The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) administers the Multi-Municipal Collaboration (MMC) Grants to promote functional cooperation among Erie County’s 38 municipal governments. Founded in 2008, ECGRA operates as an impact investor, leveraging gaming revenue from the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue to stimulate economic and community development in Erie County. The MMC Grants aim to incentivize municipalities, authorities, and 501(c)(3) organizations to collaborate on projects that increase operational efficiency, promote economic development, and improve the quality of life in Erie County.

The purpose of the MMC Grants is to encourage local governments to look beyond their municipal boundaries, finding cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver services. Projects should advance at least one of ECGRA’s strategic goals: quality of life, small business development, youth and education, neighborhoods and communities, and municipal development. Eligible projects include municipal mergers, joint comprehensive plans, shared facilities, and collaborative tourism promotion. By promoting intergovernmental agreements and collaborative governance, ECGRA hopes to serve as a model for other Pennsylvania communities.

Funding available for this grant cycle totals $450,000. Each application can request up to $100,000, and a one-to-one cash match is required. Funding cannot be used for activities like debt service, conference attendance, real estate acquisition, traffic studies, or utility infrastructure projects. Only cash contributions (not in-kind donations) are counted toward the required match, and detailed budgets must be submitted with the application.

Eligible applicants must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations, municipal authorities, councils of governments, incorporated intergovernmental groups, municipalities, or municipal commissions headquartered in Erie County. They must also be in good standing with taxing authorities and ECGRA, and demonstrate collaboration among at least two municipalities with Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) included. Organizations such as libraries, parks, airports, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions are not eligible to apply.

Applications open on March 1, 2025, and are accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, 2025. Applications are reviewed monthly, with awards typically made within 60 days of submission and no later than December 2025. Successful applicants must complete project closeout reports within 12 months of funding, and compliance with grant requirements—including financial documentation and outcomes reporting—is mandatory. Contact for inquiries is Tom Maggio, ECGRA Grants Manager, reachable at (814) 897-2694 or tmaggio@ECGRA.org.