A recent telephone survey indicates there is strong interest locally in launching an Erie County community college, according to a nonprofit group that is working to create the school.

According to the survey, 72 percent of the 500 Erie County residents surveyed, or 360 people, said they support the establishment of a community college. The nonprofit, Empower Erie, released results of the survey to the Erie Times-News late this past week.

The independent 12-minute telephone survey of randomly-selected respondents was conducted in late February and early March and commissioned by Empower Erie as part of state-required feasibility study.

Parker Phillips, an Erie-based consulting firm handling the feasibility study for Empower Erie, retained Research America of Newton Square, Pennsylvania, to conduct the telephone survey, which included questions about the need for a community college, the need for specific degrees/curriculum, program offerings and other factors.

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