I first want to make it a point, that there are people out there that truly need the help and I’m all for that. But there are those that pretty much milk it , of course why not. if you have a system in place that pretty much encourages not to better yourself, why should you. Case in point as you stated

“As I spoke to the pharmacist who waited on me, I asked if I could get my meds for 1 dollar, to which she answered, “you could if you had her insurance!” When I asked, how do I get it, the answer was “quit your job and go on welfare.”

I rest my case.

Just my 2 cents

The problem might be that the City of Erie and the Chamber of Commerce and a lot of other Authorities and groups need to do more to be more transparent and communicate their plans to the community.
In my opinion, the Erie area needs more effective marketing and communication with the community and the rest of the world.

Planning is my biggest issue about the Erie area. I recently went to Madison, Indiana and spoke with the Chamber of Commerce and the business groups, Historical Society and others who have engaged a consultant who has given those interested parties a new ‘BRANDING PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY”, basically how can the business community more effectively attract visitors to Madison in these challenging economic times, instead of complaining about the economy they are taking advantage of the fact that people are looking to stay close to their community rather than travel off to other areas, Erie is in the same situation, it has access to great numbers of people and is doing a fair job of attracting those people, but a current BRANDING PLAN lead by the Chamber and others could be effective in this economy. Maybe they have one……..?????

The new Bayfront Plan needs to be marketed…..what is the Chamber and other doing about Erie’s biggest GEM….I would rather have answers to these questions rather than look backwards…..I am not going that way…..

Thanks for your comments, you and Mike both gave me some good points to discuss with chamber officials, and perhaps they will be willing to give us an explanation.

Comment:
Go for Most Livable City. It’ll bring you a Super Bowl and Stanley Cup in the same year

Didn’t Titusville once win “All American City?” I think I remember seeing a sign for that when I went to Pitt there. Wait, this isn’t your way to get me to move back is it?

Some of my family was down for my son’s baptism over the weekend and they told me that Erie is officially a college town now. Honestly they did a great job selling the city to my friends and inlaws as a place to visit with the free concerts and block parties. None of them would ever move to Erie though because they are terrified of snow. The dustings here that they call storms are enough.

Everyone that I’ve talked to in Pittsburgh has said that the people are always very nice but you have to drive through too many run down looking areas and boarded up businesses to get to somewhere nice.

Given how wonderful the chamber claims they are because of these ‘awards’ they’ve been receiving, why are there STILL companies closing up and leaving the area, as Mike pointed out in his post.

This is how the Erie Chamber and Regional Growth Partnership works.
Most people think an organization like this should be out pounding the streets, if you will, trying to get businesses to relocate or take an interest in this area. With the Chamber it is the opposite.

The Chamber feels businesses should be coming to them and asking if they can relocate or take an interest in the Erie Region.

How is this possible, you ask? Well, if the Erie region were to increase the number of skilled workers, and the municipalities were to create infrastructure, then the Chamber will have something to show these companies when they come a-knockin at the door. Its kind of a “Build it, and they will come’ mentality.

This is why we are having the community college shoved down our throats. They can”t sell the area if we don’t have any skilled workers, right?

And as far as the infrastructure, ask McKean township how that worked out for them when they extended their sewer system out to I90 in hopes the Casino would be located there.

And, yes, Dale you are absolutely correct in saying “We need to be on top of each elected official, letting them know we’re watching, and will call them on mediocre or poor decisions.”

But the Chamber does not answer to the citizens. They are not an elected group of officials. They are not even appointed by the ones we did elect. They answer to their own needs and their own agenda.

I was recently in Edinboro talking to a business owner. I saw an Edinboro Chamber of Commerce 1999 sticker on their door and I asked them about it, and what the current Edinboro chamber is like. They told me The Edinboro Chamber was asked to merge with the Erie Regional Chamber along with all the other county chamber organizations a few years back, which they all did. So I asked this person, ‘How’s that working out for you?’ Well, she said, we all started paying our dues to them, and all of us were forgotten about. Us? I said. Yeah, all the small town chambers, who were promised things would be better in this new Regional organization.

This business owner was yet another person that has no love for the chamber and had been personally failed by them.

So, I ask this question to you Dale, and to anyone reading, and hopefully some one from the Chamber can explain: What have they accomplished that is for the betterment of the area? Having initiatives and awards means nothing. Results do.