Public policy panel: Immigration and the Erie economy

The Public Policy Institute at Penn State Behrend will host a panel discussion about how immigration shapes local businesses and the broader Erie economy on Nov. 18. The program, which begins at 7:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Federal House, is free and open to the public.

Three panelists will offer their perspectives:

• Cassie Zimmer, an immigration policy analyst at the Niskanen Center, will provide an overview of the economic and policy impacts of immigration nationwide, with a look at the local implications of federal policy.

• Jaret Kelly, president of Lake Erie Wine Country, will discuss the work immigrants contribute to his industry and will share personal experiences from the agricultural space.

• Cindy Rau, director of human resources at Logistics Plus, will provide a business and HR perspective, focusing on how immigration supports her company’s supply chain management operations.

The Public Policy Initiative at Penn State Behrend was created to bring together a diversity of perspectives to inform public policy decisions that affect the Erie region and similar communities in the Great Lakes and Ohio River Basin areas. The initiative is based in the political science program of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

To learn more about the initiative and its programming, visit the Public Policy Initiative webpage.