Savacchio Opportunity Park Project Green ($500,000)
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority is serving as consultant and project development manager to the Minority Community Investment Coalition and the Savocchio Opportunity Park Project, which is a multi-phase ‘green’ project designed to create jobs, improve food security, and offer workforce and entrepreneurial development. The Park and all businesses will run on solar energy and work to be carbon neutral. The project includes: creation of a full-scale aquaponics facility that will house a fish hatchery and grow commercial produce for resale – a portion of the facility will be utilized by neighboring residents, the majority of whom are New Americans; development of the first east coast NextGen Integrated Pest Management Solutions operation, which will raise pests to be utilized as organic pesticides and serve the PA, NY & MI markets; and development of a culinary incubator and kitchen, co-packing facility, and solar array/community solar farm.
Quin-T Site Environmental Remediation ($750,000)
This 6-acre site, formerly the Quin-T paper company, a manufacturer of roofing tar paper made with asbestos has sat vacant and blighted for more than three decades. The site has both asbestos remnants, lead paint, and barrels of oil and other contaminants of unknown origin. It is located next to low-income single-family homes and was recently home to a homeless encampment. The goal of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority’s project is to improve the neighborhood surrounding the site by removing a blighted, hazardous industrial property. The scope of work for the project includes environmental clean-up, demolition, remediation, and site preparation.
EMI Site Environmental Remediation ($750,000)
This blighted, abandoned manufacturing facility sits on a full city block (approximately five acres) along the West 12th Street historic industrial corridor, which is a primary transportation artery for the City of Erie and an area targeted for investment/redevelopment. The property abuts a school athletic facility, as well as the business and residential neighborhood of Erie’s Historic Little Italy. The site has a number of contaminants including coal, lead paint, oils, PCBs, and others of an unknown origin. It is a health and safety hazard in terms of these contaminants, as well as the condition of the physical facility. The goal of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority’s project is to improve the neighborhood and industrial corridor impacted by the site by removing a blighted, hazardous industrial property. The scope of work for the project includes environmental clean-up, demolition, remediation, and site preparation.
Erie County Gun Violence Reduction Initiative ($125,000)
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office oversees the Erie Area Gun Working Group, which successfully piloted a gun reduction initiative in 2015 that led to a two-year continuation of the effort as the Erie County Gun Violence Reduction Initiative. The initiative included community policing strategies and a collaborative/ coordinated local, state, and federal law enforcement effort. Funds are supporting a year extension of this evidence-based initiative.
Erie C3 Allied Health and Nursing Labs ($2,000,000)
The Erie County Community College will create the Allied Health and Nursing Labs program in order to fill vital healthcare workforce shortages exacerbated by the Covid 19 Pandemic. EC3 will partner with three major hospital systems (impacted industries) to provide programs in Digital Medical Sonography, Licensed Practical Nursing, and Patient Care Technicians and Certified Nurse Assistants. EC3’s student population is diverse in nature therefore bringing a diverse workforce into the healthcare field. Funds are being used to provide programs at the Erie County Community college with the purpose of filling understaffed roles in the healthcare field in Erie County.