Jeff Thoreson wrote me today to mention the fact that Erie Shipbuilding is one of the city's unsung economic success stories of 2006 -- and it is a company that bears watching in 2007.

Here's what Jeff had to say:

"In all the economic news you and the rest of the Erie Times-News staff has written about in the past several months, no one has mentioned something that I, and many others, believe is important to the Erie area: the return of an active shipyard to Erie's waterfront. Erie Shipbuilding LLC is up and running yet no one mentions the successful conversion of Steamer BUCKEYE into the barge LEWIS J. KUBER, the repowering of the tug JOSEPH H. THOMPSON JR., and now work is being completed on the VanEnkevort Barge GREAT LAKES TRADER. The shipyard already employs 40 people and 2007 should bring the hiring of many more."

While I can't agree that Erie Shipbuilding has been completely ignored by the Times-News, I can say that it bears mentioning in this space.

And if there are other smaller, growing companies that you think might represent the next wave of Erie business, please feel free to post a comment.

It's easy to point to the bigger projects, but I know from following business in this community that the lifeblood of Erie's economy is the growth of new companies.

In fact, Erie needs more successful young companies if it is to prosper in the future.

I always enjoy hearing stories about upstart businesses -- so please share your suggestions.