{"id":109487,"date":"2026-02-09T22:51:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/109487\/"},"modified":"2026-02-09T22:51:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T22:51:45","slug":"infinite-erie-and-erie-regional-chamber-announce-collaborative-role-to-strengthen-economic-development-efforts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/109487\/","title":{"rendered":"Infinite Erie and Erie Regional Chamber announce collaborative role to strengthen economic development efforts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Colleen<\/a>Colleen Dougherty. Contributed photo.<\/p>\n

Infinite Erie and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership (The Chamber) have\u00a0established\u00a0a new collaborative role, appointing Colleen Dougherty as Director of Regional Collaboration and Economic Development to strengthen alignment and coordination among Erie\u2019s economic development organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Implemented\u00a0last\u00a0year, the position focuses on building stronger partnerships, improving coordination, and advancing shared economic and community development goals across the region.\u00a0The role is\u00a0designed\u00a0to maximize collective impact and support a more unified approach to regional growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re so excited to continue our work with Colleen,\u201d said Kim Thomas, Executive Director of Infinite Erie. \u201cHer experience, dedication, and passion for Erie\u2019s future make her an incredible partner as we strengthen connections across our community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cErie has an incredible network of organizations doing important work,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Colleen Dougherty,\u00a0Director of Regional Collaboration and Economic Development.\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m excited to help connect those efforts, deepen collaboration, and ensure we\u2019re moving forward together in ways that benefit our entire community.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dougherty brings a strong background in metro-level research and collaborative problem-solving to\u00a0strengthening\u00a0Erie\u2019s community development efforts.\u00a0She draws on her experience\u00a0identifying\u00a0metro-level opportunities and challenges and capturing and codifying collaborative solutions through her former work as a Research Officer at Drexel University\u2019s Nowak Metro Finance Lab and as a non-resident fellow with Berlin\u2019s Das Progressive Zentrum\u2019s Transatlantic Dialogue on the Industrial Heartlands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A committed local leader, Dougherty is a member of the Erie Women\u2019s Fund at The Erie Community Foundation and serves as Vice Chair of the Grants Committee for the Emerging Erie Fund.\u00a0Born and raised in Erie,\u00a0she\u00a0attended Fairview High School before earning her BA in Philosophy, Law, and Politics from John Carroll University and her MA in German and European Studies\u00a0with a focus on\u00a0industrial regions\u00a0from Georgetown University.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAt The Chamber, we believe strong collaboration is the foundation of a strong\u00a0community,\u201d said\u202fBrandon Mendoza, President and CEO of The Chamber. \u201cColleen brings both experience and a deep commitment to partnership-building, and we\u2019re proud to support this role.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

To learn more about Infinite Erie, visit\u202finfiniteerie.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow them on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, and\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>. To learn more about The Chamber, visit\u202feriepa.com<\/a>\u202fand follow them on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n