Locals Helping Locals: New ECGRA Funding Now Available Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

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Locals Helping Locals: New ECGRA Funding Now Available Amidst COVID-19 Crisis

The times, well, they are a-changin'. Sometimes it feels like they're changing by the day. Other times, it might feel like by the minute. 

ErieReader.com is featuring new content regularly to keep folks as plugged in and up-to-date as possible -- from the need to keep blood banks filled, to historical comparisons to other outbreaks, to emergency relief funding for the arts community, and more.

The challenge with what we -- the collective we -- are going through with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis is that we don't know about the end. That's both the what and the when, and I earlier wrote about the bigger, broader implications here.

How much longer will this all last? We don't yet know, but if we all work to the flatten the curve, the end might be nearer in sight. 

And what will the end look like when we get there? What will we have gone through? Will it get worse before it gets better? Well, we don't know that either.  

But, for the time being, local folks are working to help local folks. 

In case you missed it, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) announced the COVID-19 Response Fund, which includes one new grant program and two new loan programs "created to help meet rapidly rising needs generated as a result of the COVID-19 public health crisis," according to ECGRA's website. 

Those three programs are: 

• Immediate Human Relief Fund
• Civic Institution Deferred Income Loans
• Small Business Loan Program

As the website outlines: 

• Immediate Human Relief Fund:  A grant fund established to offer immediate relief to the populations served by Food Pantries, Homeless Shelters, Youth/Child Care Centers, and Elder Care Centers.  Organizations can apply for grants through the ECGRA online application system.
• Civic Institution Deferred Income Loan Program:  Erie County Civic institutions that can demonstrate that they have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to access low-interest loans with deferred repayment plans.  This Loan Fund will be administered by Bridgeway Capital.
• Small Business Loan Fund:  Small businesses that can demonstrate negative financial impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to access low-interest loans with relaxed short-term repayment plans contingent upon developing global economic conditions.  This Loan Fund will be administered by Bridgeway Capital.  

According to the announcement ECGRA Executive Director Dr. Perry Wood made on Facebook, along with Erie County Councilman Carl Anderson, a total of $2.35 million ECGRA-administered funding will be made available, with $500,000 going to the Immediate Human Relief Fund (and an additional $100,000 from County Council). The latter two will each be funded at $800,000, and an additional $250,000 will go to the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, which supports mid-sized businesses.

Bottom line: It's a local stimulus package. And it's one that businesses and nonprofits can begin applying for now.

For more information, visit ECGRA's COVID-19 website here. 

Ben Speggen can be contacted at Bspeggen@ErieReader.com, and you can follow him on Twitter @BenSpeggen.