ERIE — Few outside of those who live there understand what the county of Erie’s future holds for its economic future. Is it rural? A port? A city? A College town? A beach town? A faded Rust Belt hub for industrialization?

Drive around the county and you’ll soon find that it is all those things. And while the bulk of the population (80%) lives in more urbanized areas, the 38 municipalities of Erie County comprise two cities, 22 townships, and 14 boroughs. There is still a significant number of people in the rural landmass of the county, which makes up 93% of the county’s total land area. They still need the same services as their urban cousins, including what they can get from retailers.