Skip to main content
An overhead photo shows a tablescape of breakfast foods

Featured

A Food Lover's Guide to Downtown Erie Restaurants

Local breweries, cafés, bakeries, and restaurants serve everything from elevated comfort food to creative new flavors, making downtown a must-visit destination for food lovers.

A man poses with an Event Matching Funds check from Visit Erie.

Event Matching Funds Programs

Apply for a dollar-for-dollar matching grant to support event operations. 

Purpose:

The VisitErie Event Matching Funds Program was created to provide matching dollars to event planners to use to for promotions or event operations for events that attract visitors outside of Erie County. If the funds will be used for marketing, the focus needs to be marketing to visitors outside of Erie County.

Available Funds for 2027: TBD

VisitErie awarded a total of $20,000 for Event Matching Funds in 2026. The 2027 available funds will be released soon. Fund requests up to $1,000 will be considered. Grants will be awarded up to 20 businesses holding an event during the months of January through December 2026. The application process will be split up into two rounds. Round 1 applications will be for events taking place January-June, and round two applications will be for events taking place July-December. Approved project applications will receive a dollar-for-dollar match from VisitErie for marketing or event operations. Checks will be issued once creative assets have been approved by VisitErie. 

Eligible Applicants:

Applicants must be located within Erie County, Pennsylvania and host an event that draws out-of-town visitors.

Qualifications

  • Applicants are not required to be partners of VisitErie.
  • Applicants cannot apply for more than one Event Matching Funds.
  • Applicants will send materials to VisitErie for review prior to the launch of event.
  • Campaign must be executed by the applicant in the 2027 calendar year.
  • Planning a sporting event? Apply for an event grant through the Erie Sports Commission.

How the program works if selected:

  • Applications will be reviewed by VisitErie and scored based on these program criteria:
    • Target Market
    • Regional Promotion
    • Event Goals
    • Budget 
  • Applicant send materials to VisitErie for review prior to the launch of the campaign.
  • Applicant will track program and provide a report to VisitErie to measure its success and event participation no more than 30 days from event taking place.
  • If a final report is not provided, this will jeopardize future participation in Matching Funds programs.

Deadline for Round One applications (events taking place January - June) is January 8. Applicants will be notified by January 25.

Deadline for Round Two applications (events taking place July-December) is April 9. Applicants will be notified by April 26.

IMPORTANT: Before clicking the submission button, please save your completed application as a PDF and email it to janicef@visiterie.com to ensure it is received.

Event Matching Funds Request

(Up to $1,000)
Include cost breakdown for each tactic.
Please note: This should reflect visitors from outside Erie County.