Latest news with #PerryWood
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie Co. owes over $500,000 after ECGRA audit comes back clean
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) has been cleared of any financial wrongdoing following an extensive audit by the Auditor General's office. The audit, which examined ECGRA's operations over the past two years, found no discrepancies in their financial practices. The audit scrutinized ECGRA's spending to ensure it was in line with the budget and approved by the board. It also reviewed the authority's grant-making processes, loan management, and compliance with Pennsylvania statutes. Despite the clean audit, Erie County is reported to owe ECGRA over $538,000 in under-distributed state funds. 'They found all of those things were completely in line with how we do things at ECGRA,' said Perry Wood, Executive Director of ECGRA. Erie County Executive Brenton Davis expressed dissatisfaction with the audit's scope, stating, 'Wrongdoing, whether it was two days ago or 15 years ago, is still wrongdoing.' See an increase in bugs? Here's what they are The audit process involved coordination with seven staff members from the Auditor General's office and took nearly a year to complete. Perry Wood described the process as exhaustive, saying it 'literally turned our organization inside out.' Despite the audit's findings, Erie County Executive Brenton Davis has been vocal about his concerns, suggesting that the investigation should have been broader. 'Wrongdoing, whether it was two days ago or 15 years ago is still wrongdoing and it's a reason why we need to continue to look at all of the boards, authorities and commissions and where taxpayer money is being spent and how,' Davis said. He has indicated that he does not plan to pay the amount specified in the audit report. Fatal Easter Sunday fire ruled accidental County Council Member Rock Copeland questioned the actions of legislators who initially supported the audit of ECGRA. 'Are they going to call for the same kind of audit that council unanimously passed?' he asked. Perry Wood criticized the ongoing scrutiny as a 'political witch hunt,' emphasizing that the audit was comprehensive and should be accepted as conclusive. The audit's findings have not resolved the financial dispute between Erie County and ECGRA. As the situation unfolds, the authority may seek legal action to recover the owed funds, as suggested by Perry Wood's statement, 'Follow the report, or end up in court.' All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ECGRA, Erie County invest nearly $1 million to address shortage of early childhood educators
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority awarded nearly $1 million in grants May 22 to help 59 child care providers recruit and retain qualified educators. ECGRA Executive Director Perry Wood said the grants ― the Early Childhood Educator Retention Awards ― serve to boost a vital sector in Erie County that's long been underfunded and understaffed. 'According to Start Strong PA, there are currently 93 unfilled early childhood educator positions in Erie County. If filled, these roles could serve 744 more children,' Wood said at a check presentation Thursday at St. Martin Early Learning Center. 'That's why these grants are so important. They represent a crucial step forward in supporting the dedicated professionals who care for and educate our young learners.' The $991,785 in grants were funded by a $2.5 million investment of American Rescue Plan funds from Erie County government. ECGRA has also provided a $2.5 million match in gaming revenue for a collective $5 million child care investment. 'An investment in child care is an investment in workforce development ― that is economic development,' said Erie County Executive Brenton Davis. 'Without parents being able to become dual income families, we're unable to lift our community up the economic mobility ladder.' Thursday's investment represents the first phase of a broader, multi-step initiative to strengthen Erie County's early learning infrastructure, according to ECGRA. Kenya Johnson, owner of Learning Ladder Early Child Care, said the grants will have a 'real and meaningful' impact on her center, both in terms of retaining quality teachers and giving them some much-needed recognition. 'For many of them, this extra income will make a difference in their personal lives ― paying bills, putting gas in their car, covering groceries and that all matters,' she said. 'But beyond the money, it's the message that came with it. That message says: We see you, we appreciate you and we want to keep you here doing what you do best.' Asha Graeb, director of the St. Martin Early Learning Center, added that early childhood educators often have limited support and resources despite the crucial role they play in a child's life. 'Our teachers work every day to create safe, nurturing environments where children can build confidence, spark curiosity and learn compassion,' she said. A Child's World Daycare & Learning; $23,683 Annie's Bubble Care; $6,459 Barb's Care A Lot; $19,377 Barbs Family Learning Group Daycare LLC; $6,459 Boro Babies Child Care Center; $9,689 Bright Horizons at Erie; $29,066 Corry Alliance Childcare Learning Center; $8,074 Creative Learning Childcare – iRock; $35,525 Cuddle Time Daycare; $1,077 Dr Gertrude Barber Corry; $12,918 Dr Gertrude Barber Happy Hearts; $46,290 Eagles Nest Group Daycare; $6,459 Early Connections City Center; $16,148 Early Connections Harbor Homes Early Learning Center; $6,459 Early Connections North East; $6,459 Early Connections Union City; $23,683 Early Learning Center; $19,377 Early Learning University; $24,760 Eastside YMCA; $33,372 Elk Valley Elementary YMCA; $9,689 EPS Pennbriar Childcare LLC; $16,417 Erie First Early Education Center; $11,303 Fit Kids; $10,227 Glenwood YMCA; $17,224 Growing and Learning Center; $43,060 Handled with Care; $37,678 I Love It Daycare Learning Center; $15,071 Javonne Beason; $1,077 Jumpstart Early Learning Center LLC; $6,459 KinderCare 1279; $8,612 Learning Ladder; $18,301 Little Explorers Christian Academy; $5,378 Lollipop U Daycare; $8,612 McKean Elementary YMCA; $2,153 Milestones Early Learning Academy; $13,995 Milestones Early Learning Center; $21,530 Miss Julies Childcare; $11,842 Miss Rose's Learning Center; $8,612 Montessori in the Woods; $9,150 My Terra Village; $4,844 New Horizons Early Learning Center; $10,750 Northwestern YMCA; $8,612 Playway Loving Childcare Center LLC; $5,383 Saint Benedict Center; $52,749 Saint Vincent Child Care Center; $34,448 South Hills Child Development Center; $37,139 St. Martin Early Learning Center; $76,432 St. Paul's Child Development Center; $24,760 Summit YMCA; $6,459 Teresa Jordan; $6,000 The International Institute of Erie; $10,765 Tracy Heutsche; $4,844 Twinkle Time Child Care Center; $5,921 Waterford YMCA; $10,765 Wattsburg Elementary YMCA; $9,688 World of Care; $12,918 YMCA Camp Sherwin; $2,153 YMCA of Corry Daycare; $47,366 Young Environment; $20,992 A.J. Rao can be reached at arao@ Follow him on X @ETNRao. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 59 Erie County child care providers receive $1 million in grants
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
ECGRA invests in early childhood education, 59 centers awarded ARPA grants
Erie County is facing a shortage of early childhood educators, with 93 positions currently unfilled, which could provide care for an estimated 744 additional children if filled. To address this issue, the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) is launching a new initiative to recruit and retain early childhood education staff. This initiative is supported by $2.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, aimed at bolstering local childcare providers. Multiple Erie elementary schools will receive filtered water stations thanks to donation 'This is a vital sector, one that supports working families, strengthens our economy, and nurtures the next generation but it remains underfunded,' said Perry Wood, Executive Director of ECGRA. ECGRA has recognized 59 local childcare centers with 'Early Childhood Educator Retention Awards,' distributing grants totaling over $900,000. These awards are part of the first phase of the initiative, which began on Thursday. Asha Graeb, Director of St. Martin Early Learning Center, expressed the importance of these grants, stating that early educators are asked to do much with limited resources and support. 'I feel our teachers deserve a living wage; they do so much for our working families,' Graeb said. Kenya Johnson, Director and Owner of The Learning Ladder Early Child Care Center, emphasized the essential role of childcare, equating its importance to that of elementary or high school education. 'We hope that today brings a light to everyone knowing how essential childcare is and how essential the educators are as well,' Johnson added. 'Seeds of Hope' event aims to raise awareness on women's health research The initiative is seen as a first step in creating sustainable childcare services for the community, with future phases expected to identify specific areas of need. The initiative by ECGRA is a significant move towards addressing the childcare crisis in Erie County, aiming to fill critical gaps in early childhood education staffing and improve support for local providers. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2025 Primary Election Results: Erie County Executive
(WJET/WFXP) — The 2025 Pennsylvania primary election took place on May 20. This year's election for Erie County Executive features Perry Wood and Christina Vogel on the Democratic side. The winner of this race will go up against uncontested Republican incumbent Brenton Davis in the November general election. You can view election results as they update in real-time for the Erie County Executive race below: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ECGRA gives out nearly $200K to local organizations through Special Events Grants
The Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority (ECGRA) has announced it's giving out nearly $200,000 to its 2025 Special Events Grant recipients, and there are 44 organizations that will use the funding to ensure Erie's well-known activities flourish and grow. Erie residents and visitors look forward to the region's summer months all year long. The season includes several fairs, festivals and special events that promote a sense of community. Many of these activities wouldn't be able to exist without a little financial boost, which is where ECGRA steps in. Erie Insurance announces new $100 million charitable foundation The authority is awarding nearly $200,000 to 44 organizations that arrange hundreds of events around the county. 'Special events create a sense of vibrancy in the community but they're also great leadership positions. The majority of these organizations are run by volunteers,' said Perry Wood, executive director of ECGRA. The grants range from $425 all the way up to $15,000. Two organizations that received the largest grants are Cafe for CelebrateErie and Lights Over Lake Erie, as well as the Jefferson Education Society for their programming and global summit. Most of these special events are traditions for Erie residents, like the Italian Festival. This funding is one way to help keep their heritage alive. 'Everyone awarded today is helping to maintain the foundation of what it means to live in Erie,' said Brian Ferraro, with St. Paul Church's Italian Festival. 'Leading up to this year's festival on the 8, 9, and 10 of August, our community will come together and prepare for the celebration of the assumption of the Blessed Mother Mary.' According to the authority, the special events grants fund up to 5% of events that take place within Erie County. These events are open to the general public and promote the region economically and culturally. Splash Lagoon offering free admission for firefighters on May 4 The funding also provides a variety of possibilities — Young Artist Debut Orchestra (YADO) will be able to participate in their organization's 16th annual Independence Day performance at the Erie SeaWolves. 'This event is considered a prime performance opportunity for any music performing arts group,' said Jessie Collura, executive director of YADO. Wood said that some residents' most visceral memories are tied to Erie's events and festivals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
