This paper analyzes how Erie, Pennsylvania has changed economically since the 2008 financial crisis by comparing data from a 2009 newspaper report ("ERIE2009") to a 2015 regional development plan ("Destination Erie"). While ERIE2009 highlighted many negative economic indicators for Erie, Destination Erie and more recent data show improvements in areas like unemployment, job growth in healthcare and education, and growing financial institutions. However, the paper notes Erie still faces challenges around increasing skilled and high-paying jobs. Overall, the analysis finds Erie has rebounded since 2008 but must continue the recommendations in Destination Erie to further strengthen its economy.

1. Final Paper
Mass Media and Society
Communication 100 Section 001
Ms. Huan Chen, Professor
Jason C Brendel
April 21st
2015

2. Table of Contents
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………… page1/2
Description ……………………………………………………………………………………………. page3/4
Analysis ………………………………………………………………………………………………….page5/6
Interpretation …………………………………………………………………………………………page7/8
Evaluation …………………………………………………………………………………………… page9/10
Engagement …………………………………………………………………………………………….. page11

3. Introduction:
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College campus has grown by leaps and
bounds ever since the days I played EYSA soccer in the 1980’s. I also was around
when the BayfrontConnector was in the planning stages, being build and finally
let the east side of Erie be connected to Downtown and Interstate90. Growing up
in the Commonwealth’s fourth largestcity has pushed me beyond the limits. For
my final paper I am dedicated to figuring out a few things about Erie. We were
once the third largestcity. I have choosethe case study “Covering Business and
Economic News” becauseI am wondering what Erie has overcameand whereErie
stands with the financial crisis and crash in 2008. When I was settling back into
Erie in 2007 after living across thepond in London. I did notice that the same
attitude, song and dance abouthow Erie is the mistakeon the lake plus the
negativity. I havealways been coming and going when it comes to my career, my
life and whereI want to live. Erie has so much to offer and has the capability to
become the third largestcity again. I begin to wonder what Erie was like then and
what Erie is like now.
The Erie Times News and GoErie.comreleases a snapshotof Erie’s culture,
economy and business annually. I am looking at the “ERIE2009” reportfrom Erie

4. Times News. Destination Erie “Emerge2040” is the final phaseon a three year
projectthe Erie Chamber of Commerceof Growth Partnership and other agencies
collaborated together on to see whereErie is currently standing with business,
culture and development. Plus what Erie will look like in 2040 with a few
recommendations fromthe whole community. These publications will help me
sortout the difference between Erie in 2008 and Erie in 2015 plus beyond.

5. Description
In the ERIE 2009 annualsection of the Erie Times News there were six
negative indicators. They were Unemployment, Service Employment,
Bankruptcies, Construction Jobs, Enplanements and Manufacturing
Unemployment. The only positivenews in 2009 wereGasolinePrices and Average
Hourly Earnings. According to Destination Erie Final Report before the crisis, Erie
County largest industrial segmenthas endured a 15 year employment decline
shedding nearly 18,000 jobs. Theunemploymentrate according to ERIE 2009 was
8.2 % but currently according to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s
Department of Labor Erie County unemploymentrate is 5.3%
According to the Erie 2009 the bankruptcies grew by 4.91 % in western
Pennsylvania which is a negative perception for Erie in 2009. In 2015 weseea
new waveof financial institutions growing in Erie with employment going up. In
2015 weno longer haveNational City Bank but we do haveFirstNiagara Bank.
The Erie Federal Credit Union had grown across theCounty. According to
Destination Erie Final Report in 2014 morethan 230 jobs thathave changed and
there is 4,388 sustainablejobs in the Erie area. This indication shows thatsince

6. the financial crisis of 2008 Erie has a slow recovery with jobs in the financial
market and that bankruptcies haveslowed down.

7. Analysis
According to ERIE 2009 in one year Erie County lost 300
manufacturing jobs butin Destination Erie’s Final Report, the second quarter of
2014 therewas a job loss of 357. In ERIE2009 TheManufacturing Employment
Economic Indicators showed a negative sign but the percentage of unskilled jobs
out weight the skilled jobs in Destination Erie Final Report.
What I see is that there are too many jobs that are either minimum
waged or under paid jobs. Wedo have a strong manufacturing workforcebutit
seems that these highly skilled job are below the national average and
moderately skilled jobs areslightly above in Erie County. Entrepreneurs or
businesses need to either have to invest in Erie to create these jobs to remain
here or to boostan economic gain in semi- skilled, trade and highly skilled jobs or
to allow that bankruptcy rateto rise again in Erie. According to Destination’s Erie
Final Report we do see a strong and relatively hold with manufacturing jobs
period but in that marketit looks likes it is slowly striking. Whatwould it take to
show that there is a positive insight on these hardworking jobs and how can we
promote that times are not that tough here in Erie Pennsylvania.

8. Interpretation
In ERIE2009 all I have read was such a negative forecastfor Erie, my
hometown that whatI interpreted was Erie has hope, faith and love to rely upon
to create anything good to come out the financial crisis of 2008. Wesee so many
indicators that cast a shadow of doubtwith all type of jobs that make Erie thrive
to stay alive. When I read through Destination Erie’s Final Report all my prayers
have been answered in some factor. What really stands outto me in the hidden
healthcare and education market that no one is shouting from the rooftop about.
Since we have a strong and slowly growing manufacturing marketit stands
with the Alleghany Health Network and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
buying Erie’s two hospital campuses. The only negative indicator with that is Erie
losses it identity but we gain much morein the long run. The huge winner in the
health caremarket is yes the health care workers butLake Erie College of
Osteopathic Medicine has invested millions of dollars in Erie to create a firstclass
medical campus and community in Erie. Because of the educational investments
we see MercyhurstCollege become MercyhurstUniversity plus the new Tom
Ridge Schoolfor Intelligence, Gannon University creating a better Downtown Erie
for business and the college experience and my Penn State Erie, The Behrend

9. College growing leaps and bounds with new buildings, expanding and creating our
own little community in Harborcreek. Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and
KnowledgePark has created Erie’s own Silicon Valley. According to Destination
Erie’s Final Plan we see a growth and economic boom in healthcare and
education. To make things even better for Erie’s manufacturing jobs is a little
inside information about how LORD corporation consolidated into one global
headquarters in Erie Pennsylvania wherethey firstbegan. That new building is
60% capacity with 40% to grow.

10. Evaluation
Have you seen on ABC World News with Diane Swyer and David Muir
plus our own WJET/WFXP’s “Madein America” segments? Haveyou watched
WICU/WSEE“Giving You the Business” segments? Lately I havebeen watching the
Erie Regional Chamber of Commerce and Growth Partnership’s “Giving You The
Business” segments and “Made in America” or “Made in AmERIca” segments to
show that not only the Nation is bouncing back out of the financial crises but right
smack in our backyard. All these segments on television has turned things around
with a positive outlook and forecastfor the Nation and the Erie region. The ERIE
2009 really casted a huge negative shadow for Erie but there pieces of positive
news that only gave me a little hope for my hometown. What I can say is that we
seriously need to keep up this trend of promoting a positive outlook for the
region plus not justtalk aboutit but make it work with blood, sweatand tears.
We must do whatthe Destination Erie Final Report has published to sustain jobs,
to create a better community and to positively promotea healthier Erie. Since the
financial crises Erie has bounced back but still more is to come. All I haveto say is
stay tune and watch whathappens with the recommendations fromthe final
report. Like Oliver H. Perry yelled “Don’tGive Up On The Ship!” I yell the same
thing only 200 hundred years later “Don’tGive Up On Erie!”

11. Engagement
How am I going to make a difference you make ask? I already have. I am
proud Ambassador with the Erie Regional Chamber of Commerce and Growth
Partnership sincethe autumn of 2014. I amcurrently a returning adult student at
Penn State Erie, The Behrend College going after my M.P.A and Public Policy. I am
a Young Erie Professional. My hopes is to become an intern or an employee with
the Chamber of Commerce or any agency in Erie that deals with economic
development, promotions and marketing. Oneproject I am currently working on
is putting together a business plan to open and operate Erie’s LGBT community
Center. I am already networking and developing life long relationship so Erie can
regain its proper status in the Commonwealth with being the third largest city.

12. References:
Erie Times News, ERIE2009, May 24 2009
Erie Regional Chamber of Commerce and Growth Partnership, Destination Erie, A
Regional Vision, March 2015
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Departmentof Labor Website, Unemployment