Ten minority-owned businesses in the Erie area are receiving a significant boost to increase their visibility, thanks to a new partnership between VisitErie and ERIEBANK. This initiative, inspired by a similar program from Visit Seattle, has been tailored specifically for Erie to support local businesses and highlight the region’s diversity.
VisitErie, the destination marketing organization for the area, developed the idea after learning about Visit Seattle’s efforts. They then collaborated with ERIEBANK’s Parade Street location to secure financial support for the program. Many of the first ten businesses selected for this initiative are restaurants, and they are now benefiting from enhanced marketing and outreach efforts led by VisitErie.
ERIEBANK quickly embraced the idea, recognizing the importance of helping minority-owned businesses gain the attention they need to grow. According to VisitErie, the goal of the program is to provide visitors to the Erie area with the most authentic experience possible, which includes showcasing the diversity of the region’s businesses, attractions, and restaurants. “We did see a need that some of our minority-owned businesses needed some more visibility, so we offered a little push for that,” said Temple, a representative from VisitErie.
One of the participating business owners, Mabel Howard of Café 7-10, expressed her gratitude for the program. She noted that the initiative is not only helping individual businesses but also fostering a sense of community and mutual support among the ten participants. “Every little thing that we can do to keep each other’s doors open, I feel like a lot of that is being birthed through this relationship that was made possible by ERIEBANK and VisitErie,” Howard said.
Ashton Jones, Community Office Manager at ERIEBANK’s Parade Street location, played a key role in reaching out to the first ten businesses selected for the one-year benefit. He shared his personal connection to the initiative, saying, “Kinda humbling for me to be an Erie guy and a lot of people on the list I know personally that started their own entrepreneurial business, so being able to help in any way I can was awesome.” Jones also mentioned that many more businesses have already expressed interest in participating in the program.
This partnership between VisitErie and ERIEBANK is a step forward in supporting minority-owned businesses in the Erie area, helping them gain the visibility they deserve while enriching the experiences of visitors to the region.