NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (Erie News Now) – Each year, thousands of investors, companies and economic development organizations (EDOs) gather just outside the nation’s capital for the annual SelectUSA Investment Summit, hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

According to SelectUSA, the Investment Summit is the highest-profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, EDOs and industry experts to make deals happen. 

At this year’s Investment Summit, more than 5,000 officials and investors are converging to do just that. The event largely features states and territories who all compete with one another as they make their pitch as to why they’re the best spot to set up shop.

But for the third year in a row, some familiar faces, landmarks and local favorites are standing out in a sea of state and federal economic development organizations. 

“There’s very few counties in this building and no one even holds a candle to what we’re doing,” said Erie County Executive Brenton Davis (R). 

Erie County is one of just a handful of counties showcasing local offerings, incentives and advantages to more than 2,500 investors representing over 90 international markets. 

“We get every single lead that comes here, out of the thousands of conversations that we have every time we're here, we develop that social capital,” said Davis. 

Beyond strategic workforce investment and development programs, Davis says the region also provides a “sweet spot” for businesses. 

“Between low cost of living, decent wages—but we’re not California. It’s that point where we have just enough to get the job done, but it’s not so expensive that it’s unaffordable,” said Davis. 

“This event is critical in the sense that it helps to keep Pennsylvania on the map,” said David Briel, senior managing director for International Trade and Investment at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). 

Like Erie County, Briel says the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as a whole, stands out as a top contender. 

“We literally are the keystone of the most populated and most prosperous part of the United States—of North America, frankly,” said Briel. 

One state and one county, both working hard to bring home new investments, businesses and jobs. 

Since its inception, the SelectUSA Investment Summit has helped generate more than $135 billion in new investment projects, creating over 105,000 jobs across the United States and its territories.