The Mission Main Street Grant Program is designed to create a targeted impact on Erie County’s municipalities through commercial corridors that are known as “main streets.”
Donor Name: Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA)
State: Pennsylvania
County: Erie County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 06/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
Following the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s four-point main street approach, this grant recognizes that each municipality in Erie County is distinct geographically with main streets that host small business, special events, historic structures, and central parks. Many have fallen into disrepair because of the diaspora of retail from central business districts to malls. In communities in which main streets and historic structures are maintained, there is a sense of vibrancy and civic pride. Revitalizing Erie County main streets is an economic and community development strategy that creates jobs, promotes tourism, and impacts the region’s economy.
Mission Main Street Grant goals:
- Redevelop streetscapes and buildings
- Remove blight and reverse deterioration
- Promote a positive small business environment
- Incentivize and spur private investment
- Make communities more walkable, safe, and attractive
- Experiment with creative programming & civic engagement
- Improve the municipal tax base.
Two Funding Paths
- MMS Planning Grant – In the course of re-making or improving Main Streets, ECGRA understands there is a need to perform studies and analyses before public investment is made in areas such as streetscapes, bicycle and pedestrian safety, transportation, parking management, new construction, housing, retail, parks, and façade renovations. Additionally, pre-construction costs such as engineering and design are essential to completing construction projects ranging from streetscapes to park and accessibility improvements.
- MMS Implementation Grant – The Mission Main Street program encourages municipal and main street organizations to adopt and follow the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street goals which are Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring.
Funding Information
- Total funding available: $450,000.
- Planning Grant
- Max award of $10,000 per application
- Implementation Grant
- Max award of $250,000 per application.
Grant Period
- Planning Grant
- Duration of grant: 1 year
- Implementation Grant
- Duration of grant: up to 3 years.
Eligible Uses of funds
Funding may be used for the following:
- Paid Staff (full-time and temporary)
- Marketing/Outreach/Engagement
- Programming Related
- Insurance
- Equipment & Supplies
- Contracted Services – Studies, plans, construction drawings, and other similar professional services are limited to Planning Grants. Examples of eligible contracted services are board development consultants, advertising agencies, event security, landscaping company, tent providers, musicians, etc.
- Construction
- Outcomes Measurement & Impact Tracking.
Eligible Improvements
Eligible Improvements include:
- Streetscapes, sidewalks, walkways
- Parks, landscaping, trees, greenways
- Facades, roofs, windows
- Signs, awnings, banners
- Building/structural improvements
- Accessibility, elevators
- Branding, Marketing
- Buy Local related campaign
- Utilities, Telecommunications
- Programming, events.
Eligibility Criteria
Project sponsors can be 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations, local governments, or municipal authorities. Preference will be given to entities with experience managing and delivering similar programs. Project applications will be required to match the grant 1:1.
For more information, visit ECGRA.
