Erie Insurance today becoming a partner of the Flagship Niagara League and Tall Ships America.

The company giving $110,000 to help fund the tall ships that will be sailing on the Great Lakes this summer, and stopping here for the Erie Tall Ships festival  September 8-11.

The money will sponsor one of the ships, and help fund sail training aboard Erie's Flagship Niagara.

The brig will be the centerpiece of the local festival.

 Tom Hagen, Erie Insurance Chairman of the Board said, "To have the Niagara in effect be the host for Tall Ships America and having all those wonderful ships being here, I think is going to be a great event for the community and hopefully result in a lot of visitors. Tourism is an extremely important part of our economy."