The Erie Zoo will be receiving its first round of financial support from Erie Events after two years of discussions.

Erie Events has verbally committed a yearly $500,000, and according to executive director Gus Pine, the first round of payment, which is $150,000, is in the process of being finalized as the zoo opens for the 2026 season.

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This comes after officials recognized there was an unsustainable financial situation confronting the zoo, putting it in jeopardy of closing.

Pine said they will give another installment at the end of March, aand the last $200,000 is left open for when the zoo requests it during this season.

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“We want to help make the zoo successful, and to do that is a big endeavor. It’s a big collaboration. So there was a lot of mixed feelings along the way, but I think in the end, by and large, everybody believes this is the right way to try to give the zoo a chance to succeed for another hundred years,” said Pine.

Pine said they will have an official signed management agreement with the zoo, which includes expanding property, within the next few weeks.

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