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Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership
Three Divisions, One Mission
All three divisions of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership — Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, and Growth Partnership — support the organization’s core mission of providing the leadership to attract, retain and expand business in the region.
As a whole, the organization continues to make significant progress in the areas of membership; customer service; business attraction, retention, and expansion; and the identification of key regional initiatives that promote the economic health of the Erie region.
- Chamber of Commerce Division
Committee Chair: Tom Wedzik
Claudia Thornburg, Vice President | LinkedIn | Email
The Chamber Division is responsible for membership sales, programs and services. The Chamber Division is the revenue generating and marketing arm for the entire organization, financially supporting the important efforts of all three divisions.
Through exclusive events, programs, and marketing opportunities, your business will meet and build relationships with other members. Membership is an outstanding value whether your company is large or small.
- Economic Development Division
Committee Chair: Dr. John D. “Jack” Burke
Jacob Rouch, Vice President | LinkedIn | Email
The Economic Development Division is dedicated to business attraction and helping current businesses expand and prosper. Four key components include coordinating the region’s business attraction efforts, the Business Retention & Expansion Program (BREP), Workforce Development, and the Lead Economic Development Team.
The Lead Team is made up of leaders from 12 economic development organizations in the region who meet for six hours each month. It’s rooted in the belief that ongoing and dynamic interplay among a complementary set of economic development organizations is necessary to effectively and efficiently succeed in attraction, business retention, and expansion.
The Lead Economic Development Team includes representatives from the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, Economic Development Corporation of Erie County and GEIDC, Erie County Redevelopment Authority and Corry Area Industrial Development Corporation, Erie Redevelopment Authority, City of Erie, Erie County, Governor’s Action Team, Gannon University Small Business Development Center, Center for eBusiness and Advanced Information Technology, Northwest Commission, Northwest Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, and the Regional Center for Workforce Excellence.
The Business Retention & Expansion Program (BREP) is a statewide initiative administered through the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership in northwest Pennsylvania. Three BREP Industry Representatives and two Workforce Development Specialists work with area companies to discuss their goals, challenges and needs.
Through their relationships with a broad range of service providers, they’re able to identify programs and opportunities that best meet business needs and speed the realization of new job creation and investment in our community. This service is provided free of charge to the business owner.
- Growth Partnership Division
Committee Chair: David M. Tullio
Mary Bula, Vice President | LinkedIn | Email
The Growth Partnership division is comprised of top decision-makers from Platinum, Gold, and Silver Chamber members. The group’s current membership of more than 140 is overseen by a 15-member steering committee. The team advances transformational community initiatives that impact the region’s long-term economic future.
Three of their top priorities are:
- A vibrant downtown that is a center for home life, retail, entertainment and culture
- Creation of strong public/private partnerships to accomplish important civic objectives
- Pursuit of regionalism to promote governmental collaboration and enhance public service delivery
