UChoose grants coming to Erie

By KEVIN FLOWERS, Erie Times-News

Erie County residents will soon get their chance to vote online for local projects they believe should be funded by gambling revenues from Presque Isle Downs & Casino. The authority this morning approved a framework for what is being called the "UChoose" grant program, which will make a $30,000 pot of gambling funds available to local nonprofits and organizations in a process modeled after the popular Pepsi Refresh Everything grant program. The Pepsi grants, which began in March 2010, award grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 each month via nationwide online voting.

Perry Wood, the Gaming Revenue Authority's executive director, said local organizations will be able to apply for $5,000, $10,000 and $15,000 grants. One grant will be awarded in each of those amounts, Wood said.
Online voting is expected to begin in November at a website that still must be created; that site will also contain details about the eligible projects. The grants should be awarded sometime in January, Wood said.
Chuck Peters, the Gaming Revenue Authority's board chairman, said the UChoose program lets county residents decide the worthiness of a particular project.

"It will give the community a chance to get behind some causes and be directly involved in the grant process," Peters said.