2025 Grants Calendar

Special events promote a sense of community and inclusiveness, and often generate an influx of dollars from outside Erie County resulting in local economic growth and improved quality of place for Erie residents.

The Erie County Renaissance Block Program was established in 2018 as a financial incentive-based program designed to address and reverse housing blight in Erie County.

To provide capital and program funding for arts, culture, and heritage organizations.

The Multi-Municipal Collaboration Grants were launched in 2012 to catalyze functional cooperation among Erie County’s 38 municipalities and to support economic growth and vibrancy in the community.

For organizations dedicated to the revitalization of a main street or commercial corridor.

Up to $10,000 awarded per planning grant; up to $250,000 awarded per implementation grant; a maximum of $2,500,000 to be granted in the

2018 - 2021 funding cycle.

The Anchor Building Grant Program was established in 2018 as an adaptive re-use funding program to strengthen the community, its neighborhoods, and commercial districts.

Beehive funding is designed to catalyze 501(c)3, nonprofit organizations such as universities to participate in the economic development system of Erie County.  Beehive grants provide vital matching funds to encourage the development of entrepreneurial support services at local institutions that have this purpose in their mission.

To provide funding for capital projects to create, protect, or improve publicly accessible parks, athletic fields, and trails throughout Erie County.

To provide funding for capital improvements, programming, and equipment for publicly accessible community centers.

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) pf 2021 is a federal relief package providing $1.9 trillion in funding, program changes, and tax policies aimed at mitigating the continuing effects of the COVID-19 public health crisis.

ECGRA's vision is to elevate Erie County by making investments within Erie County that spur the economy and strengthen the community.

In 2011, ECGRA named and made its initial investments in the Erie County Lead Assets—nine place-shaping culture-, heritage-, and recreation-based nonprofits: Erie Art Museum, Erie Arts & Culture, Erie County Historical Society, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Playhouse, Erie Zoological Society, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Flagship Niagara League, and the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture.

In December 2010, ECGRA entered into an agreement with the six municipalities contiguous to Presque Isle Downs and Casino: Greene, McKean, Millcreek, Summit, and Waterford townships, and Erie County.