The Erie County Renaissance Block Program is a financial incentive-based program designed to address and reverse housing blight in Erie County.
Donor Name: Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA)
State: Pennsylvania
County: Erie County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants | Reimbursement
Deadline: 09/30/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The problems with deteriorating and code-deficient residential structures are well-documented and far-reaching. Several recent community planning efforts have recommended reducing blight as an economic development strategy including Emerge 2040, Erie Refocused, the Corry Neighborhood Initiative, A Citizen’s Action Guide to Blight, and the Erie County Housing Plan (a component of Erie County’s comprehensive plan). Properties in poor condition can reduce the market value of adjacent homes, in turn, discouraging other owners from making investments themselves thus starting or continuing a cycle of disinvestment.
Goals
The goals of the Erie County Renaissance Block Program are to:
- Remove housing blight and reverse deterioration in middle market neighborhoods.
- Incentivize and spur private investment
- Make neighborhoods and communities more walkable, safe, and attractive
- Increase market value of homes
- Improve the municipal tax base
- Support local contractors and suppliers
Funding Information
- A funding bucket of $400,000 for two years
- A maximum of $100,000 per application
- A maximum of $5,000 per property
Uses of Funds
- Administration, marketing, promotion, advertising (up to 15% of the grant)
- Insurance, legal fees
- Evaluation, outcomes measurement, and impact tracking
- Contracted services such as architectural, engineering, and construction inspection
- Equipment and supplies
- Contracted construction with licensed contractors.
Eligible Improvements
- Sidewalks, walkways, driveway aprons
- Landscaping, trees
- Doors and windows visible from the street; interior and exterior storm windows
- Soffits, gutters, & downspouts
- Exterior lighting (street & on private property)
- Porches, stairs, steps
- Painting, siding, shutters
- Chimney & masonry repair.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant is an IRS-designated 501(c)(3), a municipal authority, or a municipality
- Applicant’s headquarters is located in Erie County
- Applicant is in good standing with the IRS and state and local taxing bodies
- Applicant is in good standing with ECGRA’s reporting requirements to date
- Applicant is making sole request on behalf of organization.
For more information, visit ECGRA.
