The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) has awarded $214,121 in Special Events Grant funding to several area organizations throughout Erie County, including two Corry and three Union City recipients.

The grants to local organizations are part of a larger Special Events Grant funding to support 50 organizations and more than 150 events throughout Erie County. 

During the Wednesday announcement, which was held at the Warner Theater in Erie, ECGRA stated that supporting these kind of events help strengthen communities and attract visitors. 

“We’re investing in the heart and soul of Erie,” said ECGRA Executive Director Perry Wood. “These events create experiences that bring people together, strengthen our communities, attract visitors, and build the memories that make Erie a great place to live.”

The YMCA of Corry was awarded $1,860 for CorryFest and Chainsaw Carving Festival, while the DiVittorio Center for Autism was awarded $300 for their Sensory Open House Celebration. 

“The YMCA of Corry is very thankful to ECGRA for investing in CorryFest,” said YMCA of Corry Chief Executive Officer Michele Brady. “Their support helps us continue offering a fun, family-friendly event that our community celebrates year after year.”

In Union City, funds were awarded to:

• Borough of Union City — Union City Police Department National Night Out 2026, $265.

• Safe Journey — 2026 PurpleOne Domestic Violence Conference, $3,500

• Union City Pride — French Creek Festival, $1,143.50

ECGRA Special Events Grants fund up to 5% of events that take place within Erie County and are open to the general public. 

Applicants must be a 501(c)3 organization, municipality or authority headquartered in Erie County. Grantees must demonstrate how their event(s) creates a targeted economic impact on Erie County by attracting attendance to the region and impacting local quality of place. 

“Special events are often the moments when residents and visitors experience the very best in Erie County,” said Erie County Councilman Jim Wertz. “From county fairs and cultural festivals to concerts, sporting events and neighborhood celebrations, these gatherings create lasting memories, strengthen community connections, and support local businesses and nonprofits. ECGRA’s investment in these events helps organizations turn great ideas into successful experiences that drive economic activity, attract tourism, and build community pride. This year’s award recipients demonstrate the breadth and diversity of events that make Erie County a vibrant place to live, work, and visit year-round.” 

An impact investing organization, ECGRA’s mission is to empower the nonprofit sector, municipal governments, and economic development agencies to revitalize Erie County.  

ECGRA is endowed with local share gaming revenue from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania via the Horse Race Gaming Act. Local share gaming revenue is an assessment of the licensed gambling industry in Pennsylvania. ECGRA administers local share gaming revenue on behalf of the Erie County government.

See story sidebar for a full list of recipients, the event the organization is coordinating and the amount of funding that was awarded.