Erie's first industry was lumber milling. GE Transportation Systems is Erie's largest employer employing over 5,000 persons. The next two largest employers are the two hospitals in Erie, each employing over 1,000 persons. Within the past few years, in order to boost Erie's economy, Mayor Joyce Savacchio began revamping the area right along Lake Erie. A new main library, a lighthouse, and various other sites were built.
Debates still loom over bringing in river boat gambling and building a large hotel on the lakefront.
Erie allows for some cultural events at various venues throughout the city, including a historical museum, focusing on Erie's history, the Warner Theater, and local universities and colleges. Within the past few years, Erie has also invested money into the building of a new baseball stadium for their minor league ball team. The main faith in Erie is Catholicism, as the majority of its first immigrants were ethnic Catholics. Each settled in their own section of Erie and built a church. Therefore when exploring Erie, it is difficult to miss each ethnic parish, for example St. Stanislaus, the Polish Parish and St. Patrick's the Irish Parish.