ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Message from Dave and Perry...... 3 Financial Report...... 4 IMPACT: Neighborhoods & Local Communities...... 6 IMPACT: Municipalities...... 10 IMPACT Investing: 5 Key Areas...... 12 IMPACT: Small Business...... 14 IMPACT: Quality of Place...... 16 IMPACT: Education & Youth...... 22 Board and Staff Members...... 23

Grantee: Waterford Community Fair Association Grant: $3,600 Project: Expand service to its 6,300 entrants A Message from Dave & Perry

Impact investing is not a new concept. The Rockefeller, George Gund, and F.B. Heron foundations have been investing funds to drive social, cultural, and environmental change and maximize financial returns since the 1990s. Through impact investing, these groups have been able to realize larger gains toward their mission. This movement has recently caught fire and is now being adopted by foundations, brokers, philanthropists, and thought leaders around the world.

In 2014, the ECGRA board of directors adopted an Impact Investing Policy and began rethinking how it put gaming funds to work in Erie County. At a time when financial returns are generally most highly regarded, we’re making targeted investments to change the life trajectory of residents in local communities. In Corry, we’re piloting a neighborhood renewal initiative to elevate blighted neighborhoods (pg. 6). Across the county, we piloted a summer jobs program for disconnected youth (pg. 22). In our cities and boroughs, we’re fostering small business growth (pg. 14) and main street renewal (pg. 8). And throughout our county, we’re igniting innovation and entrepreneurship and empowering nonprofits.

In the past 12 months, we’ve learned three very important lessons: productive collaborations between residents, local government, and business can vastly improve communities; relatively small, focused amounts of funding can positively shape the lives of Erie County residents; and looking beyond short-term gains and focusing on sustainable, systemic change are key to transforming Erie County.

We look forward to reporting short- and long-term outcomes as we continue to make impact investments in our community.

In service,

David S. Sample, Chairman Perry N. Wood, Executive Director 4

FINANCIALreport ASSETS Checking Account $27,408.89 Savings Account $13,168,436.17 Accounts Receivable $1,350,000.00 Prepaid Expenses $7,610.00 TOTAL ASSETS $14,553,455.06

EQUITY Beginning Balance $13,954,151.01 Net Income $599,304.05 Grants Issued $4,729,588.02 Community Assets ($172,542.00) Corry Neighborhood Renewal Pilot ($20,000.00) Human Services ($69,208.00) Lead Assets ($970,217.59) Lead Assets Endowment ($1,373,646.00) Local Government Development ($1,383,095.43) Mission Main Street ($77,530.00) Multi-Municipal Collaboration ($242,987.00) Small Business Financing ($150,000.00) Erie County Council establishes ECGRA as an economic Special Events ($160,362.00) development financing authority Summer Jobs & More Pilot ($110,000.00) $15M TOTAL EQUITY $14,553,455.06 2008 2009 Makes initial investment of $3.5 million in Local Government Development; $15 million invested to date 5 $242,987 $172,542 $160,362 $150,000 $110,000 $69,208 $77,530 $20,000 $1,383,095 $1,373,646 $970,217 Financing Lead Assets Lead Assets Endowment Development Collaboration Renewal Pilot Renewal Special Events More Program Small Business Summer Jobs & Human Services Multi-Municipal Local Government Community Assets Mission Main Street Corry Neighborhood

$1,626,082 $150,000

TOTAL INVESTED $110,000 by IMPACT

$2,745,975 $97,530

2010 Receives President’s Award 2011 Creates Erie Innovation Fund in collaboration with Ben Franklin from County Commissioners Technology Partners and commits $700,000 to catalyze tech start- Association of Pennsylvania ups and manufacturers; eight small businesses fortified to date 6

“Successful revitalization creates a neighborhood whose conditions help enable all of the residents to succeed economically and socially.”

Sean Zielenbach, author of The Art of Revitalization: Improving Conditions in Distressed Inner-City Neighborhoods

Invests $525,000 in Makes first Human Services Grant in Erie Innovation Fund; partnership with The Erie Community $1,462,500 invested to date Foundation; $476,000 has been invested

2011 Chuck Peters named board chair Opens first-ever Names and invests $1.3 million in Special Events Grants; $ grants in nine Erie County Lead Assets; $733,000 invested to date 2.9M $2.9 million in grants invested to date 7

IMPACT NEIGHBORHOODS & LOCAL COMMUNITIES 2014 PILOT: Over the past two decades, the city In its first six months, the pilot reported impressive of Corry has experienced the dual decline of its outcomes: CNI demolished two blighted properties, housing stock and its tax base. Closed businesses and formed a citizens action group, and kicked off Corry lost jobs have resulted in increased poverty, declining Cares, a campaign to raise funds for neighborhood population, and growing vacancy and blight. The renewal. In December, ECGRA joined forces with median household income of Corry residents is the Corry Industrial Benefit Association to create $30,677 compared to Pennsylvania residents’ median a $100,000 revolving loan fund to help qualifying HHI of $52,267. Approximately 26% of the Corry homeowners make energy- and money-saving Corry population lives below the poverty level*— home improvements. twice the Pennsylvania average. Of the 2,808 *Figures come from the American Communities Surveys 5-year estimates housing units in Corry, more than 11% are distressed for 2012 and door-to-door surveys by the Corry Neighborhood Initiative. or vacant*. Blight deters new talent and businesses from moving to Corry; declining property values provide little funding to the school district and city in the form of taxes. Corry Neighborhood Renewal officials WATCH IN will continue their work with more In April, ECGRA and The Corry Community than 40 owners in Corry’s first ward to Foundation invested $40,000 to launch the Corry 2015 bring properties into compliance with Neighborhood Renewal pilot program and fuel a code standards or plan demolition. powerful partnership in which the Bayfront East Side Taskforce serves as exemplar to the Corry Neighborhood Initiative (CNI).

Using ECGRA funds, Erie Zoo Invests $94,000 in Erie County Special presents Wild Wednesdays Events; $733,000 invested to date

Erie Art Museum uses ECGRA funds $ Exceeds $10 million Begins funding Erie County’s heritage and ethnic festivals to offer free admission and family- 10M invested in Erie County through Special Events Grants; to date, ECGRA has funded friendly activities at Second Sundays German, Irish, Italian, Polish, Russian, and Scottish festivals 8

GRANTEES GRANTS PROJECTS Corry Community $9,850 Install educational sidewalk panels, outdoor Development benches, and planters; expand décor to drive Corporation shoppers to “A Very Merry Corry Christmas,” the Corry Area Chamber of Commerce’s small business initiative; produce a marketing video Downtown North $15,000 Improve facades on 10 downtown businesses East Inc. Erie Downtown $15,000 In collaboration with ECGRA and the Partnership Inc. Pennsylvania Department of Community and Main streets are at the heart of many of our Economic Development, improve facades on municipalities and sound the pulse of our 15 downtown businesses community. ECGRA’s Mission Main Street Grants, launched in 2013, revitalize Erie County main Fort LeBoeuf $3,180 Install iron hand rails and gutters, repair the corridors—home to small businesses, special events, Historical Society roof, and purchase lawn mowers for grounds historic structures, and central parks—and ultimately maintenance at the historic Eagle Hotel in drive job creation, boost population, and promote Waterford tourism. This year, ECGRA invested $77,530 to renew commercial corridors. McKean Borough $12,500 Replace 630 feet of dilapidated walking and storefront sidewalk along Main Street Union City $15,000 Construct a recreational pavilion and rehab a Community vacant downtown lot; install signage, planters, House Association flowers, and trees for Community Days, Union City in Bloom, and “Buy Local” campaign Waterford Borough $7,000 Landscape and hardscape around the community gazebo built in Municipal Park (built with a 2012-13 MMS grant)

Launches UChoose Grants; $90,000 total invested in nine projects chosen by community voting

2011 Opens first-ever Erie County Historical Society uses ECGRA funds Community Assets Grants to host NASA Astronaut Colonel Michael Fincke 9

Grantee: Downtown North East Inc. Grant: $15,000 Project: Improve facades on 10 downtown businesses Photo by: Mark Fainstein

Invests $151,000 in Erie County Community Assets; $630,00 has been invested

Enterprise Development Fund uses Begins funding Erie County’s fairs through Community Assets Grants; ECGRA Small Business Financing funds to date, ECGRA has funded the Albion Area Fair, Erie County Fair at to make region’s first micro-loan Wattsburg, North East Community Fair, and Waterford Community Fair 10

IMPACT MUNICIPALITIES

Contiguous Municipalities From public safety to infrastructure to health and human services, these six municipalities contiguous with Presque Isle Downs and Casino received $1,383,095 in ECGRA funds to use for the betterment of Erie County residents: Erie County Greene Township McKean Township Millcreek Township Summit Township Waterford Township

“Cities are defined by the quality of the ideas they generate, the innovations they spur, and the opportunities they create for people living within and outside the city limits.”

Dr. Bruce Katz, author of The Metropolitan Revolution: How Cities and Metros Are Fixing Our Broken Politics and Fragile Economy

Summit Township uses $500,000 of ECGRA funds in a loan agreement to retain Lord Corporation jobs

2011 Sisters of Saint Joseph Neighborhood Network plan Grants $875,000 to the Enterprise Development Fund to 18th Street mural, the first of several ECGRA-funded invest in local small businesses; to date, ECGRA has invested murals now beautifying countywide corridors $2.375 million in grant and revolving loan funds to EDF 11

Multi-Municipal Collaboration ECGRA invests in local government innovation through its Multi-Municipal Collaboration Grants. The first initiative of its kind, Keystone Edge named it “Erie County’s pioneering government cooperation fund” when MMC Grants launched in 2012. In 2015, ECGRA invested $242,987 in five collaborative municipal projects representing 22 municipalities, authorities, nonprofits, and intergovernmental agencies.

GRANTEES COLLABORATORS GRANTS PROJECTS Erie Area City of Erie, Erie County, $88,000 Create county and municipal Council of Franklin Township, Girard websites, build information-sharing Governments Borough, Harborcreek Township, technologies, advance electronic Lawrence Park Township, Millcreek forms and document management Township, Summit Township, systems Wesleyville Borough Erie County City of Corry, Union City Borough $25,600 Develop a process to convert street Redevelopment lights to energy- and cost-saving Authority LED Harborcreek Brookside Fire Company, Fairfield $23,200 Purchase an emergency response Township Hose Company, Harborcreek vehicle to provide off-hours first Fire Department, Lawrence Park responder and emergency medical Township technician services Jefferson Cranesville Borough, City of Corry, $100,000 Develop emerging leaders and build Educational Harborcreek Township, Millcreek a cooperative civic culture through Society Township the newly formed Jefferson Alliance for Community Progress Platea Borough Cranesville Borough, Elk Creek $6,187 Keep neighborhoods clean and Township, Franklin Township, safe and promote recycling via the Girard Borough, Girard Township, annual West Erie County Recycling/ Springfield Township Clean-up Day Program $242,987

Invests $149,000 in Erie County Special Events

2012 Crime Victim Center uses an ECGRA Invests $350,000 in the Funds used to present the first- Human Services Grant to expand Erie Innovation Fund ever Best Summer Night concert on services to rural Erie County Presque Isle State Park beaches 12 Returns aren’t always measured in dollars. To catalyze our region’s private sector To educate Erie’s young adult workforce,

A growing movement and develop Erie’s entrepreneurial strengthen schools and employers, spearheaded by the Rockefeller, ecosystem by spurring small business and abate poverty. Current initiatives George Gund, and F.B. Heron development, building collaborations include the School District Foundation foundations, impact investing for business acceleration, and offering a Endowment Challenge and the Summer takes into account the social, broader spectrum of financing products Jobs and More pilot. cultural, and environmental for starting, growing, and reinventing effects of investments, in small business. Current initiatives addition to the financial return. include Ignite Erie™ and Mission-related ECGRA has been measuring Investments for Small Business Growth. returns in both dollars and impact since 2011 and in 2014, ECGRA formally adopted an Major sponsor of the Impact Investing Policy to effect Invests $500,000 in Enterprise Pennsylvania Governor’s Development Fund Awards for the Arts change in five specific areas.

2012 Erie Zoo uses ECGRA funds to Invests $149,000 in Erie beautify West 38th Street corridor County Community Assets and install animal silhouettes 13

To promote well-being, foster civic pride, To reinvigorate neighborhoods and To foster progress and functional drive tourism, and attract, retain, and main corridors, boost buy-local efforts, cooperation among Erie County’s 38 mobilize creative talent and innovative and combat blight. Current projects municipal governments. Current grant businesses through cultural, heritage, include Mission Main Street Grants and programs include Local Government service, and recreation organizations the Corry Neighborhood Renewal pilot. Development and Multi-Municipal and projects. Currently, grant and Collaboration. endowment funds are at work for Lead Assets, Community Assets, Special Events, and Human Services.

JMC Ice Arena scoreboard restored using ECGRA funds

ECGRA funds used to renovate JC Martin Golf Course, the city of Erie’s sole golf course used often Grantee: Corry Neighborhood Renewal Grant: $20,000 by nonprofits to train kids in golf and in life skills Project: Pilot a renewal program in City of Corry blighted neighborhoods 14

“Economic activity in and around inner cities will take root if it enjoys a competitive advantage and occupies a niche that is hard to replicate elsewhere.”

Dr. Michael Porter, economist, researcher, author, advisor, speaker, and Harvard Business School professor

Invests $500,000 in Erie Funds 100th Invests $1.2 million in Innovation Fund organization Lead Assets endowment

2012 Creates Lead Assets endowment with $5.4 million investment, making the 4th largest $ Exceeds $20 million First annual Corry WinterFest all-time gift to The Erie Community Foundation; 20M invested in Erie County funded by ECGRA endowment now valued at $10 million 15

IMPACT SMALL BUSINESS

Ignite Erie kicked off in November 2013 when ECGRA and 26 leading agencies and businesses brought together more than WATCH IN 350 entrepreneurs, educators, policy makers, subject-matter experts, and elected officials to discuss the future of inner-city 2015 investment and innovation-based economic development. Across the country, universities are collaborating with each other, In late 2014, ECGRA rolled out phase two by committing startup entrepreneurs, small business, $3 million over three years to small business development. manufacturing, labor, healthcare, and The goals? To create jobs, renew inner-city neighborhoods, local government to build an atmosphere inspire partnerships that serve entrepreneurs, leverage private conducive to innovation. ECGRA will investments, and ignite Erie’s entrepreneurial spirit. support entrepreneurs from stage-to-stage Early this year, ECGRA made its first Ignite Erie investments: of new product and service development through a $1.5 million business $150,000 in Inner-city Small Business Development acceleration collaborative with Penn Economist Michael Porter believes that America’s distressed State Erie, The Behrend College, and cities are the greatest challenge the nation faces. ECGRA Mercyhurst University. awarded $50,000 to the Erie Education, Employment, and Entrepreneurship Center, a unifying effort of Community To spur job creation and business Capital Development Corporation and Urban Erie Community development and fill gaps in the spectrum Development Corporation, and $100,000 to Bridgeway Capital of financing products available for Inc. for the sole purpose of working collaboratively with banks, starting, growing, and reinventing small developers, and small business owners to ignite commercial business, ECGRA will make its first activities in Erie’s inner city. mission-related investments—investments that generate financial returns alongside social or environmental impact.

2013 Receives Investor Approves Invests $155,000 in Erie Opens first-ever ECGRA Approves Award from Enterprise th County Special Events Mission Main Street Grant th Development Fund 100 grant 250 grant 16

COMMUNITY EDINBORO HIGHLAND GAMES ASSETS For the Scottish Festival, $172,542 in 22 Investments including multiple competitions, music, dance, ASBURY WOODS food, and family gatherings PARTNERSHIP INC. $6,300 To design three new hands- on interactive ecosystem EDINBORO attractions UNIVERSITY $6,354 FOUNDATION To provide enhanced media BOY SCOUTS OF coverage to southern Erie AMERICA - FRENCH County via “Boro 24/7: A CREEK COUNCIL Campus & Community Partnership” For technology that helps $9,900 facilitate Learning for Life, summer camp, and youth and adult scouting programs ERIE COUNTY FAIR $9,750 AT WATTSBURG Grantee: Waterford Community Fair Association Grant: $3,600 To purchase 300 chairs and Project: Expand service to its 6300 entrants DOWNTOWN 10 banquet tables EDINBORO ART $4,178 & MUSIC FESTIVAL ERIE COUNTY IMPACT For operating the 11th annual folk art and music VIETNAM festival VETERANS QUALITY PLACE $8,512 MEMORIAL of To complete the memorial by EDINBORO AREA adding a prayer stone ECGRA’s Regional Assets represent Erie County’s key cultural, heritage, and HISTORICAL $3,198 recreational organizations and events. Grantees improve residents’ sense of SOCIETY To fund the 175th Founder’s FORT LEBOEUF community and quality of life, inspire innovation, and drive millions of tourists to Day celebration HISTORICAL our region. ECGRA Human Services Grants, made in collaboration with The Erie $1,679 SOCIETY Community Foundation, mobilize nonprofits to serve and empower our in-need For critical improvements to the Historic Eagle Hotel, neighbors. These grantees work together to promote our health, happiness, and Judson House, and Fort well-being, and improve Erie’s overall quality of place. LeBoeuf Museum $9,600

Union City officials use a Mission Main Street Grant to renew facades damaged by the May 2013, tornado

2013 Deploys $79,000 in Mission Main Street Grants ECGRA Lead Asset Erie Playhouse In collaboration with the Jefferson Eductional Society, for revitalization of seven commercial corridors performs “Spirit of Erie” as part presents Perry 200 Commemoration fireworks in the countywide; $160,000 invested to date of the Perry 200 Commemoration city of Erie, Girard, North East, and Waterford 17

GANNON LEBOEUF LITTLE SNOOPS SPECIAL CAFÉ UNIVERSITY - LEAGUE NEIGHBORHOOD For CelebrateErie, a four-day, ERIE CHAMBER To rehab multipurpose WATCH EVENTS open-air street festival in the building and Challenger Field $160,362 in 193 Events heart of downtown Erie ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION $15,750 To perform free concerts and to purchase new baseball To create a gateway mural on featuring world-renowned and softball equipment the high-visibility railroad ALBION AREA $10,950 CORRY soloists at inner-city schools overpass located at E. 15th & FAIR INC. and downtown venues Ash streets To maintain high-quality fair COMMUNITY $11,550 MEAD PARK $10,640 exhibits by installing sliding DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION steel doors and cementing CORPORATION HARBOR CREEK To prepare grounds for URBAN ERIE floors in the animal barns To promote outdoor family LITTLE LEAGUE and install new playground COMMUNITY $4,424 activities at WinterFest and To renovate three baseball equipment to operate CorryFest, the $11,850 DEVELOPMENT and two softball fields CORPORATION BARBER NATIONAL largest free celebration in $10,950 southern Erie County NORTH EAST For girls ages 6-18 from West INSTITUTE $2,068 Africa to perform “My Mama To raise awareness for LAKE ERIE COMMUNITY FAIR Was a Refugee,” an original individuals with disabilities ARBORETUM ASSOCIATION dance and music production via BNI’s Art Show & DAN RICE DAYS AT FRONTIER For door replacement and $3,184 Sale, Beast on the Bay, and For the 44th annual Dan roof repairs on an event- Christmas Ball Rice Days Celebration, To purchase signage and Girard’s premier family- brochures, prepare green-roof critical storage unit WATTSBURG $14,116 $1,173 friendly event lesson plans, and maintain CEMETERY $306 grounds BOROUGH OF PERFORMING ASSOCIATION $6,200 To improve safety and WESLEYVILLE ARTISTS For Wesleyville Days, an DOWNTOWN aesthetics by replacing EDINBORO ART & LAKE SHORE COLLECTIVE deteriorated fencing annual event celebrating the RAILWAY ALLIANCE $8,400 past, present, and future of MUSIC FESTIVAL For critical upgrades to the the borough To showcase grassroots art HISTORICAL $599 and music in the unique SOCIETY theater performance space PENNSYLVANIA $8,487 spirit of Appalachian culture To restore two historical CHAMBER BOY SCOUTS OF and tradition GE Transportation-made SYMPHONY AMERICA - FRENCH $2,246 locomotives PRESQUE ISLE YOUNG $9,000 PARTNERSHIP CREEK COUNCIL EDINBORO To replace deteriorated ARTISTS DEBUT To provide youth ages wooden tables with recycled ORCHESTRA 6-20 opportunities to gain HIGHLAND GAMES aluminum tables and to For its 10th season of knowledge of local heritage To further Scottish heritage, install bike racks throughout performing and matching and learn a variety of skills competitive arts, and heavy the park students ages 6-21 with while being mentored by athletics $11,550 professional musician caring adults $2,493 mentors $650 $9,900

Invests $1 million in revolving Invests $565,000 in Lead Invests $157,000 in Erie loan funds in Enterprise Assets endowment County Community Assets Development Fund

ECGRA funds used to erect the ECGRA burgee flies on the Flagship Goodell Gardens uses ECGRA funds to Purple Heart Memorial of NWPA Niagara at Erie’s Tall Ships Festival replace roof on its historic bank barn 18

“Finding a place that makes us happy has a powerful effect on our ‘activation.’ Such places encourage people to do more than they otherwise would, such as engage in more creative activities, invent new things, or start new companies—all things that are both personally fulfilling and economically productive.”

Economic geographer and theorist Dr. Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class

Receives Leadership Award from Hosts 350 civic and business leaders Lead Asset Erie Arts & Culture at Ignite Erie: A Day of Innovation

2013 ECGRA-funded Lead Assets, Special Events, and Commits $350,000 in Mulit-Municipal Community Assets report driving more than Collaboration Grants 1.5 million visitors to Erie County annually 19

EDINBORO ERIE HOMES FOR GANNON HOLY TRINITY LAKE ERIE UNIVERSITY CHILDREN & UNIVERSITY ROMAN CATHOLIC FANFARE INC. FOUNDATION ADULTS INC. To attract and retain students CHURCH To promote heritage at For the three-day To increase participants’ and foster relationships To preserve the local Polish the 18th annual German Boropalooza quality of life and promote with alumni at the weekend heritage and share its culture Heritage Festival Homecoming festival ability over disability at homecoming event at the Zabawa Festival $2,205 $4,455 ECHA’s Partners in Dance, $1,350 $4,860 THE Spring Event, and LAWRENCE PARK ERIE COUNTY FAIR Victory Ride GREATER CALVARY JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP AT WATTSBURG $2,480 FULL GOSPEL EDUCATIONAL For the two-day July 4th To demonstrate the past, BAPTIST CHURCH SOCIETY family-friendly parade, present, and future of local ERIE REGIONAL To educate youths about To expand intellectual celebration, and fireworks agriculture at annual Erie CHAMBER risks of casual sex, drug and horizons via presentations by display County Fair & GROWTH tobacco use, and violence at nationally known experts at $801 $10,257 PARTNERSHIP abstinence conference and Global Summit V To attract tourists and operate the Fun Day summer $13,950 THE NONPROFIT ERIE DANCE promote local businesses and festival PARTNERSHIP CONSERVATORY brewers at the Beer on the $1,481 LAKE ERIE To educate and empower COMPANY Bay Craft Brew Festival ARBORETUM AT regional nonprofit leaders To feature the talents of $2,250 HARBORCREEK FRONTIER at the 14th Annual NWPA local dancers and the next TOWNSHIP Nonprofit Day To encourage the public $2,814 generation of artists in ERIE-WESTERN PA To bring families and to enjoy the beauty of “How the Grinch Stole PORT AUTHORITY community members Frontier Park via Arbor Day, Christmas” For the free 8 Great Tuesdays together at two free family- ArborEAT’em, Arts in the NORTH EAST $860 Summer Concert Series at oriented concerts and Arboretum, FROLF (frisbee/ COMMUNITY Liberty Park fireworks displays golf), LEAF Festival, Movies FAIR $1,440 ERIE DOWNTOWN $6,290 in the Park, and Winterfest ASSOCIATION PARTNERSHIP $1,755 To showcase local fruits, To promote city attractions FORT LEBOEUF HIGHMARK flowers, crafts, baked and via Bike Nights, Block HISTORICAL CARING PLACE LAKE ERIE BALLET canned goods at the 88th Parties, and Downtown For “Whispers of Light: A For the 56th production of North East Community Fair SOCIETY Story of Hope,” a dance d’Lights To highlight historical the Nutcracker $585 $2,250 performance depicting the $2,700 encampments, re-enactors, grief of children and families period antiques, and PRESQUE ISLE who have lost a loved one LAKE ERIE handmade crafts at the $2,250 PARTNERSHIP annual Waterford Days FANFARE INC. To attract and entertain Celebration For the 31st annual Drum visitors and residents at the $900 Corps International Best Summer Night featuring competition Steely Dan, UPMC Sunset $2,214 Music Series, Discover Presque Isle, and Three Mile Isle $31,932 Small Business Financing investments reach more than $12.5 million in leveraged private cash and in-kind investments Dave Sample named board chair

2014 Invests $160,000 in Erie Launches Corry Neighborhood Renewal pilot project in collaboration with County Special Events The Corry Community Foundation, Corry Industrial Benefit Association, Corry Neighborhood Initiative, and Bayfront East Side Taskforce 20

RUSSIAN UNION CITY EARLY SARAH REED ORTHODOX PRIDE INC. CONNECTIONS CHILDREN’S CHURCH OF THE To celebrate Union City’s To increase the safety and CENTER NATIVITY historic background at the security of the children To improve safety of youth To bring high-quality folk Gathering at French Creek and staff at the city center residents by installing security entertainment, food, and family festival child-care facility by adding and video monitoring experience via the Russian $900 multiple wireless security systems Troika Festival devices $5,000 $1,800 WATERFORD $5,208 COMMUNITY FAIR THE UPPER ROOM SAFENET ASSOCIATION ERIE REGIONAL To renovate main facility For the 40th Anniversary To organize one of the CHAMBER used to shelter near-homeless Gala, a fundraiser for county’s largest fairs with AND GROWTH and homeless adults the Abuse Prevention more than 6,300 entrants, PARTNERSHIP $18,500 and Children’s Program showcasing livestock, To study the feasibility of an Endowment produce, and home Erie-based center for arts and URBAN ERIE $4,500 economic wares technology COMMUNITY $3,600 $25,000 DEVELOPMENT SAINT BONIFACE CORPORATION PLAYERS HUMAN MOTHERS AGAINST To increase awareness of To produce the all-school, TEEN VIOLENCE black history by expanding full-scale musical “Annie SERVICES To empower, motivate, “Embracing the Past, While Get Your Gun” and the all- in collaboration with and encourage youths to Celebrating the Future” to community play “Inspecting The Erie Community Foundation develop positive healthy Erie School District teachers Carol” $69,208 in 8 special projects lifestyles through the and students $981 Leadership, Empowerment, $7,500 ALL ABOUT Accountability, Diversity SAINT PATRICK (L.E.A.D) summer program CHARACTER INC. $8,000 CHURCH To combat violence and To promote and sustain increase high school Irish culture at the Erie Irish graduation rates via OPPORTUNITIES Festival “Character Be About It/ UNLIMITED $2,250 Troopers Teaching Students” To purchase and renovate character-education dry-cleaning equipment SISTERS OF curriculum to provide job training ST. JOSEPH $10,000 and work experience to NEIGHBORHOOD individuals with disabilities NETWORK $15,000 To highlight the cultural heritage of regional Italian immigrants and establish the Lead Assets endowment “Little Italy” neighborhood exceeds $10 million and via the Italian Festival ECGRA funds used is recognized as The Erie $3,600 Deploys $78,000 in Mission to erect Vietnam Community Foundation’s Main Street Grants Veterans Memorial 2nd largest endowment

2014 Joins forces with Erie County government and Downtown North East Inc. begins The Erie Community Foundation to pilot Summer reviving 12 façades using ECGRA Jobs and More for disconnected youth Mission Main Street Grants 21

To create and promote To promote Erie’s For in-school field trips a master vision for arts independent galleries and about our region’s history and culture in the region vibrant arts scene via Gallery using “education chests” and establish a centralized Night and to foster an that include actual Erie cultural website entrepreneurial ecosystem artifacts and stories and foster $95, 516 via InnovationErie: Design a passion for local history Competition $56,012 $130,008

To perform at schools To conceive and present For the new cat exhibit and and community centers Grantee: Lead Asset ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum Grant: $42,112 theatrical mini-events that for free entertainment and via Community Music transform children’s books member-only perks available Project: To paint Tot Spot mural, design educational programming, and Connections celebrate 20 years into character-development at Wild Wednesdays $121,283 lessons for at-risk children $277,395 and their parents $122,496 LEAD ASSETS $2,343,864 in Grant and Endowment Funds

In 2011, ECGRA named and made its initial investments in the Erie County Lead Assets. In 2012, ECGRA committed to sustain those organizations in perpetuity and created the Erie County Lead Assets Endowment, held in trust To celebrate 20 years of play For new traveling maritime For artists-in-residence at The Erie Community Foundation. This year, and learning and to create curriculum designed for to present to children and ECGRA invested $970,218 in grant funds in the and present 12 educational preschool thru high school adults at more than 20 components for toddlers and students that complement in-community art and Lead Assets and grew the endowment to more preschoolers using the new core history teaching and education venues than $10 million with a $1,373,646 investment. interactive woodland mural relieve traditional field $75,097 in the Tot Spot trip costs $42,112 $50,299

Using an ECGRA grant, Presque Isle Partnership completes restoration of the 1872 Presque Isle Lighthouse 22

IMPACT EDUCATION & YOUTH

To help change the trajectory of at-risk young lives and improve the region’s economy, ECGRA collaborated in May 2014 with Erie County Council and The Erie Community Foundation to pilot Erie Summer Jobs and More. The results: 123 eligible participants age 16-21 received paid on-the-job training from 32 countywide employers in a variety of professions.

ECGRA and its partners intend to expand Summer Jobs and More to serve 200 youths and grow the program to include WATCH IN more work and learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art+design, and math. 2015

In early 2015, ECGRA launched the School District Foundation Endowment Challenge—a $200,000 incentive to help Erie County’s 13 public school districts grow their endowments. Through 2016, ECGRA will match funds raised by the foundations up to $5 per student per district and provide free training in organizational and fundraising capacity building.

Supports Erie County’s rich rail history Using ECGRA funds, expERIEnce by partnering with GE Transportation to Invests $1.4 million Children’s Museum opens Tot Spot, fund preservation efforts of Lake Shore in Lead Assets featuring interactive curriculum centered Railway Historical Society and Museum endowment around woodland creatures mural

2014 Partners with Corry Industrial Benefit Association Invests $173,000 in Erie Sponsors Brookings Institution’s to create energy-efficiency revolving loan fund to County Community Assets Bruce Katz to present at Jefferson support Corry homeowners Educational Society’s Global Summit 23

BOARD & STAFF MEMBERS Board of Directors: Special thanks to: Barbara H. Steele, Senior Dale E. Barney, Production, General Electric Transportation Accountant, GECAC, 2014 board member Dr. Lynn K. Corder, Retired Superintendent, ECGRA Staff Northwestern School District Perry N. Wood, Executive Director Tony A. Logue, Attorney Diane K. Kuvshinikov, Executive Assistant Michael J. Paris, Owner, Paris Homes Charles J. Peters, Managing Partner, Altair Property Management David S. Sample, Owner, Corry Lumber Company Inc. David H. Yaple, Owner/Operator, Pine Avenue Many thanks to PR and Brand Manager Amanda P. Burlingham and Jenny Poff of Presque Isle Designs for helping us showcase and Lawrence Park Dairy Queens the impact of ECGRA grant money at work in Erie County. Jay A. Breneman (ex-officio), Member, Erie County Council Gary N. Lee (ex-officio), Director of Administration, County of Erie

Invests Deploys $178,919 $242,987 in Erie in Multi- County Municipal Invests $150,000 Exceeds $30 million Special Collaboration in Inner-city Small invested in Erie County Events Grants Business Development

2015 Launches Phase 2 of Ignite Erie: Inner-city Small Launches School District Foundation Launches Ignite Erie Business Development, Industry+University Business Endowment Challenge serving Industry+University Business Acceleration Collaboration, amd Impact Investing 10 Erie public school districts Acceleration Collaborative; invests $750,000 814.897.2690 www.ECGRA.org /Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority /ErieCountyGamingRevenueAuthority @ECGRA814