Jack Tirak at Erie Media Go Round gives props to Waldameer owner Paul Nelson for investing in the Ravine Flyer II without taxpayer money.

It is indeed worth highlighting Erie entrepreneurs who are putting money into their businesses and investing in the community — especially after the taxpayer-funded fiascoes such as the failed IFP juice plant and the Koehler Brewery project.

It should be noted that there are countless other businesspeople who make smaller but equally important investments every day. They run small retail shops and tool-and-die operations, suppliers and tradespeople, accountants and lawyers. And they are the key to Erie’s future.

Everyone who invests in Erie — from the big players like Nelson and Nick Scott — to the mom-and-pop shopowners are part of the solution to Erie’s problems.

And some of them — like Jim Berlin and regular GlobalErie commenter Julio Reyes — also spend a lot of time on forums such as this one trying to encourage others in the community to give a damn.

If only there were more …