Flagship Fund (City of Erie, Pennsylvania)
City of Erie, Pennsylvania (Department of Neighborhood and Economic Development)
$2,500 to $10,000 (1:1 match, reimbursed)
City of Erie microgrant of $2,500 to $10,000 with a 1:1 cash match, paid by reimbursement. Applications close November 30, 2026.
The Flagship Fund is the City of Erie's microgrant program for small businesses. Awards run from $2,500 to $10,000 and need a 1:1 cash match, so a $5,000 grant means spending $10,000 and then submitting paid invoices for reimbursement. The business must be registered in Pennsylvania and located and zoned within the City of Erie. Start-ups and established businesses from any sector can apply with a sound proposal that will go ahead without the grant. The current application deadline is November 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount range
- $2,500 – $10,000
- Realistic amount
- $2,500 to $10,000 after you spend twice that and submit invoices.
- Deadline
- November 30, 2026, 11:59 PM
- Status
- active
- States
- PA
Who qualifies
- Registered business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- Located within the City of Erie and zoned accordingly
- Preference for businesses with 25 or fewer employees, brick-and-mortar businesses and for-profit entities; non-profits may apply
- Locally owned franchise owners may apply
- Not eligible: companies on federal or state debarment lists, with delinquent state or city taxes, fees, fines or liens, or that received a Flagship Fund grant in the last three years
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Computer hardware and software
- Connectivity hardware upgrades
- Exterior signage
- Professional consultation (planning, marketing, website development)
- Specialized equipment tied to operations
- Structural, exterior facade or interior building improvements (non-construction projects get priority)
Ineligible expenses
- Single-use consumables
- Promotional items to sell or give away
- Existing employee salaries and other ongoing operating costs
- Purchases made before the award date
How to apply
-
1
Check eligibility
Registered in Pennsylvania, inside Erie city limits and zoned for the use.
~20 min
-
2
Gather quotes and a budget
Itemized budget plus quotes or estimates for equipment, construction, web design, marketing or signage.
~3 hrs
-
3
Submit the online or paper application
Business details, use of funds and three narrative questions, with the budget and quotes attached.
~3 hrs
-
4
Spend, then claim reimbursement
After award, spend the money (grant plus your 1:1 match) and send invoices and proof of payment; no more than two requests.
~10 hrs
Expenses before the award date are not reimbursed, so do not buy anything until the award letter arrives.
Deadline & timing
The city page gives a November 30, 2026, 11:59 PM deadline and says grants are awarded in a competitive way during pre-determined application periods. A paper application can be emailed to flagshipfund@erie.pa.us.
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Required documents
- Online or paper application with business details and three narrative answers
- Itemized budget (Word, Excel or PDF)
- Quotes or estimates for equipment, construction, web design, marketing or signage
- W-9 if selected
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Last updated October 31, 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.