It's official: Erie has been approved for its fifth sister city.

Dr. Ferki Feraki said, "It started with a national company that organizes relationships between American cities and similarly sized cities abroad, based on shared interests."

Erie has now established a new sister city agreement with Chornomorsk, Ukraine. Dr. Ferki Feraki, president of the Jefferson Society, highlighted the new opportunities this partnership will bring to both communities.

Jim Berlin said, "Opportunities and the exchange of ideas, as well as the exchange of our leaders who can meet each other and see if there are ways we can work together around economic development, culture exchange, and student exchange."

Both Jim and Dr. Feraki expressed their excitement, emphasizing the potential to shape a brighter, more connected future for Erie.

Jim Berlin added, "The relationships you can develop and the people you can meet really last a lifetime."

Dr. Ferki Feraki said, "It's a village to make something like this happen."