen, Erie Insurance
- Charles “Boo” Hagerty, UPMC Hamot Foundation
- Mitch Hecht, International Recycling Group
- Pat Herr, Erie Community Fndn
- Gary Horton, Urban Erie Community Development Corporation
- Renée Lamis, Mayor’s Chief of Staff
- Rhonda Matthews, Erie Black Wall St.
- Steven Mauro, Gannon University
- Tina Mengine, Redevelopment Authority
- Amy Murdock, Erie Regional Chamber
- Davona Pacley, Erie Black Wall St.
- John Persinger, EDDC
- Chuck Peters, Altair Real Estate Services
- Brenda Sandberg, Port Authority
- Joe Schember, Mayor of Erie
- Nick Scott Jr, Scott Enterprises
- Dawn Seckler, Bridgeway Capital
- Brian Slawin, Ben Franklin Tech Partners
- Ben Speggen, Jefferson Educational Society
- Keith Taylor, Gannon University
- Kyra Taylor, Erie Black Wall St.
- Kim Thomas, PA DECD
- Tyler Titus, former County Executive candidate
- Jonathan Tower, Arctaris Impact Investors
- Matt Wachter, EDDC
- Casey Wells, Convention Center Authority
- Perry Wood, EGCRA
- Kathy Wyrosdick, City of Erie
- Jeremy Young, Federal Resources
- Pete Zaphiris, Great Lakes Insurance
Plans Reviewed
- Erie Refocused
- East Bayfront Neighborhood Plan
- Our West Bayfront Plan
- Port Authority Master Plan
- Activating Our Vision
- Active Erie
- Erie Downtown Partnership Master Plan
- Erie Forward
- Count Me In
- Northwest Pennsylvania CEDS Report
- NAE Brief – New Americans
- Emerge 2040 • Chamber Target Industries Report
- Erie Chamber Pipeline Report
THREE QUESTIONS WERE ASKED WHEN SELECTING EACH INVESTMENT PLAYBOOK PROJECT:
1. Does this project contribute to equitable, sustainable economic growth?
Written through the lens of equity, as the legislative intent of the ARPA funding was to invest in the communities that were hit hardest by the pandemic — in Erie County that includes BIPOC communities — investments are focused on improving the long-term prospects of a neighborhood, city, or region in a way that positions Erie toward transformational investments that contribute to equitable and sustainable growth.
2. Does this project require considerable innovation, complex design, or cross-sector coordination?
Projects cannot easily be executed through routine procedures by individual organizations.
3. Is this project near investment ready?
Projects need to be practical and implementable on an accelerated timeline.
Erie’s investment playbook is an ever-evolving guide developed with an infinite eye on the horizon.
