City partners with Redevelopment Authority on Erie Neighborhood Growth Partnership; launches "Love Your Block" cleanup schedule

City planning staff and the Redevelopment Authority told the Erie Planning Commission they have formalized a renewed collaboration with the Erie Neighborhood Growth Partnership (ENGP) to strengthen neighborhood engagement and resident access to resources.

Liz Reyes, speaking for neighborhood resources, said the redevelopment authority will continue to maintain the ENGP board — made up of residents and acting as the approving body — while the Planning Departmentneighborhood resources team will take the lead on a resident advisory committee and a neighborhood organization subcommittee. "We felt that it was important that we not reinvent the wheel and yet create yet another platform or initiative," Reyes said, describing the intent to connect residents to information, resources and city planning processes.

The resident advisory committee will aim to include representatives from each planning area and provide a regular space for residents to learn about projects, grants and initiatives affecting their neighborhoods, Reyes said. The neighborhood organization subcommittee will first clarify definitions (for example, distinguishing neighborhood organizations, neighborhood associations and neighborhood watch groups) before offering technical and organizational support.

Staff also provided a schedule for Love Your Block projects, a series of neighborhood cleanup and minor-repair efforts beginning the July 4 weekend. Planned activities include dumpster cleanups, small home repairs, alley cleanups, landscaping and youth-engagement efforts in the Academy neighborhood, Buffalo Road area (in partnership with Urban Erie Community Development Corporation), West Bayfront, Central City/Snoops, Lower and East Bayfront (with Groundwork Erie), Pulaski Lighthouse neighborhood (with UPMC Neighborhood Center and East Apex Neighborhood Watch), and a September dumpster cleanup in Little Italy. A staff member said project details and volunteer sign-up forms will be posted on the city's website this week.

Commissioners asked how organizations and volunteers can participate; the staff member said interested groups or residents can contact neighborhood resources directly and that staff had already reached out to at least one community partner about participation. The Boys & Girls Club of Erie was specifically mentioned as a possible volunteer partner.

The Planning Department said the ENGP collaboration and Love Your Block projects are still being developed and that further details will be shared in coming months.