Erie Homecoming Welcomes Local Businesses and Entrepreneurs as Optimism Grows for the Region

It was a homecoming that doesn't necessarily involve a dance or a football game, but it does include professional attire.

"Organizations, elected officials, entrepreneurs [and] CEOs can collide with one another," said Jake Rouch, Interim President and CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. "They'll take it from there."

Nearly 45 businesses and over 250 guests had a chance to network, exchange ideas, sample products and build rapport.

"Erie is awakening on a lot of different fronts," Rouch said.

The annual event began in 2016, something that Brian Slawin, portfolio manager at Ben Franklin Technology Partners, has used for his business endeavors.

"It gave me, personally, a platform for meeting people without having to do the, 'Hey, I'm new in town. You want to go meet for coffee?'" Slawin said. "Everyone was here."

First-timers at the event like Madison Wood showed off her pottery collection to attendees at her Madison Rose Ceramics table. Her business has been thriving for two years.

"It's really great," Wood said. "I love being with other small business owners and other artists and people that are doing the same thing that I'm doing."

Informational sessions and discussion panels gave a chance to take in new developing business trends, including those involved with the redevelopment of Parade Street for the East Side Renaissance.

"[We're] transforming Parade Street and back into the community into some positive optics, tangible projects and things like that," said Matt Harris, vice president of the East Side Renaissance.