A ceremony was held at the North East Community Marina on March 10th presenting a check from ECGRA to the marina for $45,000. Representatives from the marina authority, local municipalities, Erie County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were in attendance. After the presentation, a walking tour of the facilities was conducted by Dan Adamus.
There have been many questions about the direction of the marina and what would be done in the coming months and years and this funding will play a large part in providing some answers through the creation of the North East Community Marina Master Plan.
The summary below, courtesy of Amy Burniston of the NE Community Marina Authority, details how this funding will be used:
Funding
Total Planning Investment: $90,000.
This project is funded through a $45,000 Multi-Municipal Collaboration Grant from the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority and a $45,000 matching investment from Erie County Council.The ECGRA Multi-Municipal Collaboration Grant Program supports projects that encourage cooperation between local governments to address shared priorities such as infrastructure planning, economic development, community revitalization, and public service improvements. The program is designed to help municipalities work together on initiatives that benefit a broader region.
Through this grant, NECMA partnered with North East Borough and North East Township to support the development of a comprehensive master plan for the marina. All funding supports planning and engineering analysis associated with the master plan and will not be used for construction activities. (emphasis added)
Consultant Selection
NECMA recently completed a competitive bidding process to select a qualified marine engineering and waterfront planning consultant to lead development of the master plan. The selection process prioritized firms with experience in marina infrastructure, coastal engineering, and waterfront planning. An official announcement of the selected consultant firm will be made in the coming weeks.Why This Project Matters
The North East Community Marina recently transitioned to local stewardship under NECMA. As an important public access point to Lake Erie, the marina plays a significant role in supporting boating, fishing, tourism, and the regional economy. Developing a comprehensive master plan will help create a long-term roadmap for infrastructure improvements, strengthen operations and financial sustainability, identify opportunities for tourism and economic growth, support continued public access to Lake Erie, and position the marina to compete for future state and federal infrastructure funding.Key Infrastructure Priorities
The master planning process will evaluate existing marina infrastructure and prioritize improvements such as seawall repair and shoreline stabilization, restoration and modernization of dock electrical systems, shoreline and sand management strategies, and upgrades to marina facilities and public amenities. The planning process will include marine engineering expertise to ensure regulatory, environmental, and shoreline management considerations are addressed.Planning Process
The master plan will be developed through a transparent and collaborative process that includes a full infrastructure and operational assessment of the marina, stakeholder interviews and coordination with local partners, community input opportunities, and the development of a phased implementation strategy. The final plan will include cost estimates, recommended project priorities, and potential funding strategies to guide future improvements.Community Collaboration
This project reflects strong regional collaboration and partnership with North East Borough and North East Township. Legislative support for the marina has also been provided by Jake Banta and Dan Laughlin. Together, these partners are working to strengthen the waterfront and ensure the marina continues to serve residents, boaters, anglers, and visitors throughout Erie County.Expected Outcomes
The completed master plan will provide a clear blueprint for the long-term revitalization of the North East Community Marina. It will identify priority infrastructure investments, improve safety and reliability of marina facilities, expand recreational boating and fishing access, support tourism and local business activity, and position the marina for additional investment and grant funding opportunities.
The authority has been working hard to keep the marina open and functioning, but this funding and the creation of this master plan should provide much needed clarification of what needs to be done as well as providing some reassurance to area boaters and the entire community that our marina will continue to exist far into the future.