The $100,000 grants from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority are intended to reverse blight and help homeowners afford needed repairs
New downtown Erie apartments now leasing in former Avalon Hotel
Formerly the Avalon Hotel, the eight-story property offers 184 studios and 13 one-bedroom apartments. Also a fitness & wellness center and game room.
Homes and neighborhoods in three Erie County communities will get a boost from gaming funds.
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority has awarded $100,000 Renaissance Block grants to Impact Corry, Union City Borough and Girard Downtown.
The grants will provide up to $5,000 to homeowners and landlords for new windows or doors, roof repairs, painting, siding and other exterior property improvements visible to the public. Property owners must match the amount of money that they receive, spending $5,000 of their own money, for example, on a project granted $5,000.
The investments help reverse blight and spur development, said ECGRA Executive Director Perry Wood.
“These are homes located on main streets and commercial corridors that serve as gateways to the community,” Wood said in a statement. “This not only helps the entire community but also provides needed assistance to homeowners.”
The Renaissance Block program has awarded 55 grants totaling more than $2.4 million to 14 communities and organizations since 2018.
In Corry, improvements leveraged additional grants
More than 100 Corry homes have been improved with the help of ECGRA Renaissance Block funding since 2019, said Melinda Meyer, director of programs for Impact Corry.
The new $100,000 grant brings total Renaissance Block funding for the city to $490,000.
Funding initially was targeted for homes in neighborhoods near elementary schools and the city’s commercial corridors. More neighborhoods are now eligible.
“We’ve opened it up recently to more areas of the city because there is great need across the entire city,” Meyer said.
ECGRA-funded Improvements have helped Corry qualify for additional grants for home improvements, including $1.2 million from the Neighborhood Partnership Program funded by state tax credits.
“The ECGRA grants not only do great things for people and the community but have helped us leverage significant additional funding,” said Chuck Gray, Impact Corry executive director.
ECGRA Renaissance Block funding is available to homeowners regardless of income. The additional grants fund property improvements for low-income residents, Meyer said.
Estimated $1 million in improvements to date in Union City
With this latest grant, Union City has been awarded $610,000 in Renaissance Block funding.
Previous funding so far has resulted in home improvements valued at an estimated $1 million, said Union City Borough Manager Cindy Wells. “People sometimes spend more than they’re required to spend to match their grants,” Wells said.
The borough has received Renaissance Block grants since the program began in 2018.
An ‘overwhelming impact’ in Girard
Girard so far has been awarded $280,000 in Renaissance Block grants since 2022, said Girard Downtown President George Drushel.
Fifty-two projects have already been funded, Drushel said.
The results are visible, said Girard Borough Manager Rob Stubenbort.
“The program has had an overwhelming impact on Girard. And it’s allowed people to move forward with projects that otherwise might have to wait,” Stubenbort said.
Contact Valerie Myers at [email protected].
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