Funding will be used to redevelop portions of Flagship City Commons into retail, office space
Grant funding to help revitalize downtown communities and support small businesses is on the way to Erie County, where the funding will be used to help establish a small business incubator in the Flagship City Commons, state Rep. Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) announced Wednesday.
The Erie Downtown Development Corporation has been awarded an $850,000 grant through the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development to restore a portion of the Flagship City Commons on North Park Row into 40,000 square feet of affordable retail and office space. This space will be used to create a small business incubator, where new businesses will have a chance to establish and grow their services.
“The Flagship City Commons has played an important role in bringing new life and opportunity to downtown Erie. It represents the kind of forward-thinking investment that helps communities thrive,” said Bizzarro. “Establishing a small business incubator in this highly-visible area will help create a space where entrepreneurs can turn their ideas into successful businesses, creating jobs and helping drive long-term economic growth for years to come.”
The Flagship City Commons in downtown Erie has been an ongoing revitalization project to build a stronger, more accessible downtown. It’s currently home to restaurants, retail and office space, arts and entertainment experiences and more. The portion of buildings on North Park Row is listed in the National Register of Historic Spaces and is currently under-utilized.
“A strong and vibrant downtown creates more than economic growth; it creates a ripple effect across the region. As Erie’s downtown continues to expand with new businesses and opportunities, surrounding communities will see the benefits through stronger commerce and increased tourism. This investment impacts the entire county,” Bizzarro added.
The funding was delivered through the Main Street Matters grant program, which is meant to strengthen downtown and surrounding neighborhoods through revitalization, aesthetic improvements and increased safety and security. A total of $17.2 million was awarded to 56 projects across the commonwealth through this round of funding. It will restore the Flagship City Commons on North Park Row — a block of older, under‑utilized buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places — into approximately 40,000 square feet of affordable retail and office space and a small business incubator. The project is expected to spur downtown economic activity, create jobs, expand opportunities for local entrepreneurs, and strengthen Erie’s commercial corridor.
“This investment will help revitalize a key block in downtown Erie, support small businesses and create new opportunities for entrepreneurs and workers across our community,” Harkins said. “Projects like Flagship City Commons are exactly the kind of targeted economic development that brings jobs, foot traffic and renewed pride to our neighborhoods.”
Merski said, “Turning under‑utilized historic buildings into affordable space for businesses and startups is a win for Erie. This funding will help grow our local economy, support small business formation and make downtown a more vibrant place to live, work and visit.”
The award is part of the Main Street Matters initiative, which is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is a component of the Shapiro Administration’s 10‑year Economic Development Strategy to revitalize downtowns, support small businesses and strengthen local economies.
