Mission Main Street Grant Program

The Mission Main Street Grant Program, established by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, aims to revitalize Erie County's main streets by supporting small businesses and enhancing community development. With funding opportunities for planning and implementation, the program encourages local governments and nonprofits to improve streetscapes, promote tourism, and foster economic growth. Grants of up to $200,000 are available, emphasizing community engagement and adherence to historic preservation principles.

About ECGRA
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority was incorporated in February 2008 in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the purpose of creating and administering a grantmaking process for gaming funds that come from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Since February 2008, ECGRA has invested more than $65 million in Erie County.
Purpose
The purpose of the Mission Main Street Grant Program is to create a targeted impact on Erie County’s municipalities through commercial corridors that are known as “main streets.” Following the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s four-point main street approach, this grant recognizes that each municipality in Erie County is distinct geographically with main streets that host small business, special events, historic structures, and central parks. Many have fallen into disrepair because of the diaspora of retail from central business districts to malls and auto-oriented strip shopping centers. In communities in which main streets and historic structures are maintained, there is a sense of vibrancy and civic pride. Revitalizing Erie County main streets is an economic and community development strategy that creates jobs, promotes tourism, and impacts the region’s economy.
Goals
Mission Main Street Grant goals:
Redevelop streetscapes and buildingsRemove blight and reverse deteriorationPromote a positive small business environmentIncentivize and spur private investmentMake communities more walkable, safe, and attractiveExperiment with creative programming & civic engagementImprove the municipal tax base
Funding Paths
MMS Planning Grant In the course of re-making or improving Main Streets, ECGRA understands there is a need to perform studies and analyses before public investment is made in areas such as streetscapes, bicycle and pedestrian safety, transportation, parking management, new construction, housing, retail, parks, and façade renovations.Additionally, pre-construction costs such as engineering and design are essential to completing construction projects ranging from streetscapes to park and accessibility improvements.ECGRA Mission Main Street Planning Grant funds can be used for relevant studies, planning, design, and/or engineering services up to $10,000. Planning Grant funds must have a 1:1 cash match.Any ECGRA-funded planning, studies, or analyses must incorporate public involvement throughout and ensure adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Plans shall also adhere to the basic goals of the Mission Main Street Program which are to enhance economic and business vitality while maintaining local historic integrity, quality of life, and sense of place.Planning grants are available once per entity within the three-year program period.Mission Main Street funding cannot exceed a total of $200,000 per entity over a two-year period.MMS Implementation GrantThe Mission Main Street program encourages municipal and main street organizations to adopt and follow the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street goals which are: Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring.ECGRA's Mission Main Street Grant Program provides valuable funding for improvements to urban and rural main streets to support local businesses and economies. Projects relating to each of the four goals are eligible for Mission Main Street funding. Examples of past funded Mission Main Street projects include: marketing and promotions, Buy Local campaigns, website and social media development, storefront improvement programs, façade improvements, streetscaping, tree planting, park improvements along main streets, gateway treatments, farmers markets, history tours, banners, bicycle parking, development of design guidelines, special events, and program staff time.
Funding Details
Planning Grant Max award of $10,000 per application Duration of grant: 1 year Implementation GrantMax award of $200,000 per applicationDuration of grant: up to 2 years

Eligibility

Project sponsors can be 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations, local governments, or municipal authorities.Project applications will be required to match the grant 1:1. (Cash match)The following are generally considered cash-match contributions:Cash contributed by your organizationEquipment or supplies to be purchased by your organization for project, program, or event activitiesPaying for an event brochure and/or its disseminationGrants from other government agencies or foundations (not gaming funds)Property owner improvements as part of storefront or façade improvement programGeographic FocusThe applicant or sponsoring organization’s main office or headquarters must be located in the boundaries of Erie County, Pennsylvania. The town, commercial corridor, or main street must be within the boundaries of Erie County, Pennsylvania.Eligible Improvements and programs include:Streetscapes, sidewalks, walkwaysParks, landscaping, trees, greenwaysFacades, roofs, windowsSigns, awnings, bannersBuilding/structural improvementsADA accessibility, elevatorsSmall business developmentBranding, MarketingBuy Local related campaignUtilities, TelecommunicationsProgramming, eventsMarketing, advertisingFunding may be used for the following:Paid Staff (full-time and temporary)Marketing/Outreach/EngagementProgramming RelatedInsuranceEquipment & SuppliesContracted ServicesStudies, plans, construction drawings, and other similar professional services are limited to Planning Grants. Examples of eligible contracted services are board development consultants, advertising agencies, event security, landscaping company, tent providers, musicians, etc.ConstructionOutcomes Measurement & Impact Tracking

Ineligibility

The organization will be deemed ineligible for funding if it is: an institution that predominantly provides elementary or secondary education or other training; a state or federal park; an airport or public transportation facility; a for profit; any municipality or organization that was part of the settlement agreement entered into December 13, 2010 with ECGRA; a health care or long-term care facility; a public safety organization.Funding cannot be used for the following:Debt serviceTravel and attendance at conferencesMemberships or subscriptionsAny other cost that ECGRA deems to be ineligibleMatch requirementExistence of an endowment does not count toward match. Fundraising for a previous year’s project, programming, or event does not count toward match.The following are generally considered in-kind contributions:Personnel time given to the projectPerson on loan from another organizationUse of existing equipment or suppliesUse of existing laboratory equipment or facilitiesWaived or unrecovered indirect cost amountOffice spaceDonated materials, supplies, or labor