While CBS News would like to tell the story of our manufacturing past and business and job losses, we know #OurErie is in the midst of a renaissance. Local leaders and investors are harnessing Erie's strengths and forging a more advanced, more globally competitive economic future. From transformational investments in our urban core to community revitalization and innovative growth in rural communities, Erie is thriving in ways never anticipated and undetected by naysayers.
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority has strategically invested more than $44 million of local share gaming revenue—$6 million just this year—in education, workforce development, neighborhood and municipal innovation, inner-city renewal, business growth, community and cultural assets, and transformational collaboration. Local share gaming revenue is at the heart of Erie County's evolution.
March 27-28, 2017, ECGRA and Team Erie County hosted the Pennsylvania House Gaming Oversight Committee. We presented our 2009-2016 economic impact study and showcased dozens of organizations that are thriving thanks to local share gaming revenue. Team Erie County also clearly and unanimously expressed our goals to make Erie's share whole and to maintain local control of the funds.
Only time will tell if those goals will be met. What we do know is that Erie's unique and effective approach to investing gaming revenue is now being revered by Pennsylvania representatives as the model for the Commonwealth.
As you read through this report, you'll see 6,570,559 reasons why we continue our work to #SaveGamingRevenue. Each and every dollar is worth saving. Each and every dollar is fueling Erie's renaissance, as you can see in the video This is Our Erie on youtube.com.
We urge you to join our efforts. Please write and call your legislators by May 26 and tell them how ECGRA grant money works for an organization you love—everything you need to get started is online at www.ECGRA.org/calltoaction. #OurErie will thank you for generations to come!
Sincerely,
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