$3 million in federal funding headed toward Erie's EMI project
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority's plan to transform the former Erie Malleable Iron property into a modern business park has received a big financial boost.
The project has been awarded $3 million in federal funding made through Congressional funding requests previously known as federal earmarks included in the fiscal 2023 budget. The announcement was made Wednesday by U.S. Rep Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-16th Dist.
The money for the project was part of $24.8 million secured for nine approved Community Project Funding requests in the 16th District, which includes all or part of Erie, Crawford, Lawrence and Butler counties.
The announcement comes more than 20 years after EMI, a longtime staple of Erie's industrial might, closed in 2001.
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority, which bought the site in February 2021, has plans for a reinvention of the 5.4-acre property at West 12th and Cherry streets. Those plans call for demolishing multiple buildings while renovating more than 70,000 square feet of existing space.
Further plans by Bostwick Design call for building more than 108,000 square feet of business and manufacturing space spread out over four or five buildings in a campus-like setting that would include public art installations
Tina Mengine, CEO of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, has called the project an important step toward removing blight that will also pave the way for future jobs. The announcement from Kelly's office, she said.
'A huge deal'
"It's a huge deal," she said. "It comes on the heels of $4 million from the state. We have positive momentum. We are going in the right direction and we feel really good. I am really grateful to Rep. Kelly and his team." She said the project was recommended to Kelly by Erie Mayor Joe Schember.
"He (Kelly) met with the mayor and he met with our team. He really liked the project and said he wanted to support it," Mengine said. Schember, who called the project a great collaboration between the Authority and the city, said he was pleased by the announcement.
"We are cleaning up a hazardous waste site that brought years of unsightliness to one of Erie's most traveled roads. Later this year we look forward to demolishing portions of the building that are not salvageable," Schember said. "The result will be a beautiful space that is move-in ready and will provide hundreds of good-paying jobs. "This federal funding brings to nearly $8 million the money that has been committed to the project.
The EMI project also received a $4 million commitment from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, another $500,000 from the city of Erie's Community Development Block Grant allocation and several hundred thousand from private sources. Mengine said the Redevelopment Authority submitted a $4 million funding request to U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
Different views
"We don't know what the final dollar amount will be," Mengine said. "Both Representative Kelly and Senator Casey really liked the project. The response from most everyone has been extremely positive. People see the value in tearing down the blight and rebuilding."
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis, who took office in January and tried in May to remove three board members of the Redevelopment Authority, has said in the past that he does not support the plan for EMI. In an April interview with the Erie Times-News, Davis said the EMI plan was an example of the Redevelopment Authority working outside its bylaws.
"I don't see us giving the authority millions and millions of dollars to go off on these cockamamie investments," he said at the time. "We don't have the finances to support that kind of building."
The project isn't expected to be cheap. Mengine estimates that phase 1, which she hopes to begin next spring with renovations to existing buildings, could cost more than $20 million.On Wednesday, however, Davis sounded a positive note when asked about the federal funding.
“We are pleased that Congressman Kelly has brought $25 million of investment back to the region including $3.8 million invested right here in Erie County. We look forward to working together in the future to create even more opportunities for future investments," Davis said in a statement. Does Mengine think Davis might change his mind about the project?
"I can only hope the county executive sees the value of this project as it progresses," she said. "It's a good project. There is no downside."
Other project
Out of the $24.8 million in funding announced by Kelly, $15 million was allocated for four projects in Butler County, $3 million for one project in Lawrence County and $3 million for a project in Mercer County. Funding for the EMI project is part of $3.819 million allocated for Erie County.
The project has been awarded $3 million in federal funding made through Congressional funding requests previously known as federal earmarks included in the fiscal 2023 budget. The announcement was made Wednesday by U.S. Rep Mike Kelly, of Butler, R-16th Dist.
The money for the project was part of $24.8 million secured for nine approved Community Project Funding requests in the 16th District, which includes all or part of Erie, Crawford, Lawrence and Butler counties.
The announcement comes more than 20 years after EMI, a longtime staple of Erie's industrial might, closed in 2001.
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority, which bought the site in February 2021, has plans for a reinvention of the 5.4-acre property at West 12th and Cherry streets. Those plans call for demolishing multiple buildings while renovating more than 70,000 square feet of existing space.
Further plans by Bostwick Design call for building more than 108,000 square feet of business and manufacturing space spread out over four or five buildings in a campus-like setting that would include public art installations
Tina Mengine, CEO of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, has called the project an important step toward removing blight that will also pave the way for future jobs. The announcement from Kelly's office, she said.
'A huge deal'
"It's a huge deal," she said. "It comes on the heels of $4 million from the state. We have positive momentum. We are going in the right direction and we feel really good. I am really grateful to Rep. Kelly and his team." She said the project was recommended to Kelly by Erie Mayor Joe Schember.
"He (Kelly) met with the mayor and he met with our team. He really liked the project and said he wanted to support it," Mengine said. Schember, who called the project a great collaboration between the Authority and the city, said he was pleased by the announcement.
"We are cleaning up a hazardous waste site that brought years of unsightliness to one of Erie's most traveled roads. Later this year we look forward to demolishing portions of the building that are not salvageable," Schember said. "The result will be a beautiful space that is move-in ready and will provide hundreds of good-paying jobs. "This federal funding brings to nearly $8 million the money that has been committed to the project.
The EMI project also received a $4 million commitment from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, another $500,000 from the city of Erie's Community Development Block Grant allocation and several hundred thousand from private sources. Mengine said the Redevelopment Authority submitted a $4 million funding request to U.S. Senator Bob Casey.
Different views
"We don't know what the final dollar amount will be," Mengine said. "Both Representative Kelly and Senator Casey really liked the project. The response from most everyone has been extremely positive. People see the value in tearing down the blight and rebuilding."
Erie County Executive Brenton Davis, who took office in January and tried in May to remove three board members of the Redevelopment Authority, has said in the past that he does not support the plan for EMI. In an April interview with the Erie Times-News, Davis said the EMI plan was an example of the Redevelopment Authority working outside its bylaws.
"I don't see us giving the authority millions and millions of dollars to go off on these cockamamie investments," he said at the time. "We don't have the finances to support that kind of building."
The project isn't expected to be cheap. Mengine estimates that phase 1, which she hopes to begin next spring with renovations to existing buildings, could cost more than $20 million.On Wednesday, however, Davis sounded a positive note when asked about the federal funding.
“We are pleased that Congressman Kelly has brought $25 million of investment back to the region including $3.8 million invested right here in Erie County. We look forward to working together in the future to create even more opportunities for future investments," Davis said in a statement. Does Mengine think Davis might change his mind about the project?
"I can only hope the county executive sees the value of this project as it progresses," she said. "It's a good project. There is no downside."
Other project
Out of the $24.8 million in funding announced by Kelly, $15 million was allocated for four projects in Butler County, $3 million for one project in Lawrence County and $3 million for a project in Mercer County. Funding for the EMI project is part of $3.819 million allocated for Erie County.
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