Erie is one of four grand prize winners of the Forbes Opportunity Zone Catalyst Challenge at the 2020 Winter Innovation Summit underway at the University of Utah.

The award is the first of its kind to recognize the work being done across the nation to attract investment capital to talented, under served communities.

The award recognizes the Flagship Opportunity Zone as a market leader for capitalizing on new the federal legislation, and for being the first city in the country to launch a prospectus for investors. 

The award also recognizes the Erie Downtown Development Corporation for fostering partnerships that are cultivating new opportunities for the community. 

It also noted the success of the Erie Regional Chamber's annual "Homecoming" conference, which last year was focused entirely on attracting investment. At that event $60 million in new investment was announced, $50 million of that from an Opportunity Fund created by Erie Insurance.

"We are incredibly proud of the work being done by the Flagship Opportunity zone and the EDDC said James Grunke, President and CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber.  "This award is a testament to what can happen when the private and public sectors and our community believe its best days are ahead.  This is a major achievement for this entire region."

Forbes, one of the nation's premiere business publications recently listed Erie among the top 20 Opportunity Zone Catalysts, a list that included Baltimore, Philadelphia, Kansas City and the State of Colorado.