Report of the Erie County COVID-19 Response Fund

The $2.35 million Erie County COVID-19 Response Fund, established on March 17, 2020 by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) and Erie County Council, was recognized by Drexel University Nowak Metro Finance Lab as a "first mover" in the nation, while helping to inject money into the local economy ahead of state and local national funding.

The COVID-19 Response Fund focused on small businesses, nonprofits, and humanitarian aid and created three programs to address the COVID-19 crisis that wreaked havoc on communities and small businesses across the country.  The Immediate Human Relief Fund was established to offer urgent relief to the populations served by food pantries, homeless shelters, child care centers, and elder care centers.

ECGRA's mission is to elevate Erie County by empowering nonprofits and small businesses toward economic and community development.  Since February 2008, ECGRA has invested more than $55 million in Erie County.

 READ Report

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.