$10.5 Million at Work in Erie

The 2011-2012 ECGRA Annual Report tells the story of $10.5 million of ECGRA grant money working in Erie County. Working in soup kitchens and after-school programming. Working at county fairs and historical festivals. Working in capital development and business lending. ECGRA grant money is at work revitalizing our community and improving our lives every day. Read the Annual Report in full for details.

The Money at Work
Lead Asset Upgrades Planetarium, Befriends American Astronaut

ECGRA Lead Asset Erie County Historical Society (ECHS) Executive Director Alyson Amendola Cummings and Erie Planetarium Director Jim Gavio were thrilled when longtime Planetarium supporter NASA Astronaut Colonel Michael Fincke asked to take something from the Planetarium into space with him. Space Shuttle "Endeavour" flew to the International Space Station in May 2011 with Colonel Fincke holding a scrolled Erie Planetarium banner.

While Colonel Fincke was hard at work in space, ECHS was hard at work renovating the Planetarium.

On September 29-30, 2011, Colonel Fincke visited Erie to unveil the ECGRA-funded technology upgrades in the Planetarium. He also returned the now-autographed banner to its permanent home in the Planetarium, presented to 500 students at Saint George School about the importance of space exploration, and began talks with ECHS directors about donating pieces of his personal missions collection.

Cummings stated, "The ECHS runs five sites with a limited staff, which makes us unique as far as museums go. Without being named a Lead Asset and receiving a grant from ECGRA, we could not have made the upgrades we did."

Cummings went on to say the Planetarium is one of Erie's most beloved sites, but that because the technology was so outdated, shows were poor quality and activities were boring and irrelevant, especially when it came to serving young visitors.

She added, "Now, with new computer systems and monitors, the technology is friendly and inviting and guests love watching mission launches on the new big screen television. Children are engaged as well, and that's part of our mission."

Money from the grant was also used to help pay for expenses of Colonel Fincke's trip to Erie, which Cummings said was well worth the investment.
"To have the American astronaut with the highest number of space walks admire your city and your Planetarium? That's something to be proud of!" said Cummings.




ECGRA Lead Asset the Erie County Historical Society brought NASA Astronaut Colonel Michael Fincke to Erie in September 2011. Here, Colonel Fincke signs autographs at Saint George School.