Special events promote a sense of community and inclusiveness, and often generate an influx of dollars from outside Erie County resulting in local economic growth and improved quality of place for Erie residents.

To provide funding for capital improvements, programming, and equipment for publicly accessible community centers.

To provide funding for capital projects to create, protect, or improve publicly accessible parks, athletic fields, and trails throughout Erie County.

To provide capital and program funding for arts, culture, and heritage organizations.

In 2011, ECGRA named and made its initial investments in the Erie County Lead Assets—nine place-shaping culture-, heritage-, and recreation-based nonprofits: Erie Art Museum, Erie Arts & Culture, Erie County Historical Society, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Playhouse, Erie Zoological Society, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, Flagship Niagara League, and the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture.