On a blighted industrial corridor in a struggling section of Erie, Pa., a long-abandoned iron factory has been humming with activity for the first time in decades. Construction crews have been removing barrels of toxic waste, knocking down crumbling walls and salvaging rusted tin roofing as they prepare to convert the cavernous space into an events venue, advanced manufacturing hub, and brewery.
The estimated $25 million project is the most ambitious undertaking the Erie County Redevelopment Authority has ever attempted. It was both kick-started and remains heavily funded by various pots of money coming from Biden administration programs.
Despite the significant support from the Biden administration, there is no obvious sign of President Biden’s influence on the project. Representative Mike Kelly, a Pennsylvania Republican who voted against the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law that is helping to fund the renovation, has taken credit for the Ironworks Square development effort.
This scenario exemplifies a broader challenge Mr. Biden faces in Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state that could determine the outcome of the 2024 election. Erie, a long-struggling manufacturing hub bordering the Great Lake, often serves as an election bellwether. Mr. Biden is finding it challenging to leverage his own economic policies, even when they are yielding tangible and visible benefits.
Adding to the political landscape, an assassination attempt on former President Donald J. Trump at a rally in Butler County, Pa., could potentially impact voter sentiments. The specific influence of this event on the electorate is yet to be determined. However, Mr. Biden’s popularity in his home state was already on shaky ground prior to the tragic incident. In a recent poll of likely Pennsylvania voters conducted just before the shooting, 48 percent indicated they would vote for Mr. Trump, while 45 percent expressed their support for Mr. Biden in a two-way race.
