BUSINESS BUZZ | WHAT’S NEW ERIE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM RECEIVES $5 MILLION GRANT FOR EXPANSION PROJECT
A $5 million grant recently was awarded to the expERIEnce Children’s Museum through the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). “This money will help the expERIEnce Children’s Museum expand upon the safe, family-centered educational experience it has been providing to the Erie community for more than 25 years,” stated Pennsylvania State Senator Dan Laughlin in a news release. The funding will be used to construct a three-story addition to the current Children’s Museum facility at 420 French Street in Erie, as well as add a new exterior space for outdoor programming. The grant will fund site preparation, foundation and concrete slabs, structural steel, building envelope, interior walls and ceilings, finishes and mechanical and electrical systems. The work also will involve renovations to the existing structure, which will include reworking of structural steel and the addition of energy efficient heating/ cooling/lighting, electrical, plumbing, communication systems and ADA compliant entrances. RACP is administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. In addition, the expERIEnce Children’s Museum received a large donation in late Decemeber to help fund future renovations. The $25,000 check from the First Energy Foundation goes toward the Full Steam Ahead Capital Campaign, which helps pay for the extension and renovation of the museum. For more information, visit http://www.eriechildrensmuseum.org.
The expERIEnce Children’s Museum at 420 French Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, will begin an expansion project in 2022.
ERIE FCU AND ERIE TIMES FCU COMPLETE MERGER
The Erie Federal Credit Union (Erie FCU) and Erie Times Federal Credit Union (ETFCU) in Erie, Pennsylvania announced that the merger between the two organizations has been successfully completed as of January 1, 2022. In addition to approval from both Boards, the merger also received the approval of ETFCU’s members, as well as the required federal regulatory agencies. The merger expands Erie FCU’s presence in northwest Pennsylvania, as well as offer new members additional financial solutions. The current ETFCU branch is now closed. “We’re very excited to welcome the members of Erie Times FCU to the Erie FCU family,” said Brian Waugaman, CEO of Erie FCU. “Employees of both credit unions have been working together for many months to make this transition as seamless as possible. It is our goal to expand our service area and capacity in order to meet the needs of our current and future membership.” The merger provides Erie Times FCU members with a wider range of financial products, technology and services, more branch locations as well as a service/call center with expanded hours and much more. As a member-owned financial cooperative, Erie Federal Credit Union’s mission is to responsibly deliver financial solutions that meet the needs of the community. “Erie FCU continues to be a great alternative to other financial institutions, offering competitive financial products, services and rates with a focus on supporting the communities we serve,” Waugaman added. Post-merger, Erie FCU will remain at nine Erie area branch offices with total assets exceeding $718 million and membership over 68,000. Erie FCU remains northwestern Pennsylvania’s largest credit union. Erie Times Federal Credit
Union was federally chartered in 1935 by the employees of the Erie Times-News. For more information, visit eriefcu.org.
ASBURY WOODS RECEIVES GRANT FOR LAND CONSERVATION
A $271,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) will help Asbury Woods conserve an additional 51 acres of land, according to a recent press release. The DCNR grant was announced by the Office of Pennsylvania State Representative Ryan Bizzarro. On April 7, 2021, Asbury Woods purchased 11.32 acres of land located at 5031 West 38th Street in Millcreek Township. This is the first addition of conserved land to the Asbury Woods holdings since 1995. This parcel was previously privately owned; its acquisition by Asbury Woods ensures it will be permanently conserved as green space. According to Asbury Woods, the purchase was made possible by a zero percent loan from the ColComm Revolving Loan Fund of the Western PA Conservancy, a loan funded dedicated to helping organizations such as Asbury Woods purchase and conserve additional land. The DCNR grant will allow Asbury Woods to pay back that loan. The 11 acres was a key acquisition as it borders 40 acres of land owned by Mercyhurst University, which Asbury Woods is working with the University to acquire with the DCNR funding. The Mercyhurst University property is a vital piece of the continuous greenway between the Nature Center and Browns Farm and includes frontage to West 38th Street. Asbury Woods is actively fundraising for the local match to the DCNR grant as the grant covers half of the appraised value for the properties that are to be conserved. Local funding will also be used to update Asbury Woods’ long-term land management plan to include the additional acreage. For more information, visit asburywoods.org.
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MARCH 2022 • mbabizmag.com