Dear Reader:
By click HERE, you can access The Jefferson Educational Society's essay dedicated to the examination of Erie’s Advanced Industries, which are arguably the key to Erie, Pa.’s future economic growth. The result of the burgeoning collaboration between the Brookings Institution and The Jefferson Educational Society, this thirty-six-page essay utilizes primary data curated and published by Brookings in February 2015. This essay is the second in our first volume, succeeding the widely discussed inaugural work, “Is Erie A Safe City? Perception, Reality, Recommendations.”
In short, advanced industries invest deeply in research and development while nurturing and procuring skilled labor forces. Of the fifty advanced industries represented nationally, twenty-seven are present in Erie. Further, while advanced industries may only account for 9 percent of the American workforce, they represent a significant percentage (17) of the nation’s GDP. Erie is no exception, as its advanced industries can largely be credited for its rise from the economic mire of the Great Recession.
The JES Essays, authored by local scholars and under the review of the editorial board, represent not the last word on a topic but the continuation of conversation so that Erie may be informed and ready for dialogue. As a person interested in civic issues of the Society, you have been chosen to receive these essays at no cost for the first year so that you may become familiar with both the core content and what value it may represent for you. In addition to interested citizens, The Jefferson Essays mailing list also includes all County public officials, media representatives, educators, and leaders of civic organizations.
The publication of The Jefferson Essays is made possible by grant support, contributions from civic-minded patrons, and the Society itself, all who believe that knowledge is power which can be used to re-invent the community that we call home. We welcome your comments, criticism, suggestions, and support on either this essay or the very idea of publishing such essays, as we continue this work with the drafting of our third essay.
Very truly yours,
The Jefferson Essays Editorial Board
