Editing Erie, Pennsylvania (section)

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Erie, Pennsylvania}}
[[File:Eriefactory01.jpg|thumb|The Erie Forge and Steel factory at 16th and Greengarden streets]]
Erie is Pennsylvania's primary access point to [[Lake Erie]], the [[Great Lakes]], and the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]]. The city emerged as a maritime center after the American Revolution, then as a railroad hub during the great American westward expansion. Erie became an important city for iron and steel manufacturing during the [[Industrial Revolution]] and thrived well into the 20th century with firms such as [[Griswold Manufacturing]], once the leader in cast-iron cookware.

Since the decline of large manufacturers in the later 20th century, a more diverse mix of midsized industries has emerged. This broader economic base includes smaller and more agile steel and plastic plants (with about 10% of tooling and molding located in the tri-state area) and vigorous service sectors: health, insurance, and tourism. The ZIP code 16501 covering some of the downtown areas is considered one of the poorest neighborhoods in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Erie leaders urge Biden administration to continue Opportunity Zone program |url=https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/43374570/erie-leaders-urge-biden-administration-to-continue-opportunity-zone-program |access-date=April 16, 2021 |website=erienewsnow.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2019 |title=How America's Poorest ZIP Code Is Attracting OZ Capital, with EDDC |url=https://opportunityzones.com/2019/10/erie-055/ |access-date=April 16, 2021 |website=OpportunityDb |language=en-US}}</ref>

Erie is the corporate headquarters of the [[Erie Insurance Group]] and [[Marquette Savings Bank]]. [[Lord Corporation]] was founded and has major operations in Erie.<ref>{{cite web |last=McNeel |first=Rick |url=http://www.lord.com/our-company/history.xml |publisher=Lord Corporation |title=Lord History |access-date=May 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227083231/http://www.lord.com/Our-Company/History.xml |archive-date=December 27, 2010}}</ref> Along with WABTEC and Erie Insurance, major employers in the county include the county, [[Government of Pennsylvania|state]], and [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] governments, as well as the [[Erie City School District]].<ref name="employers">{{cite web |title=Erie County, Top 50 Employers |date=September 24, 2010 |publisher=[[Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry]] |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |url=http://www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/erie_t50.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5wGM4bpjQ?url=http://www.paworkstats.state.pa.us/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/erie_t50.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |access-date=February 2, 2011}}</ref>

Over 10% of the nation's plastics are manufactured or finished in Erie-based plastics plants.<ref name="city facts"/> Erie is an emerging center for [[biofuels]] and environmental research, producing over {{Convert|45|e6USgal|e6L|abbr=unit}} of biofuel a year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Jim |newspaper=Erie Times-News |date=July 6, 2006 |title=Biodiesel could fuel economy |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060706/NEWS02/607060400&SearchID=73286058459115 |access-date=July 2, 2007}}</ref> Tourism plays an increasingly important role in the local economy with over 4&nbsp;million people visiting Presque Isle State Park and other attractions annually. Shoppers from Ohio, New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario are drawn to the [[Millcreek Mall]] and [[Peach Street]] stores and attractions by Pennsylvania's [[tax exemption]] on clothing.{{Cn|date=May 2024}}

[[UPMC Hamot]] and [[Saint Vincent Health System]] are also major employers in Erie.<ref name="employers"/> Once stand-alone Erie entities, Hamot merged with the [[University of Pittsburgh Medical Center]] in 2011<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bruce |first=David |title=Erie hospital now officially UPMC Hamot |date=February 2, 2011 |newspaper=Erie Times-News |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011302019912 |access-date=February 2, 2011 |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093116/http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011302019912 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Saint Vincent affiliated with the [[Cleveland Clinic]] in 2012<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bruce |first=David |title=Saint Vincent to affiliate with Cleveland Clinic |date=October 23, 2012 |newspaper=Erie Times-News |url=http://www.goerie.com/article/20121023/NEWS02/310229883/Saint-Vincent-to-affiliate-with-Cleveland-Clinic |access-date=January 17, 2014 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726060126/https://www.goerie.com/article/20121023/NEWS02/310229883/Saint-Vincent-to-affiliate-with-Cleveland-Clinic |url-status=dead }}</ref> and merged with [[Highmark]]'s Allegheny Health Network the following year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bruce |first=David |title=Highmark, Saint Vincent formally announce deal |date=July 10, 2013 |newspaper=Erie Times-News |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130710/NEWS02/307109954/-1/NEWSSITEMAP |access-date=January 17, 2014}}</ref> The [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] operates the Erie Veterans Affairs Medical Center on East 38th Street. The [[Shriners International]] has operated [[Shriners Hospital for Children]] in Erie since 1927.<ref>{{cite web |title=Imagine America Foundation |url=http://www.imagine-america.org/photo-gallery/erie-business-center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829081229/http://www.imagine-america.org/photo-gallery/erie-business-center |archive-date=August 29, 2013}}</ref>
[[Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine]] (LECOM) is a fast-growing educator and provider of healthcare in the city.  LECOM is located in the city and in adjacent Millcreek Township.