News Updates

The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) announced $34,000 of funding to support the purchase of a new emergency response vehicle for Harborcreek Township Emergency Response Team Program (HTERT), a multi-municipal collaboration between Brookside Fire Company, Fairfield Hose Company, and Harborcreek Fire Department.

"ECGRA's multi-municipal collaboration grants were designed to support this type of outside-the-box problem solving by local leaders across Erie County," said ECGRA Executive Director Perry Wood.  "The HTERT-237 collaboration is a remarkable example of how municipalities can work together to solve challenges across geographic and political barriers to benefit their citizens.  This investment is fundamental to providing emergency response capabiities for thousands of residents across the east-county."

ECGRA intially invested $23,000 to support the purchase of a HTERT-237 ambulance in 2015.  Since then, the crew has used the ambulance to respond to more than 2,200 calls.

"ECGRA funding has continuously been invested directly to our communities to help us make the major investments necessary to manage EMS needs of our citizens," said Dean Pepicello, Supervisor, Harborcreek Township.  "By working together, the HTERT has created a proven model to tackle the EMS crisis facing communities across Pennsylvania.  ECGRA funding helps us to continue supporting local volunteer fire departments by assisting in answering emergency calls when department volunteers are unavailable."

The HTERT team has responded to calls in Harborcreek Township and neighboring municipalities including Wesleyville Borough, Lawrence Park, North East and Greenfield Townships.  The team responds to a variety of locations inclduing single-family homes, apartment complexes, nursing homes and businesses.  They are equipped to respond to structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, advanced life support situations, fall victims, and basic patient assisstance.

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 more information about applying for a Multi-Municipal collaboration grant, click here.

An impact investing organization, ECGRA's mission is to empower the nonprofit sector, municipal governments, and economic development agencies to revitalize Erie County.  ECGRA is endowed with local share gaming revenue from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via the Race Horse Gaming Act.  Local share gaming revenue is an assessment of the licensed gambling industry in Pennsylvania.  ECGRA administers local share gaming revenue on behalf of Erie County government.