VisitErie has awarded 15 Erie County businesses and organizations with matching funds totaling $40,000 as part of its annual Matching Funds Cooperative Marketing Program. 

The funds will allow local businesses and organizations to execute marketing campaigns outside Erie County, encouraging overnight stays and day trips. 

As part of Round One of the Event Matching Funds Program, VisitErie provided a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $1,000. This is an increase from 2023. 

The grant covers operations and marketing costs for out-of-market promotions. 

Round 2 of the event matching funds program will launch the first week of May. Round 2 is for events taking place from June to December 2024. 

A total of $5,000 was awarded for round one of the program: 

  • Addicted Fishing (Addicted Mega Bash Movie Premiere)
  • Erie-Western PA Port Authority (Solar Eclipse at the Park)
  • City of Erie (Total Solar Eclipse Watch Party at Perry Square)
  • Burch Farms (Solar Eclipse Viewing Party)
  • Harvest912 (The Harvest912 Pepper Palooza at the 2nd Annual ROLL-IN For Veterans All Wheel Rally)

Additionally, VisitErie provided a dollar-for-dollar match of up to $5,000 for its Tourism Marketing Co-op Program. A total of $35,000 was awarded for the program. 

The following business and organizations received funding: 

  • Lake Erie Wine Country ($5,000, Lights Out! Solar Eclipse event)
  • Mount Pleasant of Edinboro ($4,000, Mount Pleasant House and regional events)
  • Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership ($1,250, 2024 Erie Homecoming)
  • KingView Meadhouse and Winery ($2,000, general operations)
  • Erie Commodores ($2,500, general operations)
  • Port Farms ($5,000, Summer Days promotion)
  • Erie Co. Historical Society/Hagen History Center ($5,000, Frank Lloyd Wright Office campaign)
  • Mazza Inc. ($2,000, Lake Erie Wine Country Experience by Mazza and WineTraveler)
  • Flagship Niagara League ($3,250, Lettie G. Howard Summer Day Sail Promotion 2024
  • North East Chamber of Commerce ($5,000, Enjoy the View: Fun for the whole family in North East, PA)

“I am pleased that VisitErie can utilize a portion of our funding to bolster the advertising and marketing efforts of our partners. This program allows our partners to entice visitors to spend time and money at their places of business and contribute to the growth of our community," said John Oliver, VisitErie President & CEO.