Without further ado, your Idiotville feel-good story of the week:
https://www.goerie.com/business/20200817/100-million-recycling-plant-planned-for-erie
We’ll keep it short and sweet this week because, honestly, life got in the way and I couldn’t dedicate the normal amount of time or brain space to writing. That’s kind of a shame, because Erie got word this week of International Recycling Group’s plans to build what they describe as the world’s biggest plastics recycling facility.
Now, one thing you should know about International Recycling Group is that they’re from New York City, and one thing you should know about people from New York City is that they describe everything as the world’s biggest. We’ll see what actually develops. Still, $100 million projects don’t grow on trees. This is a huge deal for Erie.
At some point, an investment like this deserves a longer write-up to put it in context along with all of Erie’s other recent plans for development. Off the top of my head, this news of Hamot and Saint Vincent planning simultaneous $100 million additions comes to mind.
To make a long story short, Erie is now drawing the kinds of region-revitalizing projects that I’ve been dreaming were possible around here for my entire life. This rust belt city isn’t just rotting slowly and waiting for “someone” to do “something.” We’re building, we’re giving, we’re putting serious thought in how to be more inclusive. We’re finally moving towards seeing this place become the place we all knew it could be. That’s something good in Erie.
Idiotville 