HARRISBURG, Pa. \u2014 More than $5.37 million in state tax-credit investments will support housing, food access, childcare, neighborhood revitalization and other community projects across Erie County, according to state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski.<\/p>\n
The investments were awarded through Pennsylvania\u2019s Neighborhood Assistance Program, which provides tax credits to businesses that support qualifying community projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese awards reflect the determination and creativity of our local nonprofits and partners who work every day to lift up our neighborhoods,\u201d Merski said.<\/p>\n
Erie County projects cover a wide range of needs. Among the largest are $751,185 for BUILD Community Development Corporation to create permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness, $683,150 for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania to address food insecurity and $576,000 for the Minority Community Investment Coalition\u2019s Grow Erie initiative using urban agriculture to support community development.<\/p>\n
Other Erie County investments will support affordable housing, blight removal, childcare, home repairs, workforce training, community schools, cancer support, youth programs, neighborhood accessibility improvements, public art and improvements to the Eastside YMCA pool. Projects in Corry include housing and downtown improvements and redevelopment of a blighted brownfield into a trail-connected recreational and economic development site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are the kinds of targeted investments that help families, strengthen neighborhoods, and build pride,\u201d Harkins said.<\/p>\n
The awards also include projects elsewhere in northwestern Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
In Crawford County, Associated Charities received $32,500 for its Healthy Plate Initiative in Titusville, while the Center for Family Services received $17,225 to support countywide food distribution. Common Roots received $289,575 for Jumpstart Meadville, a program designed to increase affordable housing by training and funding small-scale developers. Family Services of Northwest Pennsylvania also received $31,500 for a program serving families in Crawford, Erie and Mercer counties.<\/p>\n
In Warren County, the Warren-Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council received $22,500 to renovate 229 Pennsylvania Ave. W into six workforce housing units for people ages 18 to 35. The project is intended to address housing and workforce shortages while providing residents with greater stability and access to services.<\/p>\n
The Northwest region received more than $7.3 million overall through the 2026-27 Neighborhood Assistance Program awards.<\/p>\n
Project BreakdownErie County<\/p>\n
The $5.37 million announced for Erie organizations includes projects addressing food insecurity, housing, homelessness, childcare, workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, health and youth services.<\/p>\n
BUILD Community Development Corporation \u2014 $33,150: Support for Pay-What-You-Can Markets bringing fresh food to neighborhoods with high poverty and limited food access.<\/p>\n
Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania \u2014 $683,150: Provide food to address inadequate access to nutrition affecting more than 100,000 people across northwestern Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
Eastside Renaissance \u2014 $32,500: Rehabilitate the blighted property at 711 Vine St. into housing while reducing blight and supporting East Side neighborhood revitalization.<\/p>\n
Erie Cancer Wellness Center \u2014 $16,250: Renovate its new facility to improve comfort and safety as demand grows for nonmedical support services for people affected by cancer.<\/p>\n
Erie Center for Arts & Technology \u2014 $14,300: Add 3D printing and virtual reality technology to programs focused on creativity, skills development and employment opportunities.<\/p>\n
Erie Playhouse \u2014 $9,750: Support PLAYtime, an early-learning program providing art-enriched literacy experiences to low-income children over a four-year period.<\/p>\n
expERIEnce Children\u2019s Museum \u2014 $58,500: Support discounted admission through Museums for All for families receiving food assistance.<\/p>\n
Future Focused Academy \u2014 $22,750: Offer eight-week programs helping Erie young adults develop career skills, improve financial literacy and find pathways to employment.<\/p>\n
Greater Erie Community Action Committee \u2014 $3,250: Expand access to free tax preparation through the VITA program, helping low-income residents claim refunds and tax credits.<\/p>\n
Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network \u2014 $48,750: Provide home repair grants, neighborhood security cameras, community gardens and farmers market programs, along with supported employment opportunities for teenagers.<\/p>\n
United Way of Erie County \u2014 $48,750: Stock community school Caring Closets with basic necessities and priority supplies for students.<\/p>\n
YMCA of Greater Erie \u2014 $75,400: Upgrade the Eastside YMCA indoor pool complex to support drowning prevention, water fitness and adaptive swimming programs.<\/p>\n
Gannon University on behalf of Our West Bayfront \u2014 $261,250: Support continued revitalization of the West Bayfront with a focus on housing instability, disinvestment and economic inequity.<\/p>\n
Bayfront East Side Taskforce \u2014 $237,500: Support neighborhood development aimed at combating neglect, poverty and blight while improving properties and strengthening the real estate and business market.<\/p>\n
Erie Center for Arts & Technology \u2014 $237,500: Expand workforce training and youth programming, with the goal of increasing enrollment, skills development and job placement.<\/p>\n
Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network \u2014 $190,000: Continue blight remediation and home renovations while installing public art and supporting community gardens, urban farms and a weekly farmers market.<\/p>\n
Bayfront East Side Taskforce \u2014 $72,000: Expand the Design for All program, providing free exterior accessibility, safety and security improvements to neighborhood homes and properties.<\/p>\n
BirthRoot Community Doula \u2014 $67,500: Expand early connections with families and access to culturally responsive doula services and pregnancy support.<\/p>\n
BUILD Community Development Corporation \u2014 $751,185: Create permanent supportive housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness, including comprehensive on-site services focused on health, housing retention and engagement.<\/p>\n
Children\u2019s Advocacy Center of Erie County \u2014 $31,500: Improve safety, privacy and comfort for children through soundproofing and safer, more energy-efficient windows.<\/p>\n
Community of Caring \u2014 $86,985: Support work addressing homelessness and disparities involving income, housing and health.<\/p>\n
Early Connections \u2014 $207,900: Renovate space at the Mercy Anchor Community Center to create additional safe, high-quality childcare and expand access for working families.<\/p>\n
Eastside Renaissance \u2014 $157,500: Renovate 701-703 Parade St. to eliminate blight, improve safety, create housing and strengthen the Parade Street corridor.<\/p>\n
Erie Affordable Housing Development Corporation \u2014 $85,500: Provide stable housing and support services for men ages 18 to 25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.<\/p>\n
Erie Downtown Development Corporation \u2014 $117,000: Develop Flagship City Commons, transforming underused spaces into affordable commercial hubs for entrepreneurs while supporting workforce growth and downtown revitalization.<\/p>\n
Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity \u2014 $229,590: Build three affordable homes for low-income families on vacant lots in Erie.<\/p>\n
Mercy Center for Women \u2014 $317,385: Expand supportive housing and neighborhood services aimed at reducing homelessness, food insecurity and housing instability.<\/p>\n
Mercy Hilltop Senior Center \u2014 $27,000: Replace the center\u2019s deteriorating roof to maintain safe access and services for older adults.<\/p>\n
House of Mercy Erie \u2014 $45,000: Provide grants to low-income homeowners along the Buffalo Road corridor for safety, code and exterior improvements while addressing neighborhood blight.<\/p>\n
Minority Community Investment Coalition \u2014 $576,000: Support Grow Erie, which uses urban agriculture to expand infrastructure, services and community development opportunities.<\/p>\n
Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network \u2014 $288,000: Restore a vacant historic commercial building for use as the organization\u2019s administrative and program offices.<\/p>\n
St. Martin Center \u2014 $123,300: Support the \u201cHome Starts Here\u201d initiative to improve housing stability and create pathways to first-time homeownership and generational wealth for working families.<\/p>\n
Urban Erie Community Development Corporation \u2014 $180,000: Fund predevelopment work for a proposed workforce training facility, moving the project toward a capital campaign.<\/p>\n
Wellness Learning Systems \u2014 $29,700: Provide standards-aligned mental health courses for elementary and secondary students in Erie, Fairview, Girard, Edinboro and Wattsburg.<\/p>\n
Corry Projects<\/p>\n
Two additional projects specifically serving Corry are listed separately from the $5.37 million Erie-organization total.<\/p>\n
Corry Community Development Corporation\/Impact Corry \u2014 $190,000: Address housing and blight while carrying out Corry\u2019s Community Strategic Plan, with improvements focused on neighborhoods, downtown and housing access.<\/p>\n
Corry Community Development Corporation \u2014 $67,950: Redevelop a blighted brownfield into a trail-connected destination designed to expand recreation, create jobs, encourage tourism and economic development and support workforce housing.<\/p>\n
Crawford County<\/p>\n
Associated Charities \u2014 $32,500: The Healthy Plate Initiative in Titusville will provide nutritious food and nutrition education to rural families facing food insecurity, poverty and limited access to food.<\/p>\n
Center for Family Services \u2014 $17,225: Sustain a countywide food distribution system serving rural and underserved communities through coordinated food pantries and other food-access services.<\/p>\n
Common Roots \u2014 $289,575: Jumpstart Meadville will train and fund community-minded, small-scale housing developers to accelerate development of affordable housing.<\/p>\n
Multi-County Project Serving Erie and Crawford<\/p>\n
Family Services of Northwest Pennsylvania \u2014 $31,500: Provide Family Group Decision Making and support services to families at risk of crisis in Erie, Crawford and Mercer counties, with the goal of increasing stability and improving outcomes for children and families.<\/p>\n
Warren County<\/p>\n
Warren-Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council \u2014 $22,500: Renovate 229 Pennsylvania Ave. W into six workforce housing units for people ages 18 to 35, helping address local housing and workforce shortages while improving stability and access to services.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HARRISBURG, Pa. \u2014 More than $5.37 million in state tax-credit investments will support housing, food access, childcare, neighborhood…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310137,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[2313,34048,136,142,138,137,7301,13767],"class_list":["post-310136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-erie","tag-affordable-housing","tag-community-projects","tag-erie","tag-erie-county","tag-erie-headlines","tag-erie-news","tag-food-insecurity","tag-tax-credits"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310137"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}