Outside Erie

7 Responses to “Best Small Cities for Startups”

1. George Vietze
   May 26th, 2009 at 10:19 am

   Smaller communities with demographics like Erie which have HUGE population bases within 500 miles are in a unique position to capture the NEW CULTURE AND MARKET of getting back to conservative basic values. I visited recently the small community of Madison, Indiana who has a major Historic District. Their merchants, Chamber of Commerce,
   Historic Districts and other have engaged consultants to come up with a LABEL THEM for their city of back to the basics of small town mid-west conservative historical culture. They have received their plan and are in the process of implementing the recommendations of that plan.
   Erie, seems to me has no collaborative planning of interested parties that work together to put their community into the position of being able to compete with more progressive areas.

   I am sorry, you just can’t complain your way into the future, or talk your way into progress. Just like any successful individual or company, you develop a Plan, whether it be a Business Plan or Personal Plan and you do the steps necessary to implement that plan, keeping in mind that progress and plans require flexibility and change.

   It is hard to change a plan that does not exist or just reacts to the will of interested parties based upon conditional responses.

   Peter, I forwarded to you and Renee Lamis a copy of the first part of the plan. I am unable to post it on your sight but if anyone wants a copy of the plan I have a complete copy. Erie needs to make their plans available to interested parties and developers.

   Where and when is the BAYFRONT PLAN going to be completed?
   Where do interested business and developers and companies get a copy of the COMPREHENSIVE PLAN? Maybe we just contact Rubino and people like him that know how to get things done, plan or no plan.
   If that is the way it works, just say so, that is a least a PLAN of how things work, maybe we just do not listen or are slow to learn. If that ends up being the way it works in this town, no wonder people and business move to other places.

   The saving grace is that the State of Pa. has a plan that is bringing $40 million dollars a week gross and $1.8-$2million dollars a week into the State funds and the State will expand THEIR PLAN SOON, and if Erie does not implement a plan to control that growth it will end up looking like Peach Street and happen the way developers want it to happen.
   Right now, it would be stupid of any developer not to follow the Rubino plan and hire people that can get things done no matter what the effect on the community. It is starting to look like MONEY TALKS and everything else WALKS.

2. Mike
   May 26th, 2009 at 11:26 am

   Here’s the answer: “a few universal qualities apply: affordability, availability of a talented labor pool, existence of a thriving business community, and quality of life.”

   Erie has three of the four criteria listed on this, but it’s the one they don’t have that is killing them. We’ve been harping on here for a while that Erie needs to be more business friendly, and unfortunately I don’t think anything has changed to move in that direction. We’ve seen time and time again big plans that have failed to materialize, and the unfriendly business climate is usually quoted as being a factor.

3. erika
   May 26th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

   I’m an Erie native and work at a Silicon Valley start up in Palo Alto, CA. I think one of the criteria that is key for start up success is the VC factor. You can walk down University Ave and literally bump into major venture capitalists who are waiting to be pitched. The CEO of the start up I work for can walk to pitch meetings, to which he’s at 8-10 times per week, instead of spending what little funding he does have on travel. Because they certainly won’t come to you. I didn’t work in Erie business, but I did work in Erie nonprofit and I definitely know that people are cautious about parting with money there. With that said, I think right now we’re at a place in history when the shift is really going towards complex social problem solving and innovation. If individuals in Erie have great solutions, then they will speak for themselves and get attention and funding. It takes a lot of work from idea to funding to market, but one of our advisors the other day gave us a great pep talk about start up culture. The most important success factor of the people working in a start up, ahead of knowledge and intelligence, is integrity. And that’s something I know Erie folks are not short on

4. nonic
   May 26th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

   George, I visited Madison a few years ago for a small celebration in connection with the installation of a Historical Marker. Our group, one of several, numbered less than a dozen. PeeWee Lakeman, assistant to the mayor, shepherded us around all weekend as if we were a delegation of venture capitalists.

   The optimism and enthusiasm of Madisonites amazed me. Everyone we met had a bit of ‘goodwill ambassador’ in their repertoire.

5. George Vietze
   May 26th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

   Nonic, I had a similar experience. Everyone I met had a good word to say about the community. The Chamber of Commerce, the Visitors Center, the Historical Society, the City Hall employees and staff, and the merchants on Main Street all had a similar culture of positive attitude. More importantly, they seemed to be on the same page and part of a community plan to improve the marketing of their community recognizing the changing economic environment.

   Erie is at a cross-road where it has to chose a direction and regional approach to move forward and implement whatever plan it decides to
   embrace. Not having a plan would leave an interested investor/developer, owner of a company, venture capitalists to conclude that there is no PLAN except to hire the most connected consultant and let that consultant spread the joy wherever necessary and things happen. That is the plan that got the Casino/Race track people to decide to move to Summit Township. Erie needs a different reputation
   and that will come only after a Comprehensive Plan is established, policies are published and everyone knows the parameters and projects move forward on a consistent basis.

6. anon
   May 26th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

   Sometimes what it takes to start a business is desire.
   My daughter graduated college in December and began working on buying a local business. After a lot of work it appears she’s ready for an August change over.
   My son has been doing business around the world from his Erie apartment for a couple of years. Clients across the country and from as far away as China. Programmers in Erie, India and the Philippines and a network of connections that amazes me.
   Now the two of them will work together to take her products to a national market with his internet skills.
   The most important component for success lies within each individual. Unleash it.

7. Daria
   May 27th, 2009 at 11:14 am

   Having been to Radnor I can honestly tell you it’s a great place. We were lucky enough to have our friend take us to the best family owned Italian rest. and on a little tour since his office is there. He lives in Villa Nova.

   Look at the geographical aspect. Given the close proximity to Villa Nova University and Philadelphia, West Chester, I am sure they attract a large population of people who are striving for the quality of life using their knowledge effectively. My friend for ex. is a land law atty. who many years ago worked with me on the plans for putting an office building at the foot of Liberty Street. ( We were opposed ) Drive by and you will still see the for sale sign there.. Short sightedness has always been a problem in Erie. Build it, make the money, let it fall. Not to mention it’s usually the same players.