Investment advances transformational projects across Erie County
Infinite Erie was awarded an $1,082,000 federal Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative grant. The funding will provide technical assistance and capacity building to advance transformational economic development projects across Erie County.
“The ARC POWER grant, when leveraged with local investments, will support Infinite Erie’s work connecting under-resourced organizations to subject-matter experts, professional services, and technical assistance to support Investment Playbook projects,” said Kim Thomas, executive director of Infinite Erie. “By focusing on Erie’s historically distressed communities, the funding will provide critical resources to create a new pipeline of professionals who will stay in Erie County and contribute to its economic prosperity.”
Local investments from The Erie Community Foundation, Erie’s Black Wall Street, Infinite Erie, and Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) will provide an additional $2,184,644, bringing the total investment to $3,266,644 over the next three years.
“Erie’s Black Wall Street is proud to partner with Infinite Erie to secure this funding,” said Kyra Taylor, Executive Director of Erie’s Black Wall Street. “Infinite Erie, with guidance from the Investment Playbook, is helping break down barriers across sectors including workforce development, inclusive entrepreneurship, rural revitalization, affordable housing, and sustainability.
“As a subgrantee, this grant will allow us to advance our projects while supporting inclusive growth efforts throughout the county.”
One of ARC’s strategic investment goals is to build community leaders and capacity. By helping local leaders, organizations, and communities address local challenges, the grant will allow Infinite Erie to accomplish that goal.
“The Erie Community Foundation is committed to empowering communities to create a united, vibrant, and thriving region for all,” said Karen Bilowith, Erie Action Team chair and president and CEO of The Erie Community Foundation. “The ARC grant leverages the financial commitment The Foundation has made to advance the projects in the Playbook, and represents real momentum as it is drawing new funds into the community.”
“As a local nonprofit leader, I understand how important technical assistance and professional consultants are in moving a project forward,” said Daria Devlin, Erie Action Team member and executive director of Erie Center for Arts & Technology. “This grant, along with the investments made by community partners, will allow more organizations to implement transformational, impactful projects that will help to equitably move the needle in Erie.”
“This grant funding will enable PennTAP to convene a strong team to integrate the principles of social and environmental sustainability into projects championed by Infinite Erie,” said Heidi Shadeck, Technical Advisor at PennTAP. “By engaging with diverse stakeholders and expanding Infinite Erie’s access to subject matter expertise, this team will ensure the transformative economic development projects undertaken will simultaneously make us more resilient to the impacts of climate change, protect our natural resources, build cleaner and greener infrastructure, and deliver direct benefits to our most vulnerable communities.”
