Outside Erie

Here is U.S. Rep. Phil English’s statement on today’s bailout bill vote:

“From the outset, it has been my strong belief that any rescue proposal necessarily include real consequences for bad actors, strong taxpayer protections and accountability and transparency of any tax dollars used. I believe that the bill considered today failed to meet these […]

Congressional candidate Kathy Dahlkemper has released a statement about the news today that Congress has rejected the bailout bill.
Her opponent, U.S. Rep. Phil English, voted no on the bill. We’ll post his statement if and when it’s available.
In the meantime, here’s what Dahlkemper had to say:
“Over the past few weeks, we have seen the biggest […]

Before Congress votes on the $700-billion bailout bill, some groups like the Sunlight Foundation are urging members to hold off on the vote for at least 72 hours so that they can properly read and digest its contents.
Such a move will also give the public a chance to see what the bill looks like before […]

GE Transportation is about to unveil a new diesel locomotive that is expected to help the company compete more aggressively with Electro-Motive Diesel in Europe, according to the Financial Times.
This is yet another piece of good news for Erie County’s largest employer.
More diversity means a better opportunity for GE Transportation to continue its recent growth.

Former New York Times writer David Cay Johnston — one of the country’s top journalists when it comes to covering U.S. taxation — today issued an impassioned plea to his fellow journalists to not blindly cover the government’s proposed bailout of Wall Street.
Johnston argues the plan shouldn’t get a rubber stamp from the press, which […]

I spend a lot of time talking about how it makes smart economic sense for Erie to embrace environmentally friendly manufacturing as a centerpiece of its business strategy.
I usually hold up companies like GE Transportation and Spinworks LLC as prime examples of why this makes sense.
Today, I’d like to hold up another new example — […]

GlobalErie reader Richard Herman pointed me to an interesting column from Elizabeth Sullivan, the foreign affairs columnist and associate of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
There are many who believe that America needs to adopt a protectionist mindset to hold on to what is left of its manufacturing might — and to grow in the future.
Sullivan offers […]

This week’s top comment comes courtesy of Jim, who offered several fantastic points in a recent missive about Erie’s economic mix.
Jim is dead on about several key points — namely that Erie needs to be targeting more industries that pay above-average wages if it wants to create a more attractive economic environment.
The growth in lower-wage […]

This week’s Sunday business profile focuses on Al’s Melons Farm Market & Greenhouse in Linesville — the Gannon University Small Business Development Center’s Agribusiness of the Year.
When John O’Grady took over Al’s Melons Farm Market from his stepfather eight years ago, he took on an already established operation that sold produce, fruit, and nursery […]

Erie clearly needs to become more effective in creating a better culture for start-up businesses to grow and prosper.
Some experts have complained in the past that Erie could improve in small-business development if its entrepreneurs had more access to venture capital.
Venture capital firms are typically easier to attract in bigger cities — and many argue […]