ECGRA Grants Reinvigorates Neighborhoods, Combats Blight
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) awarded $350,000.00 for their 2023 Renaissance Block Grants, which will be distributed to four Erie County boroughs and organizations.
"Whether people realize it or not, housing blight directly effects everyone in the community," said Dr. Perry Wood, Executive Director, ECGRA. "Blight decreases property values, impacts the local economy, and hurts quality of life for residents, which is exactly why the Renaissance Block Grant Program was created back in 2018."
"Through this 1-1 cash match program, ECGRA is helping to prevent properties from becoming blighted and reverse any effects that have already started - working to boost neighborhoods, increase market values of homes, and improve the municipal tax base."
The Renaissance Block Program is an anti-blight, neighborhood cooperation. The community and neighborhood investment program was designed to help improve Erie County neighborhoods through a block-by-block strategy that targets aging or neglected areas where neighbors are organized and willing to work together to combat blight.
"ECGRA funding has been so important to Union City, allowing over $800,000 in exterior improvements for residential properties," said Cindy Wells, Borough Manager, Borough of Union City. "We would never have had that much spent in the fight to prevent blight if it wasn't for the Renaissance Block Grant Program. We thank ECGRA for their investments to make improvements to Union City."
To view the list of awards made for the 2023 Renaissance Block Program, 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 Horse Race 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.
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