City of Erie to launch application process for nearly $10 million in ARP funds

Kevin Flowers, Erie Times-News
·2 min read
Erie City Hall, in the 600 block of State Street, is shown April 24, 2019.

The city of Erie will start accepting applications next week from businesses, entrepreneurs and community groups for a portion of the city’s $76 million share of American Rescue Plan funds.

Applications will be accepted by the city starting on Tuesday, said Renee Lamis, Mayor Joe Schember's chief of staff.

Nearly $10 million in grants, loans and other financial assistance is being made available via the city’s Department of Economic and Community Development, to help those who were adversely impacted by COVID-19.

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The ARP allocations were previously approved by Erie City Council.

The funding includes:

  • $2.15 million for grants for various community development projects.

  • $2 million to help fund large-scale affordable housing developments. The projects must involve five or more housing units.

  • $2 million for refinancing/restructuring debt related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • $1 million in grants for technical assistance.

  • $1 million for a small business diversity loan program.

  • $1 million to provide additional capital for the Flagship Fund, a city grant program which assists small businesses.

  • $500,000 for financial relief grants for restaurants and entertainment-related businesses.

The city also plans to launch a website early next week with detailed information on the application process, Lamis said.

The city received a $76 million allocation from the $1.9 trillion federal American Rescue Plan stimulus bill, signed into law last year by President Joe Biden to aid in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Joe Schember has asked Erie City Council to sign off on using roughly $53 million of that money for various projects focused on blight; housing rehabilitation, assisting businesses and entrepreneurs; funding environmental cleanups; public safety/police hiring; improving parks/creating new green space, and a host of other initiatives.

Most of those requests have been approved by City Council.

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The city will begin accepting applications for other ARP related grants/assistance, including money for various housing programs, in the next few weeks. Those applications will be processed via the city's Redevelopment Authority.

Anyone seeking more information can call Jennifer Hoffman, the city’s business development officer, at 814-870-1275.

Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ETNflowers.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie ARP funds: Restaurants, businesses, others can apply next week